Encouragingly, there have been several recent developments coming out of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or affecting EPA policies, that we wanted to share with readers, as they positively affect wood product manufacturers.  New Source Review Advancing At a recent meeting...

When I decided to conduct this 12-month series of product comparisons last fall, I knew it would be a year-long commitment of my time and effort. Then and now, however, I also was convinced that it would provide useful information in a format that allows for direct comparisons on specific...

As the owner of your company, you have outlined new goals to improve and grow your company. You have reached consensus; each staff member understands your vision and that change will bring mutual benefits. Key management has committed to the changes required to move forward. You have committed...

As discussed last month, this year will we be providing a series of product comparisons in each issue. The guidelines we have used in assembling this series are: Each product will be limited to only the information available to customers via the internet A comparison of standard...

When you look at this photo, what do you see? The photo is an actual picture taken during a plant audit, but just imagine this was taken at your truss plant. In the photo, the second side of the floor truss is set up in the floor machine with the connector plate positioned and ready to receive...

You have reached consensus and each staff member understands your vision and that change will bring benefits. Key management has committed to the changes required to move forward. You have sought and obtained “buy-in” from the members of your company and clearly defined (WIIFT)...

Beginning with the January 2018 issue of The Component Manufacturing Advertiser, we have decided to offer a new look. We will begin to feature product comparisons for the next twelve months. We will be using the following Schedule of Comparisons along with certain limitations. Schedule of...

To expedite the adoption of pre-built wall panels, shop labor must be significantly lower than site labor. That means replacing hand-nailing, measuring, cutting, and manhandling with practices that have been proven in truss fabrication. In addition, major builders and reluctant framers demand...

In lean terminology, there is a term called Poka-Yoke, which, roughly translated from Japanese, means to mistake-proof the manufacturing process. A more accurate translation could be “inadvertent error prevention.” In a nutshell, one tries to make any manufacturing process...

It’s true that, by nature, the materials currently used for wood trusses can vary in strength and properties. Given a specific lumber size and grade, truss builders often need to evaluate lumber picked, cut, and provided to build the specific job at hand. After verifying the lumber grade,...