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Wood products are one of the most widely used construction materials in the United States, especially for low- to mid-rise residential structures. However, surveys conducted by the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) indicate that while many structural engineers...

There is a longer, quite fascinating tale to be pondered on the subject of this year’s historic western Canadian shipment backlog, however, for now let’s skip the conspiracy theories and stick to the confirmable facts. The source for this article’s information is the...

Computer-simulated product testing is being used increasingly in modern engineering and manufacturing because it provides a low-risk, time- and cost-efficient means of modeling system performance using a wide array of variables before a physical prototype has been created. The following article...

“When will our computer project(s) be finished?”, we are often asked. Even after 50 years of trying, there is no easy way to explain what it takes to get “done.” However, one of our industry’s finest leaders offered the best advice 40 years ago. “We’ve...

In June, my sisters and I threw a 50th anniversary party for our aunt and uncle. Because our own parents never lived long enough to reach that milestone, it was a wonderful occasion to celebrate for everyone and have a great time. Seeing some of the photos after the party, one caught my...

Part Five: Monoliths of the Millennium The movement to taller and broader apartment buildings has impacted every component manufacturer. One such project may occupy estimators and designers for weeks at a time, may overwhelm production, and may confound shipping. It may crowd out smaller...

A continuing strong house construction scene means that the North American frame and truss industry and supporting supply chain are busy. Frame and truss manufacturing remains highly competitive, and top performing companies are paying even closer attention to automation, quality, precision,...

This month, I was able to view some of the systems recently installed at customer locations. All of the systems seem to be engineered well and mechanically sound. I would like to offer this bit of information: Alpine’s SmartView offers an operator’s advantage, with dimensioning...

For many years, I have been beating the drum that board footage (BF) is an imperfect unit measurement that our industry should abandon. The better alternative is the proven method of time estimations which uses man-minutes (MM). Man-minutes are derived from time-in-motion practices that have...

How the product will be used is a very important consideration when designing components, and it also comes into play during fabrication. The attic trusses in the photograph have a wedge installed at the wall–ceiling intersection. This is the intended design. Deeper in the rack,...