Advertiser Forum: Bringing Order to Chaos Anna Stamm Call me smart or call me obsessive, I like to create rules for things. If we take a kinder, gentler tone, we can call them standard operating procedures, but they’re rules. Sometimes, they may seem excessive, but they accomplish the mission of bringing order to would-be chaos and making... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 6
Automation on the Factory Floor Wendy Boyd I’ve had many conversations with manufacturers across the structural building components industry lately, and the topic that keeps coming up is automation. And it’s no surprise – automation is no longer a futuristic concept. It’s here, and it’s delivering real... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 17
Lean Manufacturing Only Works with the Best Employee Management Practices Todd Drummond Anyone with any training in lean practice has heard of standard terms such as the Five “S” and “Just in Time.” What is not discussed often enough is that lean principles are based on healthy management and employee relations, which is the foundation of the... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 26
“OBBB” and “AII” Inspiration to Feed the Beast! Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Both the US’ One Big Beautiful Bill Section 179 and Canada’s Accelerated Investment Incentive are designed to stimulate economic growth by encouraging businesses to invest in new equipment and technology by providing upfront tax relief. How’s that for Inspiration to Feed the... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 46
Continuous Improvement with JAX Kathryn Pedde We put our JAX gantry into full operation in late 2023, but we never stopped working to enhance its effectiveness. That’s the advantage of having owner-operators who are hands-on in the plant every day. Fortunately, we began with a proven automated gantry system equipped with a proven... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 70
The Time for Improvement is Always Now Todd Drummond The summer build season is upon us, so the familiar daily time constraint challenges are back. Yet this summer build season is not like the past few years. In many regions, sales are not as strong, so margins are dropping to keep the sales volume needed to remain profitable. During the winter... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 24
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
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
Being Aware of Lost Productivity Todd Drummond Our perception forms what we think is the “true” reality, and our reality is always biased based on preconceived ideas, limited perspectives, and the big one of protecting our ego. So, how willing are you to review your area of responsibility for improvement beyond what you... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 28