Before buying a linear saw, several common questions will be asked. What is the price? Speed? Accuracy? Most potential customers enquire about support and on-going maintenance. Occasionally, the topic of spare parts and availability is broached, and sporadically someone may throw in a question...

Just a couple of years ago, I went back to the commercial modular/classroom/mobile office plant where I had my first GM job in the ’80s. I was 27 then, am much older now, but one thing hasn’t changed much, technology. The stations had the same kind of equipment, home build when...

Are we seeing the onset of a wave of CM automation or is this déjà vu all over again? Are other CMs following the startups chronicled earlier on these pages: Blueprint Robotics (May 2017) or Katerra (Feb 2018)? Big money is driving it, the big wigs are behind it, and high tech machines are...

Powered by people, a manual line in an average component plant is composed of a rough opening station, a subcomponent station, a framing station, a squaring station, and a sheathing station. In the configuration, typically 8 people are on this line, and 1000 LNFT of output is the average goal...

Many of us have been in the industry long enough to clearly remember the pain of the ‘08 crash. Before the crash, everyone was very optimistic about their own growth potential because the building economy was on fire, which gave everyone a reason to expand their manufacturing capacity like...

I think the answer to the title’s question is the same as the answer to “am I beautiful.” Those who know me are screaming, “the answer is NO,” but the correct answer should be, “It’s in the eye of the beholder.” I believe knowledge and experience...

To keep up with our growing business, Square 1 Design and Manufacture is pleased to introduce two new faces this spring. We’ve come on board to help meet the needs of our customers and ensure that everyone receives the best service that our 10-year old company can provide. Now, let me...

Believe it or not, we have reached the end of our 12-part series of product comparisons! As I reflect on the past twelve months, I realize how engrossed in our own product offering I was and how unfamiliar I was with our competition. As challenging and time consuming as this project has been, it...

It was many months ago that I decided to conduct this 12-part series of product comparisons, and now we are in the final stretch! Last time, we compared Automated Saws, High End. This time, we’re taking a look at the lower end of the cost spectrum. When I refer to low end saws, I do so...

A statement far too managers make is that they are not able to get their employees to embrace change. If your company struggles with making changes in any given area, just keep in mind that real change always comes from the top down. If your company is struggling with change and you are the top...