What Did You Gain From BCMC?

We enjoyed a productive week at BCMC in Omaha, strengthening relationships and renewing our commitment to the truss industry, and we hope you can say the same! Timber Products Inspection (TP) returned with our popular ANSI/TPI 1 Chapter 3 challenge truss, designed to test participants’ understanding of compliance standards. The truss featured both clear non-compliance items and others that appeared non-compliant but met the standard, helping clarify the definitions and improve comprehension.

The following are my three top observations from the Show:

1. Never apologize for high standards — Overall, our industry demonstrates strong awareness of its requirements and expectations. In several cases, participants assessed the truss according to their company standards, which were more rigorous than industry norms. This indicates a high level of attentiveness within the sector.
2. There are a few who really need fundamental training — Although it’s a minority, a notable number of participants need training, and a smaller group is completely unfamiliar with the standard. Many excuse themselves by saying they’re not involved in manufacturing, but I believe everyone—whether in sales, design, or shipping—should know the standard. While some roles are critical, responsibility shouldn’t fall solely on the QC manager.
3. More than one-third of this year’s participants lacked formal training — A third of participants reported no formal training, never had quarterly inspections by a third-party agency, or did not attend SBCA regional training. Most of this group are not enrolled in any program.

Although our findings are based on a limited group of component manufacturers attending BCMC, the results raise the question of how prepared companies may be for future changes. Remember, in-person training proves more effective for standard compliance than virtual methods. As soon as the IRC and IBC mandate product qualification through approved agencies, this should become our industry’s central focus. Every company has a vested interest in producing a quality product that conforms to the industry standard.

For the photo of the winner, See PDF or View in Full Issue: Brandon Ramus, Jean Hart, Steve Church, and Glenn Traylor representing TP with this year’s winner, Blake Cherry of Engineering Building Design in Washington, IA.