Ben Hershey

Set the Course of Your Business

Ben Hershey

Many of us just returned from this year’s BCMC show. How appropriate it was to be in Columbus, a city named after a visionary who discovered the new world, and the theme was “Set Your Course.” In your business, no matter the role you serve, you have a chance to set the course...

#11244 Cover image
November 2019
Issue #11244
Page 26
Todd Drummond

Investment in Employee Training, Not Just Equipment

Todd Drummond

Is your company’s budget only for new equipment, but no formal training for your employees? Any time you think about investing for productivity gains, often the first thing that comes to mind is investing in new equipment. All too often, we think we see the situation clearly and can make...

#11244 Cover image
November 2019
Issue #11244
Page 47
Ben Hershey

Strategy, Culture, and BCMC

Ben Hershey

Two manufacturers walk into the BCMC Show. One is a seasoned manufacturer who has been attending the show for many years and will learn something new, but really just goes to shake hands and be seen. The other manufacturer is new and eager, ready to learn and network with others at the show....

#11243 Cover image
October 2019
Issue #11243
Page 44
Ben Hershey

What Tools Are You Using

Ben Hershey

I really enjoy local county fairs and local attractions, because they give us an opportunity to see cool things from the past or something related to the area (and our fair has fresh roasted corn!). Recently at our local fair, the Stanwood Fair, I walked into a building showcasing tools used by...

#11242 Cover image
September 2019
Issue #11242
Page 28
Todd Drummond

Vendor Loyalty and Sales Pitch Can Lead You Astray

Todd Drummond

The BCMC trade show is fast approaching. This trade show, which is held each year, is a great opportunity for you and your team to step outside of your comfort zone to challenge and expand your current beliefs of both equipment investments and vendor services. Just be mindful that sometimes it...

#11242 Cover image
September 2019
Issue #11242
Page 47
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
Ben Hershey

The Importance of Our Leadership Actions

Ben Hershey

Recently, a Pastor at our church, Morgan MacPherson, shared a teaching from the Book of James talking about how our Actions Speak Louder. Though there was a lot of “meat on the bone” from what he shared, one of the additional thoughts I brought home was how important our actions are...

#11241 Cover image
August 2019
Issue #11241
Page 42
Ben Hershey

Measure the Tempo of Your Operation

Ben Hershey

My wife Dianne and I were recently going through some of our old family photos and I came across this photo of Dianne’s Dad, Jack Hendershot, as a teenager on his bike delivering ice in the early ’50s. For those who may not know, before the advent of refrigeration and freezing...

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July 2019
Issue #11240
Page 22
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
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