I’ve had many conversations with manufacturers across the structural building components industry lately, and the topic that keeps coming up is automation. And it’s no surprise – automation is no longer a futuristic concept. It’s here, and it’s delivering real...

Anyone with any training in lean practice has heard of standard terms such as the Five “S” and “Just in Time.” What is not discussed often enough is that lean principles are based on healthy management and employee relations, which is the foundation of the...

A recent phone call has prompted me to address the issue of fixing gaps. There are some misunderstandings about what qualifies as a member-to-member gap, and the options to fix them are not always clear either. ANSI/TPI 1 recommends that members in a truss to touch each other when possible....

On a recent trip from Seattle to Vietnam via Tokyo, I flew on Japan Airlines and was struck by more than just the exceptional hospitality. What stood out most was their disciplined safety culture, specifically how their flight attendants conducted safety checks. As they walked the cabin before...

In today’s rapidly evolving construction industry, manufacturers face a growing imperative to do more with less—less labor, less waste, and less downtime. Traditionally, dedicated machines have been used for specific tasks like cutting or marking. While effective for current needs,...

Last month’s article by Thom, “The Cost of Convenience: How Offshore and Remote Design are Undermining the Future of the Truss Industry,” generated a fair amount of feedback, and that feedback was generally fair. But, let’s unpack some additional dynamics. The central...

In an industry long defined by hard work and incremental improvement, a new chapter is being written. But not everyone seems to realize it. Some are still telling companies to squeeze more productivity out of crews by reorganizing work paths, tracking stopwatch data, and optimizing jobsite...

Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking through a component manufacturer’s facility. As you do this, some will see a facility with a relatively well-automated wall panel line, in which full sheets of OSB, gypsum, ZIP, etc. are being applied to the wall in line and the router on the...

A large part of what MiTek’s Design Engagement team does involves meeting with Structural Engineers, Architects, and Real Estate Developers to advance the use of components. We guide them on best practices early in design so that when construction documents arrive at the truss...

Let’s face it—finding the right people in the offsite construction industry isn’t getting easier. Whether you’re searching for a seasoned truss designer, a sharp estimator, or a dependable production manager, the usual massive job boards don’t cut it. That’s...