In the machine shop business we often consider stress, heat and pressure, as it relates to combustion, compression, bi-metals, etc. But when the weather gets extremely hot, like it’s been this summer, it’s also important for Managers to consider the heat, pressure, and stress on…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing, Inc. N. Kansas City, MO
Death of a Salesman isn’t just a famous tragedy by Arthur Miller. It seems to be a sign of the times! Human contact is slowly being replaced by e-mails, e-blasts and e-carts. Record store salesman - gone; now you download one song at a time. Video…
Rich Stevens Richard’s Automotive Machine Kansas City, MO
The phone rings, “How much is a valve job on a pair of early 350 heads?” Sound familiar? These are generally the first words you hear from a customer and seem to reflect the fact that your prospective customer’s first concern is COST. Should you quote a “ballpark”…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing, Inc. Kansas City, MO
You can tell the customer interaction will be a tough one in the first few seconds. The caller’s tone of voice, accusatory language and high volume all say, “I’m going to let you have it”. How you react in these first few seconds will set the tone…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing Inc Kansas City, MO
I left my 2007 Harley Davidson sitting in storage with a half of a tank of gasoline, without an additive to combat the effects of Ethanol fuel. With all the press releases and articles warning about the corrosive effects of condensation and Ethanol, especially on carbureted…
Roger Borer Engine Performance Warehouse Inc Denver, CO.
”Visuals” not only help eliminate waste, but can have additional positive impact on a shop’s operation, safety and cost. *Safety glasses (with side shields) should be mandatory in all shop areas; not just machining, grinding, welding, etc.. This can reduce insurance costs and avoid OSHA fines. *Color…
Jim Kovach Kovach & Assoc.,Performance Engine Building Parma, OH
Ohio Makes a ‘Max’ Investment in Our Future If you’re looking for a new shop employee, Cleveland, OH may just be the city with the answer for you. Up until now it may have seemed that all the good employees either had jobs or had retired. Here is what Cleveland…
Jim Kovach Kovach & Associates -Performance Engine Building Parma, OH
Managing your scrap is an everyday chore. We all know aluminum pistons are worth more than aluminum mill waste, but by removing pins and rings it is worth even more. There are special buyers for aluminum out there, and they will also buy aluminum heads. Crankshafts…
Darrin Anderson Sterling Bearing Inc Kansas City, MO
I was once in a shop where the Sunnen dial bore gauge setting standards were so worn on their Sunnen CF1126 that it messed up every job in the boring department and no one noticed. The ends of the changeable standards had divots worn in them from…
Wayne Petty Wayne’s Auto Works Los Angeles, CA
Search ‘Engines’ Using Search Engines You’ve heard the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. Often when sourcing parts for today’s complex engines it helps to see an image of the component or the casting the part is bolting on to. There are many industry sources that…
Richard Martin Laughlin Machine Laughlin, NV