Get Ahead of the Competition in Structural Steel Fabrication Industry by Adhering to These 4 Tips

Posted on: 29 September 2021

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Structural steel fabrication is among the most specialised trades that requires experience, time and training to perfect. Nonetheless, there is an abundance of highly skilled fabricators in the industry today. However, even the most skilled fabrication experts can find it challenging to break through and succeed in the current overcrowded market. If you are running a structural steel fabrication business and looking to remain competitive in this industry, consider these four crucial tips to reach greater heights. 

High-Quality Work 

To stand out from the tight competition, you need to adopt top-notch steel fabrication strategies. Anything short of that, and you will lag behind your competitors. Consider investing in state-of-the-art technologies, including robotic arms with 360-degree bevel capability to allow for effortless work on any steel shape or profile. Other high-end technologies include photo-laser profiling and linear-laser measurement for accurate cutting. All these will help you attain excellent precision and wow your clients with exquisite steel fabrications. 

Timely Project Deliveries 

Beating deadlines and meeting customer expectations go in tandem with quality work. You don't want to be the primary reason why a particular project is delayed. Automating your work helps remedy various bottlenecks associated with steel fabrication and production timelines. It can significantly cut down on production time. Consequently, you will enjoy a great return on investment, which helps you compete favourably in the metal fabrication industry.

Adopt Lean Manufacturing 

When considering lean manufacturing, the concept is relatively straightforward. You only need to minimise overhead by optimising your fabrication operations. Invest in technology that processes each fabrication step in a single pass, which, in turn, replaces shop drill lines, band saws, punches, grinding and coping stations. By removing the need for such equipment, you can eventually free up most of your workshop space and cut maintenance costs. Therefore, when you run all your fabrication simulations in CNC software, all you ought to do is hit the start button to commence steel fabrication. Furthermore, you can save more money on labour since such technology only requires one operator to run, promoting a lean workforce. 

Minimise Fabrication Waste

Finally, a user-friendly CAD, CAM or CNC software can allow you to calibrate cutting tolerances manually and keep an eye on robotic cutting paths. All this is done by eliminating mistakes and material waste. An excellent structural steel fabrication machine will significantly minimise the amount of material handling required, which also helps reduce accident risks and equipment damage. 

By keeping in mind these four tips, you will ultimately get ahead of the competition in the steel fabrication industry.