Strategic retention

March 28, 2017  |  Business, Management

It’s one thing to find qualified workers; it’s another to keep them happy in their jobs. Inman Mills has a 116-year history as a textiles manufacturer, now staffing three plants with 700 employees. The Inman, S.C.-headquartered company enjoys a low turnover rate and, in fact, has employees who h…
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Modern technology can prevent targeted cyberattacks

January 1, 2017  |  In the Shop, Management, Resources

Modern, targeted cyberattacks can take any organization by surprise. And these targeted cyberattacks are increasingly widespread. CBS Money Watch reported in June 2015 that more than 80 percent of U.S. companies have been successfully hacked, according to a Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Busine…
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2017 MFA Time Standards Manual

January 1, 2017  |  Management, Resources

The Time Standards Manual was developed in 1996 by the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International, to serve as a benchmark shop owners can use to set fabrication times, with which they can generate competitive labor costs. The manual is an on…
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10 tips to build cash

July 1, 2016  |  Management, Resources

If you are a marine fabricator who lives in a cold climate, you need to make the most of warm months when customers are motivated to get their boats in tip top condition. Those warm months are when you can expect a healthy infusion of cash, but that cash has to be carefully budgeted for … <di…
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New technologies speed up marine production process

June 14, 2016  |  Management, Resources

These days, customers are driving the marine fabrication industry to move faster, and that means finding opportunities to make every stage of production move as quickly as possible. In fact, many marine technological advances have emerged, in part, because of end users’ feedback. “We are constan…
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How marine fabricators can be practical and proactive

June 7, 2016  |  Management, Resources

Like many manufacturing industries, marine fabricators continually struggle with maintaining the right mix and amount of inventory to use in the production of their custom products. Sure, you can invest in comprehensive inventory management software to translate your inventory management into effect…
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Amending tax returns and other changes that can benefit your business

May 1, 2016  |  Management, Resources

Every marine fabrication business faces an increasing amount of red tape in the form of rules, regulations, fees and taxes. At the same time enforcement on every level is becoming more aggressive and issue-focused—with even more costly results. Experienced fabricators know that tax mistakes are so…
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Proposals: An overview

March 1, 2016  |  Management, Resources

As you sell products or services, you might find yourself preparing a number of different types of sales proposals: Unsolicited proposal. A proposal that you initiate solely as a prospecting tool. Usually (although not always), you’ll speak to the customer before you submit it. RFP response. This …
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