Abstract: Hard beads can be formed in a single piece of sheet steel to enhance its strength before or after stamping. The hard beads are formed by melting and re-solidifying it in small discrete volumes. The melting can be performed by applying heat from a heat source; for example, a laser beam, an electron beam, a high temperature flame etc. The re-solidified volume of steel is the hard bead which is stronger than the remaining base steel. Preferably, the hard bead can be formed to have an elongated shape; and the tensile strength of the single piece of sheet steel is enhanced in the direction the bead is elongated. Hard beads thus formed can be arranged in a suitable pattern to meet a strength requirement of a part.