As we all start the New Year, we see the road ahead and the challenges we must face. This is part of the life experience: as time moves forward, markets change, and competition will always try to take what you have built. Many difficulties may look daunting, but with the right attitude, we can...

What do a former First Lady and today’s most forward-thinking frame fabricators have in common? More than you might think. Consider this quote, “The more we simplify our material needs, the more we are free to think of other things” – Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor...

It appears I may have opened a can of worms with my last article, “A Case Study for Transforming Profits Through Employment Practices.” The article was a summary of the session I led at BCMC, “Case Study —Building Material Supply & Truss Manufacturing.” The...

The following is a summary of the seminar I gave at this year’s BCMC show on October 8th, 2024. If your mind is open, I am handing you pure gold to help your company meet the challenges negatively affecting everyone now and in the coming years. Case Study —Building Material Supply...

Automation within the building industry has been ongoing for decades but at a slower pace than other industries. So, what do we mean by automation? Let’s focus on two types: automation for building estimation and automation for roof truss manufacturing. Both will be discussed at the...

In today’s fast-paced frame and truss manufacturing environments, efficiency and waste reduction are paramount. Traditional production methods often fall short in meeting the demands of modern businesses, paving the way for Real-Time Optimization (RTO) and Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery to...

Should we cull lumber at the saw? That is the question posed by Joe Kannapell, P.E. in The Last Word in the July issue, “Where to Cull Lumber.” As Joe discusses: “So where in the process should we cull lumber? To minimize touches, it can be done when the bands are broken on a...

In the building industry generally and industrialized construction specifically, the utilization of data has become increasingly pivotal. This trend parallels the data-driven advancements seen in Formula 1, where precision, speed, and strategic insights derived from data have revolutionized the...

If you are a manufacturer who desires high efficiency with high-quality products and services for your customers, then you know you need good employees to deliver them. Many claim that employees are the most important part of their business. So, it should not be a shock that poor productivity...

Do you think your plant is too small to be able to capture additional efficiencies? Or, maybe you’re satisfied with the growth your plant has experienced and you think you’ve attained an effective production system. Whether your plant is small, large, or somewhere in between, you can...