Bidding Practices that are Just Good Enough Can Cost Tens of Thousands in Additional Net Profit Todd Drummond Two very distinct aspects of the bidding calculation could be costing your company tens of thousands of dollars. If you were shown a better bidding method, would you allow your pride to prevent you from testing it and, if it works, taking the time to embrace it to improve your company’s... Read More September 2016 Issue #09206 Page 18
Material Handling Opportunities Joe Kannapell Once saw and table setups are automated, what about improving the rest of material handling? Can we lessen the 5 “touches” involved: fetching lumber, feeding saws, catching, transporting to tables, and feeding jigs? And can we better account for the cost of these indirect labor... Read More September 2016 Issue #09206 Page 22
Incentive Report Payout Options Todd Drummond The actual payment to employees for increased performance is truly one aspect that many managers may not understand, especially regarding how to get the most bang for their buck. For example, why give equal dollars to personnel with varying degrees of skills and responsibilities? This payout... Read More August 2016 Issue #09205 Page 18
Truss Labor Time Standards for MiTek MVP™ and Other Programs Todd Drummond I have heard the same thing many times over and over. People want a better method of understanding truss manufacturing labor efficiencies, but they use the same flawed units of measurement they have always used. “Todd, I’ve been in this industry for decades as a ‘fill in the... Read More July 2016 Issue #09204 Page 20
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
Three Million Plus per Build Table Todd Drummond Did you know that it is possible to achieve greater than $3 million in sales on one build table, even with severe seasonal fluctuations causing winter sales to be nonexistent? I define a build table as one build group of three to four assemblers building roof trusses. Did you know an automated... Read More May 2016 Issue #09202 Page 16
Primer for Wall Panels, Part Two Jay Halteman In the first part of the Primer for Wall Panels, we discussed the fundamentals of wall panel production and how they may figure into your wood component business. In summary, we asked the reader to remember that wall panels were built for decades with little more than a blueprint,... Read More May 2016 Issue #09202 Page 31
Effective Incentive Programs for Every Group Todd Drummond Many would agree that it is wise to implement an effective incentive program (IP) that actually increases productivity and lowers costs. However, very few companies actually have implemented such an effective IP, especially one that affects every group within an organization (including... Read More April 2016 Issue #09201 Page 16
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 Evolution of Steel Truss Technology Keith Dietzen Light gauge steel trusses have been around a long, long time. Steel trusses offer the same advantages that make light gauge steel framing generally appealing for a significant segment of the light frame construction industry. Light gauge steel does not burn. It does not serve as a food source... Read More February 2016 Issue #09199 Page 38