“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” – Ralph Nichols, American psychologist and communication theorist, often referred to as the “Father of Listening”
“We don’t know what we don’t know about the other side until we take the time to understand their ‘Why,’” says Ross Harter, General Manager of Drexel Building Supply’s new truss manufacturing facility in Wrightstown, WI. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, specializing primarily in offsite construction and component manufacturing, Ross knows that this statement can apply to a variety of situations, including relationships with his lumber suppliers. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.]
“I think the more cross-pollination and intro to each other’s worlds we have, the better off we’ll be,” he continues. “We want to understand the capabilities of the product, and lumber producers want to understand their customers’ needs. Understanding is the biggest thing.”
For Ross and many other participants in the MSR lumber supply chain – from mills to distributors to component manufacturers – the annual MSR Workshop has become an ideal place to foster healthy understanding. This April’s event welcomed 60 such individuals to downtown Charlotte, NC, to spend a few days networking and learning from one another about the value and benefits of machine-graded lumber.
This year’s Workshop committee invited Ross to present as part of the CM panel, “Automation & Opportunities in Component Manufacturing.” A first-time attendee, Ross says sharing his recent experience equipping a brand new truss plant with state-of-the art automation allowed him to communicate his perspective on new lumber needs and trends for CMs as their plants become more automated.
Ross says the resulting conversations from the panel discussion were very positive. “I got a lot of ‘I didn’t know how that worked’ and ‘now I understand why you’re asking for different lengths’ from some of the lumber producers in attendance,” he explains. “I think having an opportunity to share photos and videos of our operation and present our ‘Why’ was very helpful.”
Also a first-time Workshop attendee, West Fraser’s Andrew Guest was one of the producers who came away from the CM Panel with a better understanding of how component manufacturers use MSR lumber. “I gained a lot of knowledge about what customers are doing in truss production, their progression in automation, and how that ties to MSR demand,” he reports. “Learning from them and relaying it back on our end is important. It helps us to recognize and understand the potential for trends to continue due to certain changes in truss production.”
Attendees provided positive feedback on this year’s educational sessions. One of the primary draws of the Workshop, the consensus was that there was something for everyone to learn from and enjoy again this year. John Gerlach, a first-time attendee from North Star Forest Materials, agrees: “We appreciate that the Workshop not only provides a venue for us to follow up with people in a focused, informal setting, it also covers a range of topics in a couple of days. It’s a good time to delve into specific topics with the people who are involved in the supply chain from start to finish and gain perspective on MSR and all that goes with it.”
“If you are new to the industry, like I am, the Workshop is a great place to learn,” adds first-timer Hunter LeCaire from Wildwood Trading Group’s mill sales division. “I learned something from every session and got a good foundation in a number of areas, especially about how MSR lumber is being used by component manufacturers.”
“The biggest part for me was meeting people, putting names to faces, shaking hands,” Hunter continues. “I really liked how things flowed so smoothly between activities like golf and bowling and educational opportunities, with plenty of time get to know people better. The LVL plant tour was particularly interesting and eye opening, too. Bottom line: I had a lot of fun and made some good connections!”
Andrew sums up the value of another successful MSR Workshop nicely. “The ability to talk to all different types of companies in that reach – MSR producers, grading agencies, equipment vendors, and manufacturers – all in one space is a big value to a lot of people,” he says. “You’re able to easily talk with folks in the industry that you may not regularly work with.”
“When I was setting up our new truss plant and working to optimize our inventory, I spent a lot of time working through my lumber buyer to get answers to my questions,” recalls Ross. “Now I know that the Workshop puts you in front of the right people in one place to get answers to your questions about MSR, whatever they might be.”
John says he would encourage anyone serious about our industry to consider attending a future workshop. “MSR is a crucial part of the truss and component manufacturing process,” he explains. “The more you learn about the product – its milling availability, distribution, and marketing – the better off you will be. You will definitely have a good time, too!”