On The Web, July 2004
Metalworking-Related Government Links Web sites maintained by the U. S.
Metalworking-Related Government Links
Web sites maintained by the U.S. Government to serve manufacturing can offer surprisingly valuable data to support your research or business needs.
FirstGov (www.firstgov.gov): Is this too much of a good thing or too much of a bad thing? We’ll let you decide. Brought to you by your friendly U.S. Government, this site is a compilation of all things governmental on the Web; every site hosted or sponsored by the government—including state and local governments—is listed here. Still don’t grasp the size of it? It is MASSIVE. For instance, plug the word “metalworking” into FirstGov’s search engine, and you get back more than 1,000 links. This is an excellent resource for the business end of a machine shop or plant, and it is a wellspring of technical data.
Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) (www.mel.nist.gov/melhome.htm): The MEL, a subset of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is sort of a conduit to technology for manufacturers. Its stated purpose is to “provide the best in the world calibration services, accurate machining processes characterizations and technical access to the rich opportunities of information technology.” The MEL is organized into six “sectors”—five divisions (precision engineering, manufacturing metrology, intelligent systems, manufacturing systems integration and fabrication technology) and the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory. Not only is this Web site a portal into the MEL that you may use to engage it in research, but it is also as rich a repository for manufacturing info as any you’ll find from the U.S. Government. The access to its published reports alone (under “Publications” on the home page) is worth the visit.
Metalworking Fluids (OSHA) (www.osha.gov/SLTC/metalworkingfluids): This site, brought to you by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, offers a wealth of data about the effects of exposure to metalworking fluids, lubricants, coolants and so on. This site can be a valuable resource to all shop managers.
For more links to the metalworking Web, visit MMS Online’s Web Links Repository at www.mmsonline.com/links.
Job Shop Site Of The Month
The Web site of Preferred Tool & Die (www.preferredtool.com), a Connecticut-based manufacturer, gets the nod this month. This site presents capabilities and features of Preferred Tool that appeal to a broad set of buyer interests. Preferred Tools “Markets Served” section succinctly displays its prowess in automotive, aerospace, medical and other disciplines. Following the links for tooling, precision machining and production stamping put prospects in touch with Preferred Tool’s qualifications in context. This site presents a professional, competent image for the manufacturer.
To have your site considered for Job Shop Site Of The Month, send your URL to otw@mmsonline.com.
OTW Infoletter
Want to get the online metalworking scoop via e-mail from metalworking’s preferred information source? Subscribe to MMS’ OTW (On The Web) Infoletter at www.mmsonline.com/newsletter/.
