Blog and Articles
Articles Written for the Shop Floor, Not the Boardroom
Practical reads for people who run metal processing, distribution, and manufacturing operations. No generic thought-leadership. No consultancy waffle. Just articles written for people who care about what actually happens on the shop floor.
Our articles cover the decisions that actually matter for metals businesses:
- How to cut scrap without replacing your equipment
- How to stop chasing mill certificates before every delivery
- How to get real inventory visibility without a six-figure ERP bill
- How AI is changing the economics of metals manufacturing
You’ll also find articles on industry terminology, compliance standards, and the wider context of digitalisation for metals SMEs. Turns out knowing what’s broken is step one.
If you’re looking for a specific subject, browse by topic or category. The glossary is a good starting point if you’re new to the terminology your customers use on purchase orders.
Smart Sensors and IoT: Security Best Practices
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog
- Apr 19, 2026
- Updated
Practical IoT security best practices for smart sensors in metals manufacturing, covering device hardening, PKI, mTLS, encrypted updates, real-time monitoring, and GDPR-compliant data management.
Read More: Smart Sensors and IoT: Security Best PracticesThe Bone Yard Is Killing Your Margins: The Metal Waste Paradox
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Apr 16, 2026
- Updated
Forgotten yard stock drains margin and space. Learn a practical clean-up and offcut workflow that cuts buying, waste, and planning delays.
Read More: The Bone Yard Is Killing Your Margins: The Metal Waste ParadoxGoSmarter vs Jonas Metals for Metals Distribution Management
- Steph Locke
- Blog , Learning
- Apr 14, 2026
- Updated
Jonas Metals is purpose-built for the metals distribution industry and has been for decades. GoSmarter approaches the same problems with modern AI. Here is the honest comparison between two tools that both know steel.
Read More: GoSmarter vs Jonas Metals for Metals Distribution ManagementGoSmarter vs Katana and Fiix: Which Tool Does Your Metals Operation Actually Need?
- Steph Locke
- Blog , Learning
- Apr 14, 2026
- Updated
Metals manufacturers evaluating inventory and cert traceability tools often compare GoSmarter with Katana and Fiix. They are not direct competitors. This post explains what each tool actually does, where they overlap, and how to decide which one (or which combination) is right for your operation.
Read More: GoSmarter vs Katana and Fiix: Which Tool Does Your Metals Operation Actually Need?Shop Floor Planning Software for Metals Manufacturers
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog , Learning
- Apr 10, 2026
- Updated
GoSmarter is shop floor planning software purpose-built for metals manufacturers. Generate live cut plans, allocate stock to orders in real time, and give your floor team the information they need without chasing it from a spreadsheet.
Read More: Shop Floor Planning Software for Metals ManufacturersSteel Distributor Software: GoSmarter for Steel Stockholders
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog , Learning
- Apr 10, 2026
- Updated
GoSmarter is steel distributor software purpose-built for steel stockholders, service centres, and rebar suppliers. Manage inventory by grade and heat number, automate mill certificate handling, and generate optimised cut lists — all in one connected system.
Read More: Steel Distributor Software: GoSmarter for Steel StockholdersWhy Some Metals Manufacturers Don't Choose GoSmarter After a Trial or Demo
- Steph Locke
- Blog , Learning
- Apr 10, 2026
- Updated
GoSmarter is not right for every metals operation. This page explains the four most common reasons companies trial GoSmarter and decide not to proceed: integration complexity, volume below the ROI threshold, team readiness, and scope mismatch with a full MES requirement.
Read More: Why Some Metals Manufacturers Don't Choose GoSmarter After a Trial or DemoGoSmarter vs Epicor for Metals Operations Management
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog , Learning
- Apr 7, 2026
- Updated
Epicor is a mature, capable ERP built for manufacturers. It is also complex, expensive, and not built specifically for steel. GoSmarter fills the metals-specific gaps. The two can work together.
Read More: GoSmarter vs Epicor for Metals Operations ManagementAI Tools for Compliance-Driven Document Operations in Metals
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Apr 6, 2026
Manual cert filing is a compliance risk. See how AI tools automate document operations in metals — from OCR extraction to audit-ready traceability.
Read More: AI Tools for Compliance-Driven Document Operations in MetalsIntegrated Planning–Materials Alignment for Metals Manufacturers
- Steph Locke
- Blog , Learning
- Apr 6, 2026
- Updated
Integrated planning–materials alignment is the practice of ensuring every production decision — cut plans, job allocations, customer commitments — runs against the same live, verified material data. GoSmarter makes this possible without a multi-month ERP project.
Read More: Integrated Planning–Materials Alignment for Metals ManufacturersCategories
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