Thom McAnally

Standards of Performance for Manufacturing and Their Role in Annual Reviews

Manufacturing operations rely on efficiency and accuracy. But is that limited to the literal manufacturing process only, or can companies take the same logical approach to evaluating all aspects of employee performance?  A well-defined set of Standards of Performance ensures employees...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 114
Thom McAnally

The Benefits of a 32-Hour Workweek for Truss Designers

Truss manufacturers looking to attract younger truss designers might want to think outside of the box. We have found one key issue affecting many Gen-Z truss designers and have a solution that may help entice them to your company—offering a Gen-Z-preferred workweek. Consider this: Gen-Z...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 100
Thom McAnally

Reasons Why Truss Designers Leave Their Jobs

Truss manufacturers rely heavily on skilled and experienced professionals, especially truss designers. Yet, retaining these technical workers is a common challenge. Here’s what we have learned over the past few years on why truss designers often leave their jobs, focusing on the most...

#17307 Cover image
February 2025
Issue #17307
Page 98
Thom McAnally

How We ‘Serve Two Masters’ at The JobLine

People often ask what makes The JobLine unique compared to other industry recruiters. It’s a straightforward question, but the answer is far from simple. While most recruiters rely heavily on resumes to gauge a candidate’s fit, The JobLine takes a completely different approach....

#17306 Cover image
January 2025
Issue #17306
Page 96
Thom McAnally

How to Measure Your Design Team’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Design teams are made up of people, and as we know, people can drive profits or create costly errors. When your design team is a mix of seasoned and newer individuals, and you add off-shore or subcontract service providers, understanding their individual skill levels becomes essential. Do you...

#16305 Cover image
December 2024
Issue #16305
Page 96
Thom McAnally

Is Your Designer Pay Keeping Up with Inflation?

JobLine periodically updates our compensation calculator, and while I expect some surprises, this time, I was truly taken aback. Recent candidates have reported significantly higher compensation at their previous employers than we’ve seen for job postings. I’ve attributed this to...

#16304 Cover image
November 2024
Issue #16304
Page 100
Thom McAnally

Harnessing the Benefits of AI

Last month, I attended a seminar that sparked my interest in the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) in business. The event was held at an arts-focused hotel in Louisville, KY, during a company retreat my wife, an executive at the local hospital, was attending. One of the sessions...

#16303 Cover image
October 2024
Issue #16303
Page 92
Thom McAnally

Is Customer Service Still Important?

In the past, businesses prided themselves on exceptional customer service, especially in addressing warranty claims and service lapses promptly and effectively. Unfortunately, recent years, particularly since COVID, have seen a significant decline in this vital aspect of business. Take, for...

#16302 Cover image
September 2024
Issue #16302
Page 98
Thom McAnally

What Time is It?

If you are production oriented, I’m betting that you have frequently looked at your watch, phone, or computer to see what time it was. Time is a precious commodity, especially when you are supporting production. When I was a kid, first starting out in manufacturing as a sweeper, and came...

#16301 Cover image
August 2024
Issue #16301
Page 70
Thom McAnally

The Importance of Ownership

When we were young, we often said, “I want to own that.” Whether it was a new car, a boat, or a specific type of computer, owning something had significant meaning. We felt a sense of accomplishment when we attained something we desired. As we grew older, some of us were inspired to...

#16300 Cover image
July 2024
Issue #16300
Page 84
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