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Talking Helps Relieve Work’s Stress Points

Designers are under tight deadlines; they are constantly being pulled from one project to another, and are routinely being asked to make changes to a project. All of this can create an environment that burns them out and pushes them out the door. 

Does It Matter Where Your Designer Sits?

If you’ve been on the fence about hiring remote truss designers because you’re not ready to spend $30,000 on a new server, hire two additional IT people and lock down your entire network, take a deep breath, and keep reading. It doesn’t need to be that extreme. 

Providing a Glimpse of Industry Career Paths

Component manufacturers had a unique opportunity to invite a small group of students and their instructors to an afternoon on the BCMC show floor this year. 

Design Standards Are Crucial for QC

When it comes to assuring your customers that you have a high-quality product, one doesn’t have to look farther than a set of design standards. 

Break the Blame Cycle

Quality control (QC) is often thought of as an effort to catch mistakes made by production. However, many times problems and solutions extend beyond just the manufacturing process. 

How to Win Over a Framer

“The more you can do for a framer to help them get the job done faster and make more money, the more they will want to work specifically with you,” says Sean Kelly, general manager of Automated Products in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Truss QC Entering the Digital Age

In the SBCA booth at BCMC 2018, SBCA staff member Joe Schauer displayed how the SBCA Quality Control (QC) Committee’s initiative is a giant step forward in the area of component manufacturing QC.

Stop Owning Your Trusses!

It is reasonable for component manufacturers (CMs) to expect to get paid for the hard work they do and the quality structural components they produce.

2018 Award Winners

2018 SBCA Hall of Fame Award

Each year, SBCA inducts an individual into its Hall of Fame who has contributed significantly to the advancement of both SBCA and the structural building components industry. This award recognizes their active participation in the growth and success of SBCA initiatives that serve the industry’s best interests.

Faces of the Industry: Tony Acampa

Shelter Systems Limited  •  Westminster, MD

Parting Shots: If I Had a Hammer...

Being a “one-hit wonder” in the music industry is not necessarily something to aspire to, but in the SBCA booth at BCMC this year, several CMs and suppliers strove to earn that very title. 

CM Perspective: Get a Fresh Perspective!

Prior to 2013, I would keep my head down and diligently work all the way through the month of October. It’s typically a very busy month for us in South Carolina. For the last five years, however, I have left the island that is my manufacturing facility and traveled to BCMC.

Fun Stuff at BCMC

There were a lot of opportunities beyond the show floor and educational sessions to build relationships, have a bit of fun, and make some lasting memories.

Guidance Document

Best Way to Frame Marketing Guide

This marketing guide is designed to help market the Best Way to Frame website to all of our target audiences. The marketing guide includes step-by-step instructions on ways to market Best Way to Frame.

In-Plant Safety

Investing in a standardized, comprehensive safety program minimizes the risks faced by both your employees and your company. SBCA’s customizable template materials, developed specifically for the component industry, can help you implement a consistent, measurable in-plant safety program through education, training and certification.

Safety Tip: Gearing Up for Winter

John Howlin, Truss Plant Manager at BuilderUp, is gearing up for winter in Maryland. Like many component manufacturing operations, John’s production and yard workers are exposed to the elements so they take cold weather safety seriously.

Safety Tip: Consistency is Key

Jared Dix wears a lot of hats at Apex Truss, just one of which is Safety Coordinator. One of the things he’s been focused on lately is getting the production employees to be consistent about wearing their personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically their safety glasses.

Safety Tip: Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot!

It’s been a really hot summer and members of the SBCA Safety Committee are always looking for new and different ways to ensure their employees are safe at work, especially when the temperature climbs.