Larson Tool Blog

PMA’s METALFORM EDU Provides Training and Education Towards Career Advancement

The good news: the manufacturing industry is robust, and the outlook remains positive. Troubling news: many U.S. manufacturers are dealing with a sizable skills gap (which we recently wrote about). Better news: there is a rise in trade school enrollment. The best news: Larson is already involved in an active training program that educates people in the skills necessary to serve the metal stamping industry—let alone help them improve the quality of their individual lives.

How Larson Successfully Implements PMA’s METALFORM EDU

No doubt about it, there is a skills gap in U.S. manufacturing. Ironically, the latest advances in manufacturing technologies—artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and the internet of things (IoT)—have been blamed, incorrectly, for taking away jobs.

Being SMEs on SQMs

You already have a full-time job; keeping up with the regulations of all the regulatory agencies—as changeable as they may be for any given part or project—doesn’t need to be its own full-time endeavor. When your vendor has a good supplier quality management program, you won’t have to bear the burden alone. It’s why we are meticulous with our SQM program.

Does Your Deep Draw Stamping Cost More? 

Steel tariffs: a very hot—and confusing—topic on the minds of many people in diverse industries. The uncertainty in the markets and supply chain is unsettling. An argument bolstering the need for the tariffs is that they equalize the flood of aluminum and steel from overseas producers—even at the possible economic disadvantage of smaller, regional American-based manufacturers. It’s anyone’s guess whether a global trade war will ensue with retaliatory tariffs on a variety of goods.

Collaboration for Longevity, Dependability, and Growth  

Larson’s longevity is due, in large part, to the valuable relationships we foster with employees, customers, suppliers, and strong partnerships with our equipment suppliers. We seek out collaborations with companies that hold these same standards and are top in their trade. Founded in 1897, Nidec Minster has built a reputation for precision, solid quality, and reliability in their presses, and Larson has built a strong partnership with them over the years.

Top 3 Questions to Ask and Details to Consider When Moving Tools

Here’s a reality we hope you haven’t experienced: your sizeable investment in tooling has been rendered unproductive due to changing circumstances with your metal stamping vendor. Because your metal stamping die depends on a cooperative and competent supplier to produce good parts, there is much to consider in this situation. 

Vetting Your Supplier—an Interview Checklist for the Buyer

Quality. Delivery. Price. Three basic things every buyer wants to be promised. But what assurance does a buyer have that those commitments will be met, time and time again, over the length of the program? When choosing a deep draw stamping and precision metal stamping company, you want to approach it deliberately and with forethought. Here are some tips to help you plan.

AQP in Action within the Entire Organization

We often think the words “process” and “nimble” are mutually exclusive—especially when we think of launching a product in the precision metal stamping (or any manufacturing or production) environment. What comes to mind when we hear that something is in “process” involves a slow, encumbered, multi-layered mire of circumstance. Nimble, on the other hand, denotes quickness and agility that offers responsive, definitive solutions. What if you could have both?

Why I Love Selling for Larson Tool & Stamping Company

Metal Stamping Company Culture Series: Part 3 of 3

I wanted to write this blog series. (I don’t get any extra perks or money for it!) I am an independent manufacturer's representative and have been doing this for 21 years, though I’ve been in sales much longer. I work for five different custom manufacturers and sell custom components to OEM specifications. Most of the customers I work with are looking for “form, fit, and function—making the part to the drawing.”

Insightful Supporting Stats

Metal Stamping Company Culture Series: Part 2 of 3

In Part 1 of this series, we spoke of the importance of collaborative communication being at the heart of a metal stamping supplier’s company culture. The top three elements of that are: