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Insights & Updates
Product updates, industry insights, and best practices for steel service centers and metal distributors.
The Metal Center News Top 50: What the Rankings Reveal About Industry Strategy
Beyond the revenue rankings, the MCN Top 50 data reveals strategic patterns about who is winning and how.
How to Manage Freight Costs at a Steel Service Center
Freight is your third-largest cost after material and labor. Most service centers treat it as a fixed expense. The ones that manage it actively save 10% to 20% per year.
The Monday Morning Meeting: What to Review at Your Steel Service Center
The weekly operations meeting sets the tone for the entire week. Here are the metrics and topics that actually matter.
How to Conduct a Steel Inventory Physical Count That Actually Works
Physical inventory counts at steel service centers are dreaded, postponed, and often inaccurate. A structured approach turns this annual nightmare into a reliable process.
Why the Best Steel Companies Are Hiring Software Engineers
Nucor hired a Director of Business Technology Integration. Reliance is building digital capabilities across 320+ locations. The industry is changing.
How Steel Prices Move: A Guide for People New to the Industry
Steel pricing is confusing to newcomers. Mills announce prices, indices publish benchmarks, and service centers set their own margins on top. Here is how it all fits together.
How to Build an Effective Maintenance Program for Steel Processing Equipment
Unplanned downtime on a slitting line costs $2,000 to $5,000 per hour in lost production. A preventive maintenance program costs a fraction of that and keeps the line running.
Switching ERPs Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Data)
The number one reason service centers stay on terrible software is fear of switching. Here is the migration playbook that reduces the risk.
What Every Steel Distributor Should Know About Antidumping Duties
Antidumping and countervailing duties add 10% to 500% to the cost of imported steel from specific countries. Ignoring them can result in massive retroactive duty bills.
What a Private Equity Buyer Looks for in a Steel Service Center
PE interest in steel distribution is increasing. Here is what acquirers evaluate and how to position your business for a premium valuation.
How Steel Service Centers Can Support Lean Manufacturing Customers
Your manufacturing customers are implementing lean and just-in-time. If your delivery and inventory capabilities cannot support their lean operations, they will find a supplier who can.
Credit Management in Steel: The Art of Saying Yes Without Getting Burned
Steel service centers extend $50,000 to $500,000+ in trade credit per customer. Getting credit decisions right is both art and science.