The Last Word: The Last Word on Travel Planning Joe Kannapell My best advice is to always deal directly with hotels and airlines, and avoid buying from “middlemen” like Priceline. They don’t save you money anymore according to the New York Times’ Frugal Traveler (see April 18 article by Lucas Peterson). Perhaps they did before these... Read More May 2017 Issue #10214 Page 89
Truss Robotics Joe Kannapell The path of factory innovation is leading us to automated systems rather than true robotics. Though industrial robotics has been used for 30 years in our industry, it has served mainly as a forerunner to later systems. Its earliest commercialization, the robotic arms of the Koskovich component... Read More April 2017 Issue #10213 Page 6
German Robotics in U.S. Housing Joe Kannapell German invaders have landed on our shores intent on leapfrogging our component industry. Their huge investment and their unconventional processes are now being tested on a jobsite not far from their high-tech, 200,000 sq. ft. Baltimore plant. Their name, Blueprint Robotics, invokes a... Read More February 2017 Issue #10211 Page 13
The Growing Interest in Wall Panels Sean Hubbard On a trip abroad in 2004, I was first introduced to an alternate method of wall panel construction. I was in awe at the cleanliness, the organization, the material flow, ergonomics, and simplicity of the concept. Not a single staff member raced up and down the wall. No one was carrying or... Read More January 2017 Issue #10210 Page 8
Smart Manufacturing and the LBM & Component Operation Ben Hershey Smart Manufacturing You have probably read articles, heard this term used by an equipment manufacturer, and even heard it at a Chamber of Commerce meeting or other local group. Smart Manufacturing covers a broad category of manufacturing with the goal of optimizing the process from concept,... Read More October 2016 Issue #09207 Page 66
Metrics & Connected Technology in the Manufacturing Space Ben Hershey A lot of people have been talking about production tracking lately, so now is a good time to talk more in depth about some of the issues involved. With increased demand for the handling of metrics, levels of complexity and ever-changing conditions, manufacturers have been moving toward more... Read More September 2016 Issue #09206 Page 62
Solving the Information Breakdowns in Your Company Todd Drummond Do you think that some of your competition has a competitive advantage because their sales teams are processing projects via the Web on tablets? If they are able to start and/or update any project information, find the current stage of any task and also review any project’s schedule, all... Read More February 2016 Issue #09199 Page 20
Maintenance Technicians Sean Hubbard Technology has changed the aspect of truss and wall panel production over the last decade. The continued advancements in technology have also changed the dynamics required to support that equipment. Staffing requirements and staffing abilities vary by Component Manufacturer. In smaller... Read More December 2015 Issue #08197 Page 21