Increase Net Profits by Properly Understanding, Scheduling, and Processing Rush Orders Todd Drummond The summertime build season is upon the industry. For most wood component manufacturers (CM), and other manufactured suppliers of building materials, the lead time of new orders typically easily exceeds four weeks. Inevitably, a salesperson will ask, “Hey, can you do me a favor? I have an... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 25
Are We Designing Our Components to Benefit Our Truss Builders and End Users? Glenn Traylor Many years ago, early in my career as a truss designer, I was interrupted by the production manager. He loudly entered my office with a piece of 2 x 12 and a circular saw and abruptly slammed both on top of my drafting table that was sporting a newly created truss layout. (We did not have... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 35
Anticipation and Optimization Edmond Lim, P.Eng. A greenfield truss plant is a rare opportunity to implement processes as designed within start-up constraints without the push-back of change by existing plant personnel. It is a breeze to teach and train new people to follow our process organization technology as laid out in a brand new plant.... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 46
A Smooth Transition at Panels Plus Panels Plus Team As we venture further into the second half of this year, we have some important updates to share. After almost 17 years of dedicated service, Tim Kaasa, Panels Plus Lead Sales Representative will be retiring at the end of this year. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 54
The Robust Pace of Commercial Financing Carl Villella Economic activity, as we see it here at Acceptance Leasing and Financing Service, is robust. If the current pace of funded deals continues as it has for the first six months of 2023, we will have a banner year, surpassing any year in our 30-year history. We are funding transactions from a... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 58
All Things Wood: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the CM Frank Woeste AI isn’t new, just in the national news lately. Recently, I visited a former student who did his PhD research on AI applications about 35 years ago at Texas A&M University. During our conversations, he shifted to the AI subject in his current work and suggested I try using... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 66
Face Time is Favorite at the MSR Workshop MSR Lumber Producers Council MSRLPC President George Hamilton summed up this year’s MSR Workshop in three simple words: quality time together. “The Workshop has always been centered on networking and education but this year’s event was particularly focused on the opportunity for people to enjoy some... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 70
Building Your Own Home – Part V: Coming Out of the Ground Since breaking ground, the progress made by the foundation and framing crews has been amazing. I know everyone says the fastest part is drying it in, but still I was surprised with the speed everything happened. The foundation crew, an Amish group out of Logotee Indiana, about 2 hours away,... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 78
Design Connections: Reducing the Risk of Truss Collapse Geordie Secord Last month’s article, Preventing Truss Collapses, talks about some of the job site mistakes that can lead to truss collapses. I have no scientific data to back this up, but it is my belief that all truss collapses could be prevented by following proper lifting methods and bracing of the... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 84
Highlighting Precision at Tennessee Building Components Tennessee Building Components Team At Tennessee Building Components, we take pride in delivering the highest quality trusses to our customers, and this recent project was no exception. These photos of the Provost Apartments project, manufactured for Patton and Taylor Enterprise, LLC in Southaven, MS, showcase our attention to... Read More July 2023 Issue #15288 Page 90