Looking at Your Operation from a Different Perspective Ben Hershey My wife recently saw a book online (direct from the publisher) that she thought I would enjoy reading: “Lean Production for Competitive Advantage,” by John Nichols. There was, though, a funny thing about the book; it was printed upside down compared to the binding. I considered... Read More May 2019 Issue #11238 Page 20
An Effective Productivity Incentive Program for Truss Manufacturing Todd Drummond It is possible to give your shop employees a raise and actually achieve more capacity through greater productivity and make more net profit for your company by implementing an effective productivity incentive program. However, most of the incentive programs (IP) that are touted in the component... Read More May 2019 Issue #11238 Page 41
The Hiring Zone: Overtime Blues The Designer Hiring Season is here and now, and with it comes overtime. It may be a Saturday or two, or even some 9–10 hour days. Short term, managing your labor needs with overtime is a great alternative to the expense and risks of hiring another designer. Long term use may cost you a few... Read More May 2019 Issue #11238 Page 74
Advertiser Forum: Developing a Culture of Safety Anna Stamm When my sister saw the cover of last month’s issue, her first question was—will it be a problem that the person in the photograph has no fall protection? She also was unimpressed with his baseball cap instead of a... Read More April 2019 Issue #11237 Page 6
Better Net Profits, Not Hyped-Up Business Philosophies Todd Drummond Whether your company is a single-location or a huge multi-location operation, 2018 should have been a banner year for profits for your company. Most of my clients were in the high teens and many were in the mid-twenties for net profit to total sales. How well did your company perform in... Read More April 2019 Issue #11237 Page 19
Effective Ways Leaders Solve Problems Ben Hershey With as many problems as we all face in our work and life, it seems as if there is never enough time to solve each one without dealing with some adversity along the way. Problems keep mounting so fast that we find ourselves taking shortcuts to temporarily alleviate the tension points, so we... Read More April 2019 Issue #11237 Page 38
Success Through Failure Ben Hershey “I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan While it... Read More March 2019 Issue #11236 Page 20
Too Many Companies Struggle with Making Process Changes Todd Drummond A statement far too managers make is that they are not able to get their employees to embrace change. If your company struggles with making changes in any given area, just keep in mind that real change always comes from the top down. If your company is struggling with change and you are the top... Read More February 2019 Issue #11235 Page 18
Close the Gap on Lean Initiatives Ben Hershey When I’m asked why I chose a set of puzzle pieces for the 4Ward Consulting team logo, I’m glad to explain that fitting the pieces together has always been a part of my approach to business, my own and those I have assisted. We have teams, divisions, branches, departments, etc.... Read More February 2019 Issue #11235 Page 38
Taking Steps Toward Manufacturing & Distribution Efficiency Ben Hershey As we start the New Year, a focus of many operations will be setting goals to remain competitive. Today’s companies in the LBM/Component/Modular market are looking for ways to drive efficiencies throughout their manufacturing processes. Extending Lean Manufacturing principles and practices... Read More January 2019 Issue #11234 Page 17