Component manufacturing is a dynamic business. Market conditions, building codes, supply-chain pressures, and labor needs are continuously shifting, requiring constant problem-solving and innovation. In this environment, staying informed and connected is essential. SBCA’s Open Quarterly Meetings (OQMs) provide exactly that advantage. These gatherings are more than routine check-ins, they are collaborative, forward-looking events that have proven to be effective at equipping component manufacturers (CMs) with the insights, relationships, and strategic perspective needed to succeed and thrive.
At their core, OQMs bring together leaders from every corner of the structural components industry: component manufacturers, framers, equipment suppliers, software partners, and industry veterans. This unique mix of viewpoints creates a rare opportunity to understand emerging challenges and pursue solutions as an industry, not as individual businesses responding alone. For manufacturers navigating evolving building material markets, workforce shortages, and pressure to deliver more value with fewer resources, this collective perspective is invaluable.
Each OQM typically features deep-dive discussions on technical, operational, and regulatory issues shaping component manufacturing. Attendees hear directly from SBCA committees, individual members, and staff about ongoing efforts to identify and share best practices, improve safety, develop technical guidance, and advocate for fair and consistent enforcement of building codes. No matter the issue, CMs and suppliers alike gain clarity that can be brought back to their businesses and translated into better decisions, more efficient operations, and superior products.
OQMs also provide an open environment for sharing practical experience. CMs consistently report that some of the most impactful takeaways from these events come from conversations with peers during meals and happy hours. They gain insight into how others across the country are adapting to automation, structuring design departments, improving quality assurance, or supporting framers in the field. These peer-to-peer exchanges frequently turn into real-world solutions that help reduce problems in the plant, prevent jobsite headaches, and improve profitability.
Just as importantly, OQMs are where the industry’s advocacy efforts take shape, whether that’s to builders, inspectors, or lawmakers. Through SBCA OQMs, CMs have a direct voice in identifying priority issues and guiding the association’s outreach efforts. By participating, CMs and suppliers together strengthen the industry’s ability to influence policies and practices that protect innovation, support offsite construction, and promote safe, efficient building practices.
Ultimately, attending SBCA’s OQMs is an investment in the long-term health of a business and the component manufacturing industry as a whole. These gatherings ensure anyone who attends stays ahead of industry trends, contributes to the development of standards that affect daily operations, and builds meaningful connections with industry experts who share the same challenges and ambitions.
Learn more about SBCA OQMs at https://www.sbcacomponents.com/open-quarterly-meetings and mark your calendar for this year’s OQMs:
- February 24-26 – Austin, Texas
- June 9-11 – Bellevue, Washington
- December 8-10 – Charlotte, North Carolina
We hope to see you there!