Noise control programs in production metal machining and forging operations produced significant reductions of noise levels. Interaction with production engineering personnel contributed very much to the achieved successes. Operator exposure to high noise levels was the result of overlapping intermittent sources. Principal noise offenders were airjets, hydraulics, steel impact on steel tables and conveyers, furnace airjets, metal machining, TEFC electric motors, and fans. Management strived to meet 85 dBA (U. S. Army Tech. Bull. MED 251) and 90 dBA (OSHA) levels without regard for exposure time. Operator exposure and source identification was obtained by taping and statistically analyzing noise levels at operator positions. Thorough testing was undertaken before implementation. In the cases studied, increased room absorption was of little value regardless of distance. This was determined through studies of sound field from portable sound sources, impulse techniques, and standard calculations. Reductions of 20 dBA were achieved by installing small resistive and dispersive mufflers on pneumatic controls. Steel impact noise was reduced 15 dBA with combined low durometer rubber and unconstrained viscoelastic damping. Furnace fan noise was reduced by using low‐pressure mufflers on the fan intake, and by relocating fans. Directional electric motor fan noise was reduced by using mufflers.