The Last Word: Attachment to Our Work Joe Kannapell Just as important as enjoying our jobs is belonging to our workplace. That takes effort on our part, especially if we’re new employees or work remotely, like I do. Know that we have a dual purpose; to get our jobs done, of course, but also to become a partner with our associates. Like so... Read More September 2016 Issue #09206 Page 75
Building Roof Trusses for High Density Housing Joe Kannapell The differences between high density attached and tract style detached housing extend to the shop floor. Though truss designs may be similar, the project size, location and degree of repetition differs, influencing unit labor costs and material requirements. High density means “maximum... Read More July 2016 Issue #09204 Page 24
The Last Word: Too Many Touches? Joe Kannapell “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
High Density Housing’s Design Challenges Joe Kannapell 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
The Last Word: Mono-tasking Joe Kannapell We better learn mono-tasking (and forego multi-tasking) if we are to excel at component design. Experts tell us that even a 2-3 second interruption can double the number of errors in an assigned task. Ouch! Every designer knows the painful personal toll of errors, and every... Read More June 2016 Issue #09203 Page 61
Component Opportunities in High Density Housing Joe Kannapell The growing attraction of owning attached, close-in housing is a winning trend for componentization. Higher densities shift the labor equation in our favor, both in-plant and out on jobsites. Maximizing the “cube” of structures via open webbed floor and attic room trusses leverages... Read More May 2016 Issue #09202 Page 20
The Last Word: The Future of Component Design Joe Kannapell The evidence is all around us that the “art” of component design continues to advance. This I clearly witnessed last week in a Northeast Atlanta suburb. Down the road from a jobsite I visited over 40 years ago, a highly customized project is rising (see photos on page 20). In the... Read More May 2016 Issue #09202 Page 61
The Last Word: Learning from the Best in the Business Joe Kannapell “Do it as if your job depended on it” was a directive that I will never forget, even 45 years later. Fateful words from an owner, to me, a new employee of Hydro-Air Engineering, long before it became MiTek. Other lasting words have come to me from SBCA Hall of Fame (HOF)... Read More April 2016 Issue #09201 Page 55
The Last Word: Are You Ready For Management? Joe Kannapell Now is the time for you to prepare to move up in management. Over the last 20 years, dozens of plants formerly run by “hands-on” owners are now run by managers. During the recent recession, many management candidates left our business. And in the next 10... Read More March 2016 Issue #09200 Page 55
The Last Word: The Importance of Measuring Our Work Joe Kannapell To safeguard our work future, we need to know, and more importantly show, what we have accomplished. Rarely are we fooled about the value of our work. But how we feel may not accord with our boss’s feelings. That’s where measurement enters the workplace, to provide an unbiased... Read More February 2016 Issue #09199 Page 53