Many forecasters are predicting a gloomy prospect ahead for the aluminium smelting industry. Rising costs of maintaining existing furnaces and the immense expense of installing new ones are frequently cited as a major factor. The last few years has seen the closure of the United Kingdom’s main smelting factories at Anglesey and Lynemouth who produced a combined output of more than 300,000 tons. Lynemouth in particular was recognised throughout the world of aluminium smelting as one of the most efficient users of energy. This now leaves a single plant at Lochaber in Scotland to continue producing around 40,000 tons each year. Investment in aluminium smelting and production in the UK is sadly lacking yet the use of aluminium continues to be on the increase for a number of reasons.

Practical Applications

Aluminium has an versatility that many other metals lack. It is strong, durable and lightweight. One of the main …

What are the most valuable assets on your balance sheet? As a professional services business owner, you probably said, “people.” Health, time, expertise and money might be part of that formula, but no matter how you slice it, your people are mission critical.

So, if you know me at all, you know I like the inventory analogy.  Every business has it.  For a manufacturing company, inventory looks like component parts and finished goods. For a restaurant it looks like utensils, food, and cooking equipment.  Inventory is an essential component of any business.  It is the element that combines with customers in that creative concoction whipped up to produce profit.  For a professional services firm, inventory is a little different. We keep track of it with a second hand. It’s the seconds, minutes, and hours of each day. It’s the quantum of time that we have available to generate revenue.  And …