Our industry is experiencing unprecedented times. Never before has production capacity been at such a premium. We have seen different markets get active in the past but nothing like this. Right now in the United States, manufacturers can’t keep up with the demand for metal plate connected...

I am, or was, an off-site construction manufacturing turnaround guy. I believe in Lean and 6-Sigma in concept, but I also know that implementing them within a company is hard. Not allowing people to slip back into their old ways is even harder. Many programs go by the wayside once management...

From its inception, the MSR Workshop has brought together members of the entire lumber supply chain, from production and grading to sales and distribution to end users. Each year, that tradition inspires a great variety of educational topics and a unique opportunity for participants to gain a...

Even before the coronavirus pushed it into the stratosphere – setting record new highs – the housing market was experiencing one of the largest booms in the country’s history. From 2012 until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. housing market had risen more than 50%,...

All industries are filled with a colorful cast of characters — but it is how you remember them and how you learn from them that will make a difference in an industry’s continuing trajectory. In this month’s issue, we are able to remember a legend as we look forward to our...

From the initial discussion with you about the needs of your factory through to installation, it’s a surprisingly straightforward experience – but it will succeed or fail based on the quality of service and know-how available to you. From purchase through installation to on-going...

Today’s technology has made life easier for the truss designer and others in the truss fabrication process. In the early days of the truss industry, we used, reused, and modified existing designs to create new designs using paper, pencil, and a handy Smoley’s Book. Soon we graduated...

The 2022 International Builders Show (IBS) has come and gone, so that means it’s time to start making plans for the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC)! Currently, I have the privilege of serving on the BCMC Committee, so I was present for the 2021 inaugural ribbon...

Building a strong employer/employee relationship is probably one of the biggest challenges that leaders face in any organization. I have never met any manager or leader of any company who does not want to improve in this area. There are so many books, seminars, and other resource materials...

February’s International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando, Florida was massive in both size and content. I consider myself lucky to have gotten a press pass to the IBS. I say lucky not because the pass was obtained, any good trade show will offer that to increase exposure for the show and...