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Without exception, in every conversation I have had regarding the pandemic’s positive impact on the lumber market, not a single person thought this outcome was possible. On my part, I see that as a failure. My job is to detect the unexpected. When I do not, that creates the 1.4 out of...

After 40 years in project management and product ownership for the financial service industry, dealing with everything from futures to equities to basis trading, I thought my brain couldn’t possibly manage another acronym. But, in a world that constantly changes, I too had to evolve...

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...

How can a “Back-to-Business” plan help communities and business owners recover after a damaging event? In this guest article, David Cocke, S.E., explores the history of “B2B” programs and how they help expedite the inspection process so owners can get back to normal...

I recently heard a talk by Bob Myers, General Manager of the Golden State Warriors, on leadership, values, and culture in winning teams. It was a great speech and there were many points he raised that made sense, and really resonated with me.   He also struck me as a thoughtful and...

Not by choice in 1989, I transitioned from being behind a CM’s desk around to the front of the desk as a supplier. My old company took me back, despite the “blemishes” on my record as a plant manager. On my first day in the field, I picked up a 1987 Ford Taurus from outside our...

A few times in May, I have been asked if I would write my June column on the COVID-19 crisis. My answer has been, “I’m not sure.” Obviously, we all have many thoughts and feelings on the topic. We all are confronting the challenges in our lives each day. We all have strong...

One glaring gantry glitch, truss plates falling off, still needed to be addressed in the early 1990s. Missing bottom plates interrupt production, or worse, compromise quality. Sometimes an uneven table surface is the cause. But often the gantry mechanism is to blame. Tolerances are surprisingly...

Decades ago, I learned the value of a dollar as many of us did from our parents and grandparents. At that time, our industry was predominately family businesses. I don’t recall discussing age, however as we grow older, age is simply a number. That was never more evident in our family...

The largest expense in a truss plant’s operation is the lumber cost. It often represents 50% to 60% of the selling cost of the truss. With such a high percentage, most managers are always focused on saving lumber, optimizing lumber, and searching for the best price. Those aspects are...