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When it comes to reflecting on our families and lessoned learned, there is no better time than the end of the year holidays. As we prepare for and celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzza), our thoughts are filled with warm memories of the past. There is never a wrong time...

Even with laser projection and auto-jigging, assembly can still be expedited by good material handling and plating. The former can be optimized at reasonable expense, while to improve the latter will require a substantial investment. To calculate the potential impact, we can use data recorded in...

Today’s equipment is ever evolving. Innovation has indeed added more complexity than ever for the building components industry. Capital expenditures should be planned and calculating rather than intimidating and emotional. There are several key steps entrepreneurs and businesses should...

Think beyond the physical investment of trucks, equipment, and buildings when it comes to investments for improving the bottom line for 2021. If a company wants to improve the net profits, improving the project communication process can add serious dollars to the bottom line. Most companies...

There are many steps in the process of bringing lumber to the truss plant to be used in our trusses. Lumber must be harvested then sawn. Drying and planing brings the lumber closer to potential use, but it is not until the lumber makes it through the grading process that it is suitable for use....

The importance of making changes for Offsite Manufacturing For some it seems like this past year, 2020, has been either a waste or was put on pause. There have been numerous challenges in our businesses, politics, the economy, our homes, and many more all disrupted by the Covid pandemic that...

In our first installment last month, Sharing Information Without Constraint, we explored the constraints around information sharing in today’s rapid-paced construction cycle. Material prices are high, interest rates are low, and business is booming. But, this rapid pace doesn’t...

Using the Past to Build the Future The partnership between House of Design and Alpine, an ITW Company, is focused on helping clients address the challenges in the component manufacturing industry – labor and demand. The foundation of our truss system solution is robotics, helping...

Last month’s article, Stiles Machinery Is Ready to Be a Part of Your Team, focused on how Stiles Machinery values teamwork and partnerships. This month, I’m proud to highlight Stiles’ strong partnership with MINDA and the newly founded MINDA North America in Granite, North...

This classic phrase brings back many memories and even fits some of today’s challenges. As a child, I can remember family road trips and being bored sitting in the back seat, mile after mile. I would ask, “Are we there yet?”  My dad would always say, “Soon, be...