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Article
2006 May
- John Meeks began his post-military car-eer in the commercial concrete industry.
- Meeks met Gang-Nail’s Cal Jureit in Florida, and joined Automated Building Components, Inc. as the Engineering Manager in charge of building franchise chains.
- He became involved in truss design engineering at ABC, and also took an interest in bracing and installation while inspecting a truss collapse.
- Throughout his career and still today, Meeks has made his mark on the wood truss industry as a respected forensic engineer.
Article
2006 May
- Imagine taking a horizontal slice of a hard-boiled egg and looking at it from the top. Now imagine designing roof trusses to fit on top of that shape and completing the job within budget.
- Pioneer came up with the idea of drawing the trusses first in CAD to represent the roof in true 3D.
- Paul Lenauer credited technology with making this project possible, while the project’s architect credits structural building components with helping make his vision a reality.
Article
2006 June/July
- This issue of SBC Magazine features articles about legal and legislative topics.
- The Sixth Annual WTCA Legislative Conference took place in Washington, DC on May 10-12.
- Some of this issue’s other features include: how to prepare yourself and your company for a buy-out, why you should think twice about selling product through a truss broker and a victory surrounding a building labeling issue.
Article
2006 June/July
- NAHB expects residential fixed investment (RFI) to contract over the next two years.
- Perhaps it is time to diversify: less focus on new residential construction and more focus on remodeling, industrial markets, and non-residential construction.
- To do this, consider getting closer to the end user.
Article
2006 June/July
- Attending BCMC allows attendees to see the latest technology that could be incorporated into their equipment replacement programs.
- Manufacturers indicated that BCMC was the best place for an exclusive look at how they can gain the benefit of having all exhibitors in one place as a resource when creating a maintenance program or weekly, monthly or quarterly checks.
Article
2006 June/July
- Technicians whose TTT certification has lapsed have less than six months to recertify under a special grace period.
- Starting January 1, 2007, the new recertification system will send a reminder email to the student and training manager 45 days prior to the expiration date on the technician’s original certificate.
- Technicians can choose from a number of industry-related activities to create their own customized recertification program.
Article
2006 June/July
Article
2006 June/July
- Deferred submittals are permitted by the model IRC code.
- The building official, at his or her discretion, may or may not require the submission of TDDs at the time the permit for the structure is requested.
Article
2006 June/July
- Relationships with high schools are great because they can bring in new blood into a company.
- Bruce Bain of Richco Structures gives presentations at the local technical college that he graduated from.
- Keith Azlin has been working with WTCA-Arizona to set up an internship program between the two ITT Technical Institutes and component manufacturers.
Article
2006 June/July
- Think ahead so you are prepared before you get a phone call or visitor interested in purchasing your business.
- Thinking about your role after the business is sold is one of the first decisions you should consider.
- Because the buyer will want to understand the operations and financial aspects of your business, be prepared for a lengthy timeline and some disruption.
- Consider a confidentiality agreement in order to keep the control of the process in your court.
Article
2006 June/July
- Builders, contractors and lumberyards who buy components are not best served when the component design and manufacturing is undertaken by more than one company.
- "Truss brokers" sell components to build-ers, contractors, and/or lumberyards but maintain no manufacturing facility. They either carry out component design and placement or hire it out to third parties.
- Component manufacturers’ liability risk grows exponentially if they manufacture to designs created by others.
Article
2006 June/July
- His prophecy was that the kind of automation we were involved in would make a world of difference in a truss plant when it came to employee morale and overall employee performance.
- When you install a new piece of equipment like an automated saw, your plant will perk up in ways you likely hadn’t anticipated.
Article
2006 June/July
- Risk management consultant Nancy Frush embraces a concept called holism.
- Nancy encourages component manufacturers to be proactive by holding health workshops to encourage healthy living habits.
- Nancy teaches that management figures should be leaders who set examples, admit when they are wrong, and are honest and caring about the employees.
- Barriers in the workplace are created by placing too much focus on titles.
Article
2006 August
- Our industry supports immigration reform that emphasizes security while also recognizing manufacturers’ workforce needs.
- Immigrant populations play a vital role in helping meet our workforce demand.
