Number of search results: 110
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...
September 2018
Issue #10230
Page 23
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
August 2018
Issue #10229
Page 36
Estimating Truss Labor Using Board Footage Versus Proper Man-Minute Time Standards
Todd Drummond
For many years, I have been beating the drum that board footage (BF) is an imperfect unit measurement that our industry should abandon. The better alternative is the proven method of time estimations which uses man-minutes (MM). Man-minutes are derived from time-in-motion practices that have...
July 2018
Issue #10228
Page 22
Are Your Salespeople Selling Your Company into Eventual Bankruptcy?
Todd Drummond
Most people have a mistaken belief that my services are all about making component manufacturing more efficient. Actually, more than half my time during a consultation is taken up reviewing things like management practices and the sales process. Fact is, sales—correction, healthy...
June 2018
Issue #10227
Page 30
A Tale of Two Dealers, and Why One Far Surpasses the Other
Todd Drummond
Most think lack of time is their biggest barrier to achieving their goals, but they are mistaken. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” This quote by Peter Drucker is one of my favorites. While providing consulting services for over one hundred companies, I have witnessed and...
May 2018
Issue #10226
Page 30
Why It’s Time to Add Component Manufacturing to Your Lumber Business
Todd Drummond
We’ve all seen the predictions: Component manufacturing is going to grow ever bigger as labor remains tight and big builders get more efficient. And with component manufacturing gross margins being higher than what you get for selling commodities, it’s a good time to ask:...
April 2018
Issue #10225
Page 18
Industrial Engineers Needed in Our Wood Component Manufacturing Industry
Todd Drummond
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 – The Free Dictionary)
The Lean...
March 2018
Issue #10224
Page 30
Three Key Obstacles to Overcome to Improve Your Operations
Todd Drummond
Every consultation is different, yet some things remain the same. People are creatures of habit, and some of the issues that are dealt with during the consultations are very similar. Three key obstacles or areas are so common that I have yet to find a company not struggling with each of...
February 2018
Issue #10223
Page 30
Change Your Pricing Formula for 2018 and Make More Net Profit
Todd Drummond
Let us assume that you are having problems with a truck’s transmission and it must be repaired or replaced. The local mechanic explains the hourly rate for service and that the cost of any parts needed to fix the transmission is extra. The hourly charge he is billing is to cover his...
January 2018
Issue #10222
Page 30
Mistake Proofing the Communication Quote and Order Process
Todd Drummond
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...
December 2017
Issue #10221
Page 30
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...
December 2018
Issue #10233
Page 38
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...
December 2018
Issue #10233
Page 48
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...
November 2018
Issue #10232
Page 22
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...
October 2018
Issue #10231
Page 33