There is no one-size-fits-all cutting tool. The right option needs to fit the hand using it, whether it is large or small, left or right. The blades must be sharp and durable, enabling professional-quality cuts of thick and weather-resistant materials without slipping, blunting or fraying. Still, the tool should be easy enough to use all day, to reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries. The right tool, when properly maintained, also helps reduce material and equipment waste.

The marine fabrication industry encompasses a wide range of businesses, from multinational corporations to small mom-and-pop and one-person operations run out of garages or basements. Regardless of size, there are hardworking people everywhere with a passion for making products and/or providing services to customers.

There are many routes to take when it comes to opening a fabrication business, and no one way is necessarily better—or easier—than another. But common to all successful shops is that they were helmed by owners willing to do whatever it took to deliver the goods and thrive.

The Time Standards Manual was developed in 1996 by the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA), a member group of Advanced Textiles Association, to serve as a benchmark that shop owners can use to set fabrication times, with which they can generate competitive labor costs. The manual is an ongoing project that continues to grow and change in response to the ever-changing marine industry. If you have suggestions for updates or changes, please email Christine.Gerard@textiles.org and your suggestions will be submitted to the MFA advisory board for review and possible inclusion in future editions.

Industry experts share the latest trends in high-end finishes, what fabricators should know and how to communicate the impact of a finish to customers.

Marine fabricators are always looking for ways to make their jobs simpler, safer, and more efficient and cost-effective.