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Chapter Corner

In Memoriam: Dave Imming

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Five Specific Actions to Help Your Company Survive & Thrive in a Weak Market

  • The pressures of a competitive market can result in significant personnel and cultural changes within a company. 
  • The WTCA PLA was created to help manufacturers with formalized planning and leadership development. 
  • Take advantage of PLA offerings through seminars, web-based meetings, chapter meetings, and one-on-one professional coaching.

The Jobsite Package: A Critical Picket in Your Fence of Protection

  • Several years ago, a component manufacturer invented a fence of protection made up of WTCA programs designed to lower its risk. 
  • A manufacturer’s liability does not end when the product leaves the plant. 
  • Protecting your company against jobsite risk is possible with the use of the WTCA Jobsite Package.

So You Want Your Lumber Green? (Part 1)

  • When it comes to green building standards, not all lumber is created equal. 
  • In the U.S. there are three main standards that define “green” buildings: USGBC’s LEED, GBI’s Green Globes and NAHB’s Green Home Buliding Guidelines. 
  • There are a variety of forest certification processes that regulate forest management practices and encourage conservation.

Consulting with the Experts

  • TruLine Truss had a positive experience when they participated in a voluntary state health and safety consultative service. 
  • The company saved $38,671 in fees and fines by inviting NCDOL inspectors into its plant for inspections. 
  • Getting involved in voluntary safety inspection programs can help companies avoid costly fines.

Can You Hear Me Now?

  • OSHA says occupational hearing loss causes a “progressive loss of communication, socialization and responsiveness to the environment.” 
  • Effective January 1, 2004, OSHA added a “hearing loss” section in the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300). 
  • If noise exposures tests in your plant exceed an 8-hour TWA of 85dB, administer a Hearing Conservation Program per OSHA regulation.

Reduce Risk & Increase Revenue when Starting a Wall Panel Manufacturing Facility (Part 2 of 6)

  • When laying out a new plant, consider workstation activities, space requirements and production material flow. 
  • When designing a production line for the first time, think about the advantages and disadvantages of long lines versus short lines. 
  • A combination of the batch and just-in-time production systems is ideal for new start-ups.

Truss Technology Workshops: Live & In-Person

  • Members are teaching their markets about structural building components with TTWs. 
  • One WTCA chapter—with WTCA staff—connected with a county building department to add building component training to its curriculum. 
  • Many options are available for members and chapters that want to educate their markets using TTWs.

Publisher's Message: On the Right Side of Change

  • The stories on pages 26 and 30 illustrate why SBCRI is vital to the advancement of the industry.
  • Decide whether you should go green with the article on page 48. 
  • Turn to page 54 to get the inside scoop on ITW’s acquisitions and the new president of its Building Components Group.

BCMC & Your Business Plan: The Industry's Launch Pad for New Products

  • Many exhibitors choose to reveal new products at BCMC because it is the best place to reach component manufacturers. 
  • Over three-quarters of BCMC attendees list seeing “new equipment” as the primary reason for attending the show. 
  • The steady flow of attendees on the show floor gives each product maximum exposure to its target market.

WTCA Update: Benefit from Questioning the Value of Your Association

  • Some former component manufacturers that have joined WTCA staff now see that there are many more programs and services available than they realized. 
  • The engineering, technical and code assistance offered by staff for WTCA members are among the most valuable and time-saving for CMs.

The Big Picture: SBCRI Steering Committee Priorities: Going with the Flow of Loads

  • Single element component testing does not accurately portray the way components resist forces and transfer loads. 
  • SBCRI was built to test and analyze the flow of loads through an entire structure, not just through a single component.

Chapter Corner

SBCRI: A Whole New Bag of Tricks

  • The vast resources of SBCRI have the ability to give us more answers than ever before about the nature of structural performance. 
  • In one case, SBCRI helped provide a timely and cost-effective solution to a structural problem that benefited everyone. 
  • In this situation, the analysis done at SBCRI allowed the building to remain open to the public while a structurally sound solution was executed.

Reduce Risk & Increase Revenue: Wall Panel Plant Personnel Hiring & Training (Part 3 of 6)

  • Appraising the performance of new hires is helpful in determining whether that person is a good fit for your operation. 
  • Your hiring process should balance securing the right amount of labor and finding the right worker for a particular job.

So You Want Your Lumber Green? (Part 2)

  • There are two major green standards for commercial building, and two for residential construction are in the works. 
  • Before you can decide whether green is good for you, it’s important to understand the standards and the system. 
  • To become authorized to handle certified lumber, evaluate proper identification of certified material, segregation of certified material, processing of certified material and thorough record keeping.