Volume I, Issue 5

Online Shop Control

1999-2000 may be remembered as the time when e-commerce blossomed in—and for—the metalworking industries. Shops of all sizes will be lifted by the tide that’s risen through this period. But there’s another influence of the Internet coming to your shop that may outshine the impact of e-commerce:

Shop Control.

Traditionally, shop control methods and software have served the administrative end of machine shop management very well. And the Web is improving inventory, tracking, costing, planning, and scheduling processes through these methods and products now.

But expect the Internet to expand the definition of shop control for your plant by improving efficiencies at the machine tool—through training, software upgrades, machine and process monitoring and service. Demand these features from your own processes and software.

Technology at its best has always driven process control and influence to more efficient levels within the process. For you, that’s nearer to where the chips fly.

Internet-driven shop control practices will have great impact on your bottom line very soon, if you take control.

For a review of Shop Control packages and the experts that provide them, visit MMS Online's Shop Control Software Selector. — AJS

Showroom Broom
They're all over MMS Online. They're accessible through banners. You encounter them through Zones and through the MMS Online Suppliers Database. They're linked to from articles and product releases. So, if they're that prevalent, they DESERVE some special treatment... right?

Of course, I'm talkin' about MMS Online Showrooms, home to Metalworking's elite. We've tackled a bit of spring-cleaning, and improved the organization and feel of the Showrooms to make it easier for you to contact the Metalworking's premier experts and solutions providers. — AJS

May Job Shop Site Of The Month

GTI (www.gtimachining.com) is a family-owned shop in Georgia that specializes in CNC machining and Wire EDM for numerous industries. Its site is very professionally designed for a shop of its size, and its navigation is simple and effective. GTI’s presentation of its product line is particularly noteworthy. — AJS

Want your shop or plant considered for Job Shop Site of the Month? Send your site's URL to otw@mmsonline.com with OTW Site Of The Month in the subject line. Please—job shops only.

Spring Has Sprung
And this issue of Modern Machine Shop brings a bouquet of metalworking information to your shop, with Workholding, Production Machining and Cutting Tools taking center stage. Just make sure you don’t pass up MMS Online’s support of these topics:

The Workholding & Work Handling Zone on MMS Online presents specific technical applications articles along with the best workholding products and suppliers.

The Cutting Tools Zone delivers a wealth of information, products and suppliers—all categorized by relevance to the art of cutting tool selection and application.

And, as with all metalworking topics, entering “Production Machining” as a keyword search on MMS Online’s Home Page or Article Archive will put you in touch with the latest data available for that subject.

To get MODERN MACHINE SHOP magazine, visit our Subscription Page.

Up Next Month: In June '00, MODERN MACHINE SHOP will feature Hole Making as its Emphasis, and Unattended Machining as the Spotlight topic. MMS' Tech Digest will bring you the latest Automatic Machining technology and products.

To get MODERN MACHINE SHOP magazine, visit our Subscription Page.