Rethinking Ways to Encourage Permanent Truss Bracing Frank Woeste For Component Manufacturers (CMs), it is generally well known that the Registered Design Professional (RDP) is responsible per ANSI/TPI 1 for the design of the permanent bracing system for the wood truss system. However, the issue of responsibility is only the first part of the actual design and... Read More July 2016 Issue #09204 Page 59
Continuous Improvement Ben Hershey Continuous Improvement – Success is achieved, not from the program, but from the mindset Theory of Constraints. The Houlihan Labor Method. Quick Response Manufacturing. Six Sigma. Lean. Total Productive Maintenance. Total Quality Management. The lexicon, tools, and methods... Read More July 2016 Issue #09204 Page 62
The Last Word: Too Many Touches? Joe Kannapell, PE “The least number of touches,” says B. J. Louws, “equals the least cost.” That’s what he learned by careful study of his truss plant operations, and by continual experimentation to increase efficiency. B.J.’s strategy, which has enabled Louws Truss to become a... Read More July 2016 Issue #09204 Page 65
Question of the Day: Permanent Bracing – What’s the Big Deal? Stan Sias Permanent bracing, what’s the big deal? I was recently on a jobsite talking with the Superintendent. The topic quickly turned to the trusses overhead (imagine that!) and I asked if he had a set of the Truss Design Drawings that came with them. He said he did and that they were in... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 4
Advertiser Forum: Satisfaction and Communication Anna Stamm Recently, several people I know were asked to participate in satisfaction surveys. Though their situations differed, all of the surveys were motivated by good intentions. Even so, the results were mixed. As an outsider observing them, I’ve been struck by the things, both good and not so... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 10
The Learning Never Ceases Carl Schoening Before I launch into this month’s musings, I would like to thank everyone who has responded so positively to my writing. My hiatus from writing and publishing articles occurred when my primary outlet decided all of their article-writing should be done in-house. Not that I needed one more... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 16
Killing the Messenger – Self-Proclaimed Industry Expert Consultant Todd Drummond On behalf of all the self-proclaimed industry expert consultants (SPIEC) in the component manufacturing (CM) industry, I would like to state a rebuttal to a published article “Confusion is Starting to Confuse Me” written by Carl Schoening in the May 2016 issue of The Advertiser.... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 18
High Density Housing’s Design Challenges Joe Kannapell, PE The sweet spot of wood component supply is high dollar, high density housing. Beneath expensive finishes are complex structures, and the opportunity to gain significant value. With advanced whole house software, CM’s are able to model the mechanical systems as an integral part of the... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 22
Heritier’s First Time Sean Hubbard Customers, vendors and friends know that I have taken considerable personal time recently, few know the reason why. While the seeds were planted nearly six years ago, our family embarked on a journey that started three and a half years ago. It all began with a friend, an international hosting... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 24
How Important is Plate Placement Relative to Floor Truss Chords? Glenn Traylor Often component manufacturer facilities’ owners and managers state how floor truss fabrication is generally more straight forward and simpler to train when compared to roof truss fabrication. The guidelines are easy to follow and drawings generally do not require special rotation or... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 28