CM Toolkit Search

President's Message: Big Change, Bigger Value

SBCA is moving in a new direction to serve you even better.

Director's Message: Opportunity of a Lifetime

I’m honored to serve as SBCA’s new executive director.

Don’t Confuse Revenue with Earnings

A company is acquired for its earnings, but valued for its EBITDA percentage.

A Match Made in the Desert

A CM and framer pair up to do the impossible.

Convince Me, Convince My Customers!

A builder’s perspective on how CMs can grow market share

Parting Shots: Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Skandia Truss in Skandia, Michigan (also known as Snow Country because its annual snowfall averages over 167 inches), focuses on quality trusses and customer satisfaction using exclusively MSR lumber, dry storage, and the motto, “Think Snow Load.” 

Structural Details for CAD

SBCA makes Structural Details available to architects, engineers, contractors, designers, code enforcement officials and others involved in construction applications using metal plate connected wood trusses (MPCWT).

Production vs. Design: Breaking Down False Barriers (Part 1: Cross-Functional Teams)

Production crews and designers depend on one another every day, yet the two departments can find themselves at odds: Was the callback caused by a poor design or a quality control issue in production? In this two-part series, learn how these CMs are breaking down barriers between the two departments. Part 1 focuses on how to create cross-functional teams to improve communication and increase engagement. Part 2 (coming in early 2021) will cover how breaking down barriers between these departments will have a positive effect on company culture.

Battle of the Forms

A component manufacturer submits its bid or proposal to a customer. Rather than signing the bid, the customer issues its purchase order. In response the manufacturer issues a sales acknowledgement. Each of the forms contains terms and conditions of sale on the back. Some or all of the forms either get signed or none of them are signed.  If a dispute later arises, how does it get resolved? Kent Pagel discusses best practices and answers the questions CMs have regarding this all too common battle of the forms. 

Editor's Message: Three Lessons Learned from 2020

There are some valuable takeaways from this chaotic year.

President's Message: We Are Technology Brokers

We will look back at 2020 as the Year of the Pivot.

SBCA Annual Award Recipients

Meet four individuals recently recognized as industry leaders by their peers.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

CMs and framers win and lose together – the NFC ensures everyone wins.

An Audacious Arrangement

Learn how one seasoned framer/CM team was primed to shine on a project like this.

Help Wanted

Taking a fresh approach to your job descriptions is a necessary step toward successful hiring.

Parting Shots: An Outing Way Above Par

The Structural Building Compon-ents Association of the Capital Area (SBCACAP) held its seventh annual golf outing in October at the Evergreen Country Club in Virginia.