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Insights & Updates
Product updates, industry insights, and best practices for steel service centers and metal distributors.
The Steel Distributor's Guide to Tariffs and Trade Policy
Section 232, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and trade cases. What service center operators need to understand about trade policy.
How to Build a Culture of Accountability at a Steel Service Center
Accountability is not about blame. It is about every person in the organization knowing what they own, measuring whether they delivered, and caring enough to improve when they did not.
How to Build an Effective Inside Sales Team at a Steel Service Center
Inside sales is not a stepping stone to outside sales. It is a distinct role that requires specific skills, tools, and management. Done right, inside reps generate more revenue per dollar of compensation than any other position.
How EV Manufacturing Is Changing Steel Demand
Electric vehicles use different steel products than conventional cars. The shift to EVs is creating new demand for specific grades and forms that service centers should understand.
How to Train a New Warehouse Employee at a Steel Service Center
Training a new warehouse employee used to take 3 to 6 months of shadowing. Modern systems cut that to 4 to 6 weeks. Here is the training plan.
How Steel Service Centers Can Benefit From MSCI Membership
MSCI (Metals Service Center Institute) represents the majority of the North American metals distribution industry. For service centers that are not members, here is what you are missing.
The Aging Workforce Problem and Why Technology Is the Only Answer
The average age of a steel service center employee keeps climbing. Younger workers are not lining up to learn a DOS-based inventory system from 1997.
What We Learned Talking to 100 Steel Service Center Operators
A synthesis of patterns from conversations with service center operators. What keeps them up at night and what surprised us.
How to Set Up a Steel Service Center From Scratch
Starting a steel service center requires $2 to $5 million in capital, deep industry knowledge, and a plan for how you will differentiate in a crowded market. Here is what the plan looks like.
Understanding Section 232 Tariffs and Their Impact on Steel Distribution
Section 232 tariffs have reshaped the competitive landscape for steel distribution since 2018. Understanding how they work and who they affect helps distributors make better sourcing decisions.
Why Steel Service Centers Should Invest in Employee Cross-Training
When one person knows how to run the slitter, one person knows the shear, and one person knows the crane, you are one sick day away from a production shutdown.
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.