Profit vs. Projects - Part Three: Drawing Management
Posted March 2012
Part three in a white paper series that discusses the advantages of company-wide, big-picture steel fabrication management versus a project-centric approach. This paper discusses big-picture drawing management.

Profit vs. Projects - Part Two: Material Purchasing
Posted February 2012
Part two in a white paper series that discusses the advantages of company-wide, big-picture steel fabrication management versus a project-centric approach. This paper discusses big-picture material purchasing.

Profit vs. Projects - Part One: Material Multing
Posted January 2012
Part one in a white paper series that discusses the advantages of company-wide, big-picture steel fabrication management versus a project-centric approach. This paper discusses big-picture material multing.

Developing connections that matter
Posted December 2010
Learn the benefits of using technology to stay connected with project team members.

Model-based estimating now:
A real-world guide to model-based estimating with FabTrol MRP
Posted December 2010
A step-by-step guide to realizing the benefits of model-based estimating with the promise that the approach can decrease the amount of time required for each estimate, while increasing the number and accuracy of bid proposals.

Find the hidden money in your shop
Posted October 2010
Discusses how to identify areas where your shop can save tens of thousands of dollars through small adjustments in overall material and labor costs.

Drive your shop with automated data capture
Published October 2010
Discusses how using a barcoding system with integrated fabrication management software can help prevent mistakes and simplify and improve decision-making.

How FabTrol MRP Supports AISC Certification & Audits
Steel Building Structures: Standard-by-Standard (handbook)
Posted July 2010
An in-depth steel fabricator's handbook to help define and document your company's quality management system, standard-by-standard, using FabTrol MRP software.

How FabTrol MRP Supports AISC Certification & Audits
Simple and Major Bridge Addendum
Posted July 2010
An in-depth steel fabricator's handbook to help define and document your company's quality management system for the AISC Major Bridge Checklist using FabTrol MRP software.

The 5 keys to error-free steel fabrication (ebook)
Posted January 2010
This free ebook discusses how every shop has the potential to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, errors.

The 7 habits of highly successful steel fabricators (ebook)
Posted July 2008
This free ebook is a culmination of knowledge gathered over 20 years and represents a "best-of-the-best" collection of success strategies for steel fabricators.

Applying the theory of constraints in a structural steel shop
Posted May 2008
Discusses how applying the theory of constraints can be beneficial in identifying and eliminating workflow bottlenecks and, in turn, can help to increase throughput and maximize shop capacity.

Will technology change the fab shop of the future?
Posted March 2007
This paper is a summary of the introductory remarks presented by Douglas Cochrane, chairman and founder of FabTrol Systems, during a panel discussion at the 2007 North American Steel Construction Conference.

Overcoming material availability challenges
Posted October 2006
Discusses the causes and effects of supply/demand imbalances in the steel supply chain and what fabricators can do to minimize the effects of material shortages and long lead times.

Increasing shop throughput to maximize market opportunities
Posted July 2006
Discusses the best places to look for shop capacity and throughput improvement.

Managing risks in a thriving fabrication market
Posted April 2006
Discusses the most common obstacles to success in good economic times — including key personnel loss, recruiting difficulty, winning work that doesn't fit your shop, losing shop capacity to inefficiency, and more — and offers ideas on mitigating or avoiding those risks.

Fabrication software: Should you build or buy?
Posted February 2006
Discusses the pros and cons of custom software development.

Applying lean manufacturing concepts to steel fabrication
Posted August 2005
Tackles the recurring question of how much steel fabricators can learn from innovations in the repetitive manufacturing arena.

Will investing in software pay off?
Posted January 2005
Discusses the key concepts for evaluating the return on investment from computer software solutions.

Increasing profits despite economic uncertainty
Posted September 2004
Discusses what kinds of investments will allow your company to take advantage of the projected resurgence in demand without putting it at risk if rising inflation and interest rates keep the recovery from materializing.