Library

Number of search results: 118

Todd Drummond

An Effective Productivity Incentive Program for Truss Manufacturing

Todd Drummond

It is possible to give your shop employees a raise and actually achieve more capacity through greater productivity and make more net profit for your company by implementing an effective productivity incentive program. However, most of the incentive programs (IP) that are touted in the component...

#11238 Cover image
May 2019
Issue #11238
Page 41
Todd Drummond

Better Net Profits, Not Hyped-Up Business Philosophies

Todd Drummond

Whether your company is a single-location or a huge multi-location operation, 2018 should have been a banner year for profits for your company. Most of my clients were in the high teens and many were in the mid-twenties for net profit to total sales. How well did your company perform in...

#11237 Cover image
April 2019
Issue #11237
Page 19
Todd Drummond

The Drummond Short Schedule Time-Standard System

Todd Drummond

Using Man-Minutes to Manage Your Labor Industrial engineering – “The branch of engineering that is concerned with the production of industrial goods, especially by the design of efficient plants and procedures and the management of materials, energy, and labor.” (Source:...

#11236 Cover image
March 2019
Issue #11236
Page 39
Todd Drummond

Too Many Companies Struggle with Making Process Changes

Todd Drummond

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...

#11235 Cover image
February 2019
Issue #11235
Page 18
Todd Drummond

Employee Hires, Equipment Investment, and Making Changes

Todd Drummond

Another year has come and gone, and what an invigorating year it has been for most companies. Net profits after taxes for most component manufacturers were in the high teens to mid-twenties—at least for those who do not allow for never-ending excuses. Once again, it is time to reevaluate...

#11234 Cover image
January 2019
Issue #11234
Page 36
Todd Drummond

Independent CMs Still Have an Edge Over Multi-Location Companies

Todd Drummond

Since the home building crash of ‘08, there has been a huge spike in mergers and acquisitions of wood truss and wall panel component manufacturers. With all the big players in the market, independents naturally have concerns about staying competitive. Believe it or not, independents still...

#10233 Cover image
December 2018
Issue #10233
Page 38
Todd Drummond

When Your Company’s Manufacturing Labor Pay Rate is Causing Labor Shortages

Todd Drummond

“Good judgement comes from experience. And experience? Well that comes from poor judgement.” Some of us are old enough to remember Dean Martin. Whether he stated this quotation about experience and poor judgment, I will never know. But let’s face facts—it has...

#10232 Cover image
November 2018
Issue #10232
Page 22
Todd Drummond

Beware of One Size Fits All Solutions

Todd Drummond

I am often asked about what is the best one-size-size-fits-all equipment solution to fit all the component manufacturing needs. Of course, too many equipment vendors are more than willing to offer their version of a one-size-fits-all solution. Below are three examples of when one size does not...

#10231 Cover image
October 2018
Issue #10231
Page 33
Todd Drummond

Banner Sales Year Should Help the CM Division Make Mid-Teens or More for EBITDA

Todd Drummond

New building sales across the US are way up, which shows in the long lead times of the wood truss and wall panel manufacturing companies for new orders. However, too many of these manufacturers are not showing healthy profits despite the long lead times. Lead times greater than four weeks are a...

#10230 Cover image
September 2018
Issue #10230
Page 23
Todd Drummond

Labor Shortage in the Construction Industry is Partially a Self-Inflicted Wound

Todd Drummond

Our industry has been ignoring and not understanding 51% of the population’s needs—specifically, those of women therefore limiting the qualified candidates to fill vital openings

#10229 Cover image
August 2018
Issue #10229
Page 36
Todd Drummond

Two Common Mistakes Cost At Least 2-3 Points of Net Profit Every Year

Todd Drummond

Most, if not all, are now caught up in the summer building season to make serious money for their component divisions. However, far too many companies are allowing tens of thousands of dollars to be lost because of commonly accepted bad practices. Practices such as using non-precise labor...

#11241 Cover image
August 2019
Issue #11241
Page 24
Todd Drummond

What I Like About Sum+It

Todd Drummond

It is time to forget about using a truss design program, price book, or square-foot multiplier when estimating roof and floor truss projects. For many decades, truss companies have been looking for ways to dramatically improve their design team’s capacity, but every effort has fallen...

#11240 Cover image
July 2019
Issue #11240
Page 41
Todd Drummond

Expect Margins and Lead Time to Decrease in Most Markets

Todd Drummond

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...

#11239 Cover image
June 2019
Issue #11239
Page 22
Shawn Overholtzer

BCMC 2018: Crafting Connections and Brewing Success

Shawn Overholtzer

The 37th Annual BCMC show took place in late October at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. It was the second time in the past four years at this location, so most of us already knew the great restaurants and bars to visit. Every year the show just seems to get bigger and better, and this...

#10233 Cover image
December 2018
Issue #10233
Page 48
First34568101112

Search By Keyword

Issues

Book icon Read Our Current Issue

Download Current Issue PDF