If Mike Boatman were to write a book on what he’s learned from 30-plus years in the marine fabrication industry, it would be one page with a single line: “Don’t be a jerk.” This short and simple philosophy has grounded him through the ins and outs of navigating a family business and cultivating a strong [...]

Marine Tops Unlimited displays its awards in the shop to demonstrate the company’s craftsmanship to customers. Photo: Kyle Van Damme The Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Fabrication Excellence Awards started in 1994, sponsored by the MFA, to showcase projects that represent the best in design excellence and quality workmanship that our industry has to offer. Projects [...]

Nelson Valderrama asks Claude AI to create a sample of a cost optimization analysis, based on a simulated small shade fabrication shop. The numbers in this graphic do not represent real data, but rather it illustrates what Claude can produce. Photo: Nelson Valderrama Most companies likely would welcome an employee with a doctorate who works [...]