True Leadership Todd Drummond There are so many challenges leaders face within our industry today that are ever-changing and, quite frankly, unprecedented. Whether your position of leadership is overall, departmental, or team level, the challenges are never-ending. Too often in our industry, people are in a position of... Read More June 2021 Issue #13263 Page 29
Not Enough Time is No Excuse Todd Drummond The building industry is once again on fire, and too many are stating, “I don’t have enough time” all too often. If your group is always talking about needing more people, equipment, and time, improving time management would undoubtedly benefit you. Improving time management... Read More May 2021 Issue #13262 Page 29
Costly Errors from Lumber, Leadership, HR, and BF/Man-Hour Todd Drummond The new 2021 build season is upon us, and everyone seems to be excited about the 2021 opportunities that seem apparent with the robust build economy. Many companies had their most profitable year in 2020, yet others struggled, stating that commodity pricing and covid were their major negative... Read More April 2021 Issue #13261 Page 29
Find the Hidden Costs in Your Operation Ben Hershey There are several companies both in and outside of our industry who really understand costs. It is not some academic classroom “let someone teach me from the boardroom” but hands-on experience in knowing what their costs are in their operation. In the building industry, we think we... Read More March 2021 Issue #13260 Page 30
Theory of Constraints with a Practical Truss Design Solution Example Todd Drummond Theory of Constraints (TOC) is not often clearly understood, and it can be confused with Just in Time (JIT). Below is a simplified explanation with some examples about TOC that many should be able to relate to their operations. TOC is an offshoot of lean manufacturing principles. Every... Read More March 2021 Issue #13260 Page 47
Insider’s Secrets for the Buying/Selling of Component, Modular, and LBM Companies Todd Drummond Our industry has been changing in a big way. Independents once dominated our industry, but now through mergers and acquisitions, that is no longer the case. Right now, some of the people reading this article are either contemplating or in actual talks about selling their business. From... Read More February 2021 Issue #13259 Page 31
Rise to Operational Challenges Ben Hershey Last month’s article, Change Impact, talks about what impact changes at your company will have this year. Well, after 2020 and the challenges we faced, especially for the operations-intensive companies in our industry, it... Read More February 2021 Issue #13259 Page 46
Change Impact Ben Hershey Goodbye 2020 and Welcome to 2021!!! Our business world has been changing fast, especially this past year, and we continue to move forward through complex issues and how best to provide our goods and services to our customers within the building industry and beyond. But what... Read More January 2021 Issue #13258 Page 28
Hazards with Some Advisements for New Investments Todd Drummond When looking for new opportunities for improvements in your operation, it is quite natural to ask for advisement from outside your company to give you a better perspective. Who you should trust to help you take your company to higher performance is not as clear cut as it may appear. Costly... Read More January 2021 Issue #13258 Page 45
Waste, Inefficiencies, and Defects of the Project Communication Process Todd Drummond Think beyond the physical investment of trucks, equipment, and buildings when it comes to investments for improving the bottom line for 2021. If a company wants to improve the net profits, improving the project communication process can add serious dollars to the bottom line. Most companies... Read More December 2020 Issue #12257 Page 29