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BCMC 2010 Recap: The Industry Looks Forward, Gives Back

Across The Board

Editor's Note: Controversy Erupts over Skeptical Environmentalist

Publisher's Message: It's Show Time!

  • Each year, the BCMC Committee sifts through attendee surveys, searching for timely and meaningful topics for the next show.
  • Since industry codes are becoming more specific about responsibilities, many component manufacturers are creating their own technical teams. 
  • Incentive compensation is becoming more common in the industry because most employers are looking for ways to compensate their personnel for outstanding performance or meeting preset goals.

Economic Environment: Worldwide Demographic Trends: Competitive Strategies for High-Wage Countries

  • Firefighters risk their lives to save life and property to carry on the traditions of protecting our homeland.
  • Past fires have served as rules of thumb when making judgment calls about whether or not to enter a building; these rules do not always hold true, often resulting in firefighter injuries and deaths. 
  •  Do everything you can to understand building safety issues from the firefighter’s perspective. 

WTCA Update: WTCA Management Notes Now Available

  • WTCA has created an educational resource to address component manufacturers’ business and management issues called Management Notes.
  • The first Management Note available discusses the necessity of non-divisible over width load permits per the California Highway Patrol.
  • Future Management Notes will cover a range of topics from records retention to storm water management plans.

Code Connection: Continuity at Dwelling Separations for Townhouses in the IRC

  • This issue of SBC Magazine spotlights material handling and equipment. It also contains the annual Supplier & Professional Directory.
  • Dakota Craft, a component manufacturer that has opted to cut costs by going green, is featured in the cover story. 
  • Idaco’s Gene Woloveke was interviewed for an article about automation early on in the industry. 
  • Other articles in this issue focus on immigration, considerations when evaluating material flow both inside and outside the plant, and a progress report on the rebuilding effort in New Orleans.

Human Faces: Happily Scrapping Waste

  • These ratings are determined according to the ASTM E 119 test and designs documented by approved sources meet the requirements of the building code. 
  • A good place for a building designer to start is WTCA’s Fire & Wood Trusses web page: www.sbcindustry.com/fire.php.

Adventures in Advocacy: Biting Your Rails?

Builder Banter

Carbeck CD, Website Get Facelifts

  • Each module presents the issues surrounding structural component performance under fire conditions in a fact-based way.
  • The new format offers users the freedom to quickly and easily locate the topics they wish to learn more about and then customize their training by viewing only the modules that they wish to see.
  • The CD makes a great giveaway to hand out at plant tours.

2006 BCMC Show Guide

Find out why BCMC is the best show for the structural building components industry!

Mergers & Acquisitions Part 3: Consultants & Advisors

  • Confidence can be a hindrance when venturing into the sale of a business; thus, consider hiring experts to help you make decisions throughout the process.
  • Be wary of any consultants or advisors who take on too much ownership of the sale process.
  • Investment bankers, certified public accountants and attorneys are examples of consultants you should consider during the sale of your business.

Automation Straight Talk: So Which Won the "Best Automated Saw" Battle?

  • Component saw feed rates generally similar, so overall production rates come down to set-up speed.
  • For automated single blade saws, set-up time is not a factor because the single blade saw’s cutting head location is fixed.
  • Batching similar parts can significantly increase production rates on a component saw, but batching will not make much of a difference with a linear saw.
  • Linear saws tend to produce less wood scrap than component saws.

Hurricane Lessons Learned & Re-Learned

  • Charlie Hoover has observed the hurricane damage of many storms: Hazel, Hugo, Andrew, Charley, Katrina and Wilma.
  • In his experience, Hoover notes it is rare to observe a member failure. Instead, failures are typically caused by undersized connections or the absence of connections.
  • The U.S. has transitioned from three major regional codes to the single International Building Code (IBC), reducing the number of different codified wind design methodologies.

Lightning Safety

  • The National Weather Service estimates that there are 25 million lightning flashes each year. 
  • Burns, nerve damage and cardiac arrest can happen when lightning strikes someone. 
  • Invest in surge protectors to protect computers and other electronics for power surges.

Design Liability: Are Component Manufacturers Adequately Protected by Insurance?

  • A CGL policy typically provides limited protection for certain activities as long as losses result in bodily injury and/or property damage. 
  • The type and limits of insurance will depend on the extent of component design activities in which your company engages. 
  • Check your CGL policy for a professional services endorsement; if it exists take action to delete it.

Orisk Online Program Nears Completion

  • Online Risk and Liability Management Best Practices for the Structural Compon-ent Manufacturing Industry, or ORisk, is currently in development and scheduled to be release within the next month.
  • Phase 1 of ORisk contains the foundation content necessary to understand more advanced risk management.
  • Any employee who works closely with risk management, claims handling, in-surance, safety and customer contracts should consider viewing Phase 1.