While the biggest question about preferences in our industry isn’t about which calculator truss designers prefer, this month’s topic is just that. Over the past 20+ years, JobLine has run a survey asking Truss Designers what their calculator of choice is. While there are many...

After the 2020 recruiting season just about came to a stop in March, I saw a ray of hope early in November. While I hoped to see the usual limited activity before the holidays, I wasn’t holding my breath. Instead, it came in the form of a tsunami. The first week of November was refreshing,...

Recruiting production managers is a huge challenge. It’s not that jobs are unavailable, as we usually have several Production Manager openings at TheJobLine.com. It’s finding qualified and willing candidates. Most often, it’s a problem when the move is lateral.  Most...

This classic phrase brings back many memories and even fits some of today’s challenges. As a child, I can remember family road trips and being bored sitting in the back seat, mile after mile. I would ask, “Are we there yet?”  My dad would always say, “Soon, be...

When raising my kids, I had a few zingers that seem just as appropriate today, at this moment in time. I thought I would share them with you. I don’t own them, didn’t create them, or even profess to following them 100%, but I usually see one or more of them at fault when I...

Back when I was a production worker, in an offsite construction plant, my “Boss” was the Department Supervisor or “Lead Man.” His boss was the Production Manager. The Big Boss was the owner. Simple, clean, easy to understand, until something goes wrong, or you need...

Recently, there was an article in another publication that talked about workforce resources for members of the structural building components industry. The article included the typical, nationally recognized companies—Indeed, Glass Door, Monster, Zip Recruiter, CareerBuilder, and even...

Over the past few years, remote designers have taken a more prominent seat at the table. Now, it is almost impossible to find a candidate who has the qualifications and fit for your team AND will relocate. Over the years, after WWII and up to the Great Recession, relocation was a tool...

With the coronavirus moving many positions from the business office to the home office, some employers are learning things they never thought possible. One of those things is how remote employees seem to have more time to devote to getting the job done. I spoke to several employers about...

Have you used our Safety First topics in your production safety meetings? If not, why not? Safety First began in 2013 and the topics rotate every 24 months. This rotation schedule ensures that  your new hires have access to important safety topics. From Substance Abuse, Safe Lifting...