- There is a lot we can do on the local legislative front. Get involved on the state and local district level by making contacts with your lawmakers.
Article
2006 August
- This issue of SBC Magazine features articles about legal and legislative topics.
- The Sixth Annual WTCA Legislative Conference took place in Washington, DC on May 10-12.
- Some of this issue’s other features include: how to prepare yourself and your company for a buy-out, why you should think twice about selling product through a truss broker and a victory surrounding a building labeling issue.
Article
2006 August
- Without the diagonal brace, the only thing the lateral member(s) ensures is that the webs to which they are attached will be-have as a unit and buckle together in the same direction if and/or when the buckling load is reached.
- The single diagonal brace and web reinforcement options satisfy the need for bracing individual trusses and truss members, but not the stability bracing of the entire building system.
- BCSI-B3 Web Member Permanent Bra-cing/Web Reinforcement provides indus-try recommendations and methods for restraining web members against buckling.
Article
2006 August
- NAHB expects residential fixed investment (RFI) to contract over the next two years.
- Perhaps it is time to diversify: less focus on new residential construction and more focus on remodeling, industrial markets, and non-residential construction.
- To do this, consider getting closer to the end user.
Article
2006 August
- Technicians whose TTT certification has lapsed have less than six months to recertify under a special grace period.
- Starting January 1, 2007, the new recertification system will send a reminder email to the student and training manager 45 days prior to the expiration date on the technician’s original certificate.
- Technicians can choose from a number of industry-related activities to create their own customized recertification program.
Article
2006 August
- WTCA Tech Notes offer a new tool for component manufacturers to educate themselves, as well as the people in the marketplace, on the key issues they face on a daily basis.
- The goal is to clarify code and other technical issues and provide marketplace education to further the industry.
Article
2006 August
- Dakota Craft found a solution to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs: heat its production facilities with wood waste.
- Cost cutting efforts make it possible to redirect resources toward company growth and exceptional employee benefits.
- The company invests in well-educated truss technicians because it believes that if you don’t start with a quality design, the product will negatively impact the project all the way to installation.
Article
2006 August
- Material flow is the path and process that material and paperwork travel through your operations in order to produce a finished product.
- You may find that the new computerized saw can save time cutting pieces, but you aren’t rolling trusses out the door any faster.
- Your next challenge is to put them into action by documenting your operation’s material flow.
Article
2006 August
- Four areas of concern will help identify the hazards and reduce the risks associated with handling finished trusses: forklift limitations, truss limitations, storage and loading.
- Use a proper spreader bar to transport long span trusses.
- Trusses are not designed to carry significant amounts of lateral load which means that pressure placed on the "face" of a truss can cause damage.
Article
2006 August
- Gene Woloveke started his career at Idaco Machine & Equipment Company in the late 1940s.
- Early on, the company owned a sawmill machinery manufacturing division as well as a lumber division.
- In the 1950s, Idaco ventured into the truss business, selling home packages and manufacturing truss equipment for component manufacturers.
- Gene designed and built the first automated component saw by hand.
- Idaco was among the first companies to partner with A. Carroll Sanford, inventor of the light gauge steel connector plate.
Article
2006 August
- When you buy an automated machine in today’s market, you are probably getting a stable design that will likely do what the salesperson says it will do.
- Consider this analogy before purchasing automated equipment: "You can buy a Boeing 747, but you aren’t in the airline business until you have the infrastructure that goes with it."
- Companies that take the best care of their machines are the ones that are also the most productive and profitable.
Article
2006 August
- The purchaser wants everything his way and you want everything your way; outline and know your key issues ahead of time.
- Knowing the process and the place you want to end up will help you maintain the proper focus on both running your business and the steps in the transaction.
- When you know what the purchaser is looking for (return on investment, growth, level of profitability) you can determine how to position and present your business.
Article
2006 November
- The industry’s focus on providing good field education has encouraged many manufacturers to send a jobsite package with every order delivered to a jobsite.
- Component manufacturers have provided nearly 400,000 WTCA Jobsite Packages to jobsite installers since the product was created in 2002.
- Two articles in this issue discuss the benefits of hosting plant tours, on the heels of a WTCA Board resolution encouraging hands-on education of the market.