Advertiser Forum: Renewed Respect for Construction Anna Stamm When I heard the nightly news would have a feature on the return of shop classes to high schools, my interest was piqued. Listening to the report, it was refreshing to hear the students’ excitement for the good job opportunities that would be available to them after graduation. Apparently,... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 6
Home Building Technology, Part VI: The Original Wood Truss Manufacturers Joe Kannapell, PE Although last month’s article in this series, “Home Building Technology, Part V: Early Truss Connection Innovators,” brought our story up to the post-war time period, we would be remiss without acknowledging the original truss manufacturers in greater detail. A small group of... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 10
Now’s the Time to Pause So You Can Look Ahead Wendy Boyd For many in the structural building components industry, the past few months have been quieter than usual. This has been caused by a combination of factors including economic, regulatory, and operational. I was talking to a customer recently and he put it like this: “where we’re... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 19
True Employee Motivation and Satisfaction Todd Drummond When discussing employee staffing issues during consultations, wages and long-term employment are inevitably part of the conversation. After decades of advisement, it is no longer a surprise to me about the disconnect between what executives think is most important to the employees versus what... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 30
What Kind of Message Does Your Facility Send to Your Employees? Glenn Traylor In Quality Assurance, we aim to improve our product by enhancing manufacturing methods. Continuous effort is made to ensure work meets plant standards, with each employee fulfilling their role. Even so, businesses that have a very narrow view of quality might be overlooking an important... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 39
Is Your Downstream Crew Still Solving Problems Created Upstream? Steve Shrader Too often, systems that claim to be “automated” still rely on people to direct the flow. That reliance on people rather than true automation means you’re still solving problems downstream that were created by things happening upstream. A picker is still compensating for a... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 46
Prefabrication Scalability: Where to Begin Kevin Guest In today’s rapidly evolving housing market, the demand for diverse housing types—affordable, low-income, modular, multi-family, and general residential construction—is greater than ever. This growing demand highlights the need for scalable, efficient building solutions. Enter... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 54
Feed 2, 3, 4, or 5 Saws with the JAX Gantry Kathryn Pedde For the first time, a modern machine used in many other industries has proven itself in a truss plant. In other industries where it works in hundreds of plants, the JAX gantry transports tires, crates, and cases of Jack Daniels whiskey. In a truss plant, JAX moves 1 to 13 sticks of lumber from... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 60
The Benefits of Working with a Consultative Finance Professional Carl Villella Consultative financing for wood component manufacturers goes beyond simple loans. It’s about understanding the industry’s unique challenges—like high equipment costs, raw material volatility, and market sensitivity—to offer tailored financial solutions. A consultative... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 67
Good Fun and a Good Cause in the Capital Area Rhonda Leppert The day started cool but warmed up with plenty of sunshine and a light breeze; quite literally a perfect day for SBCA Capital Area Chapter’s 12th Annual Golf Tournament. Held on April 28 at the Evergreen Country Club in Haymarket, VA, the purpose of the event was to have fun and raise... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 74