Advance Your Career and Earnings By Learning From Mistakes We Are All Prone to Make Todd Drummond Each generation has to learn all the life lessons either through their own mistakes or the counseling of the older generation. The vast majority of us wish not to repeat the same mistakes and, if possible, avoid them altogether. If you wish to avoid embarrassment, whether you are new to being an... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 24
Do You Know the Frequent Non-Compliance Issue That’s “Easy” to Fix? Glenn Traylor The photo shows a 2 x 4 truss with an ANSI/TPI 1 non-compliance issue. This is something that never should have happened! Can you spot the problem? [For photo, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] If you shouted, “a missing connector,” then give yourself a gold star! As I was ranking... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 35
Enhancing Truss Build Efficiency Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Enhancing truss builder efficiency will increase productivity and result in more truss production at lower cost. The most cost-effective way of enhancing truss builder efficiency is to put TVs up over each truss jig as a visual truss assembly aid. Enventek PlantOne TV/Projection is compatible... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 44
Will Offshore Designers Work for You? You’ve likely been inundated with resumes and applications from independent offshore truss designers boasting software proficiency, estimating, takeoff, and design skills. Many highlight their experience with US and Canadian employers, often presenting themselves as part of a team of... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 82
Delivering High Quality Design Services to CMs John Croll Alpine visits BEDC’s Manila Campus Alpine and Building Engineering and Design Co. (BEDC) have entered into a strategic partnership to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable design services to the component manufacturing industry. BEDC employs degreed civil engineers who must... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 92
Advertiser Forum: Showing Appreciation with Candy and Corned Beef Anna Stamm The holiday season is upon us (yes, really), and it provides ample opportunities to build camaraderie and team spirit at your business with a little effort and a little food. Making the Effort Many companies have some form of employee appreciation program, but those that don’t have... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 6
How Do We Ensure an Installation of Spida Machinery Goes Well? Wendy Boyd Let’s talk about the most recent installation of a full frame line for Spida Machinery in Pennsylvania. After working alongside the management of the Truss and Panel plant in PA for quite some time – initially talking about their wish list, moving through to budgets and capex,... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 17
Straight Talk About Labor Shortages and Costs Todd Drummond I have had the same conversations with so many executives concerning the tight labor market and rising labor costs. There is good and bad news concerning this subject. First, the good news is that you can be assured that high labor costs and a tight labor market are not only affecting your... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 24
What is the Best Way to Handle Defects Under the Plated Area? Glenn Traylor Everyone who uses lumber in trusses understands that defects in lumber can impact truss performance in different ways. Some defects are not important but others will affect truss performance and can even cause truss failure. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] In the first photo,... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 35
Batch Cutting vs. Cut By Truss Edmond Lim, P.Eng. What weighs more, a pound of muscle or a pound of fat? In truss jargon, the question would be: What produces more trusses, 200 pieces of batch cutting or 200 pieces of cut-by-truss cutting? The answer, of course, is that both cutting methods produce the same number of trusses. So what’s... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 44