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.
Keep the Dinosaur, Lose the Headache: How to Modernise Without Ripping Out Your ERP.
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog
- Feb 25, 2026
- Updated
Stop typing mill certs and wrestling with 1985 tech — cut manual data entry, scrap and delays by layering AI, OCR and bolt-ons on your ERP.
Read More: Keep the Dinosaur, Lose the Headache: How to Modernise Without Ripping Out Your ERP.Stop Drowning in Paperwork: Why Your Inbox is Killing Your Production Speed.
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Feb 25, 2026
- Updated
Stop letting inbox overload and manual data entry kill output - see how AI automates RFQs, mill certificates and cut lists to cut admin, scrap and delays.
Read More: Stop Drowning in Paperwork: Why Your Inbox is Killing Your Production Speed.Your Spreadsheets Are Not a Database (So Stop Pretending They Are).
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Feb 24, 2026
- Updated
Stop typing mill certs and chasing broken XLSX files. Learn how databases and AI kill manual errors, cut scrap and restore real-time traceability.
Read More: Your Spreadsheets Are Not a Database (So Stop Pretending They Are).Energy costs threaten UK's manufacturing sector competitiveness
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Feb 23, 2026
- Updated
CBI and Energy UK warn high business energy costs risk UK deindustrialisation; 40% of firms cut investment.
Read More: Energy costs threaten UK's manufacturing sector competitivenessFire safety failings identified at Hinkley Point C by regulators
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Feb 23, 2026
- Updated
ONR serves fire enforcement notices to five contractors at Hinkley Point C after inspectors found significant fire-safety failings.
Read More: Fire safety failings identified at Hinkley Point C by regulatorsHow Energy Design Makes Sustainability Profitable
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Feb 23, 2026
- Updated
Discover how energy design transforms grid constraints into opportunities for innovation and profitable sustainability strategies.
Read More: How Energy Design Makes Sustainability ProfitableAI Capacity Planning for Metals Factories
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Feb 21, 2026
- Updated
Stop typing mill certs and wrestling 2005 ERPs — AI automates admin, slashes scrap and downtime, and fixes capacity planning.
Read More: AI Capacity Planning for Metals FactoriesThe Middle East is getting serious about steel education
- Steph Locke
- Blog
- Feb 20, 2026
- Updated
Metal Park and the World Steel Association are building a real talent pipeline in the Middle East — and they’re not messing about.
Read More: The Middle East is getting serious about steel educationNorwegian Green Steel Group In the Running to Buy Collapsed UK Producer
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog
- Feb 20, 2026
- Updated
Blastr wants to pick up Speciality Steels UK’s bones — and maybe move its HQ to Britain in the process.
Read More: Norwegian Green Steel Group In the Running to Buy Collapsed UK ProducerHow to Mature Sustainability in Manufacturing
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog
- Feb 20, 2026
- Updated
Learn how manufacturing can embrace sustainability, reduce costs, and meet regulatory demands with insights from Dr. Kevin Douly.
Read More: How to Mature Sustainability in ManufacturingCategories
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- Artificial Intelligence
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- Compliance
- Continuous Improvement
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- Metals
- Nightingale HQ and GoSmarter
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