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Article
2006 November
- Use down time to reconfigure your plant to make the production process more efficient.
- Look hard at how you can have most of the benefits of full automation without spending the money to get it.
- A down cycle is a good time—really the best time—to install new equipment.
- It’s possible for plants to come out of a down cycle literally twice the company that they were before.
Article
2006 December
- This issue of SBC focuses on quality control and manufacturing. It also houses the BCMC 2006 Recap.
- Recent changes to the industry’s quality control standard are explained in this issue.
- The current state and future growth of the industry is summarized in “Economists Forecast End of Housing Correction.”
Article
2006 December
- The Board passed a motion to approve a new policy on “Dealing with the Press.”
- An update on WTCA’s work with NLBMDA was provided.
- The Board unanimously voted to approve the updated edition of BCSI.
- The next OQM is scheduled for February 21-23 in Jacksonville, FL.
Article
2006 December
- The 2006 IRC changes that apply to roof framing or roof trusses include: R301.5 attic loading; R802.10.2.1 snow loading; R802.10.3/R502.11.2 reference to BCSI; R802.3.1 rafter/ceiling joist connections; and R806.4 conditioned attic spaces.
- The 2006 IRC changes that apply to wall panels include: R302, R309 exterior wall; R317 unit separation; R502.2.1 load path through floor at braced wall lines; R602.3.2 wall plate splices; R602.10 braced wall lines; and R703 exterior wall covering and fasteners.
Article
2006 December
- Atlas Components invited Congressman Manzullo to its plant for a tour.
- A new WTCA Board resolution recommends that each chapter designate a Local Relationship-Building Chair and host two plant tours each year.
- WTCA staff is developing a detailed database of the professional organizations in their chapter marketplace.
Article
2006 December
- Chapter 3 in ANSI/TPI 1 is the section that defines the industry’s manufacturing quality control standards.
- Throughout 2006, a Project Committee has revised Chapter 3 to include feedback from component manufacturers.
- One significant change involves combining two previous inspection methods into one for increased efficiency.
Article
2006 December
- Your goal in reading this, I’m assuming, is to figure out the best kind of equipment to have in your cutting operation…the equipment that will produce the most accurately cut components at the lowest possible cost.
- The labor cost per part is all-important and can be the deciding factor in your automated saw decision.
- I’d ask every automated saw manufacturer I was considering to look at my cutting operation and recommend which type of saw would provide the quickest return on investment for my operation.
Article
2006 December
- A combination of high home prices, excess inventory and the tightening of monetary policy and has led to a steady decline in U.S. housing starts.
- The outlook for single family construction should improve by Q3 of 2007, but depends largely on the sale of existing home inventory.
- Because home affordability has de-creased in the last several years, the rental component of multi-family construction looks to be strong in the first half of 2007.
- The analysts’ consensus forecasts total U.S. housing starts at just over 1.6 million for 2007.
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- Look forward to improving economic conditions for the construction industry in 2007.
- Don’t miss wall panel manufacturing articles on pages 38 and 48.
- A new column, Build Strong Relation-ships, spotlights manufacturers forging new relationships with various professionals in the marketplace.
- WTCA-NY put together a productive day-long event to build relationships and provide education.
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- Market research is systematic problem analysis, model-building and fact-finding for the purpose of improved decision-making and control in the marketing of goods and services.
- You can increase your chances of finding jewels of information at BCMC by using a systematic approach to ask all your staff members to share their findings when you regroup after the show.
- According to one Loyal Attendee, "it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the business, you can always learn something and pick up something new at BCMC."
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- "Freshmen" lawmakers are excellent individuals to reach out to because they are just now starting to develop a relationship with their constituency.
- There are a number of new committee Chairs to begin building relationships with now that the Democratic party controls both chambers of Congress.
- The winter months are a good time to devote time to giving plant tours. Call your new member of Congress and invite them on a tour of your facility.
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- WTCA no longer relies on outside organizations to monitor code changes that affect component manufacturers and their suppliers.
- Since 2004, WTCA has occupied a spot on the IBC’s Structural Committee. This group reviews and votes on several hundred code change proposals in each 18-month cycle.
- By participating in the IBC structural committee, WTCA has developed favorable relationships with members of the forest products industry, the steel industry, homebuilders, structural engineer groups and building code officials.
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- WTCA evolved into WTCA - Representing the Structural Building Components Industry in 2006.
- WTCA’s new website address is www.sbcindustry.com.
- The Cold Formed Steel Council was formed in 2006 to support the technical and marketing needs of cold formed steel manufacturers.
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- R-Squared, a framing company, started a small wall panel shop in 2001 to increase efficiency on the jobsite.
- After several years of gradual growth, the company is preparing for more dramatic growth in the next few years.
- The Roods have been successful by learning about smart marketing, launching their own version of turnkey framing services, and focusing on personnel development.
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- A hybrid wall panel manufacturing system coordinates machinery options with expandable production software platform.
- The initial capital investment for wall panel manufacturing equipment is closely tied to your return on investment.
- The software package available through the hybrid approach offers expandability and works well with automated and manual equipment systems.
Article
2007 Jan/Feb
- Truss plant tours have worked in the industry’s educational favor.
- The WTCA-NY made a significant educational impression in the New York State Building Officials Conference’s (NYSBOC) perception in October 2006.
- The tour shed a lot of light on the truss industry for building code officials and fire service members.
Article
2007 March
- A big part of personnel management is learning how to deal with all different personalities—even the difficult ones.
- Find out how Northeast Panel & Truss teamed up with OSHA to improve their safety record.
- Learn about automated saws that are designed with your safety in mind.
- Read about a charter high school in Ohio that rehabilitates troubled teens by teaching them how to design and build components.
Article
2007 March
- Contractors should install and brace trusses according to the Building Component Safety Information (BCSI) booklet.
- History has proven that truss instability and the variety of potential consequences due to this is typically the direct result of improper handling, installing, restraining and bracing of trusses.
- Most collapses will require a separate assessment by a professional engineer to determine the correct course of action.
Article
2007 March
- There is so much knowledge to absorb at BCMC that it can be a challenge to retain it all.
- BCMC is the ideal venue to regroup with your team, discuss future goals, and share new ideas learned during the show.
- Information learned at BCMC is most valuable when you are able to bring it back to your operation for immediate use.
- BCMC is a good environment for meetings because it is free of office distractions.
Article
2007 March
- The collaboration of FBMA and WTCA creates greater influence when advocating for legislative solutions.
- The associations’ scopes of work have been clearly defined as to not duplicate efforts.
- The relationship allows each organization to provide more value to their members without additional investment.
Article
2007 March
- The best economic solution is achieved when builders focus on developing land and component manufacturers design buildings, supply material and provide installation labor.
- In order for this model to thrive in the marketplace, CMs and builders must work together and share the same vision.
- CMs may want to consider providing concrete, framing materials, building design services and framing labor to their traditional product offerings.
Article
2007 March
- Stress in the workplace can negatively impact productivity and cause burnout.
- Become familiar with the common symptoms of burnout to address it before it spreads to other employees.
- Burnout can be prevented by varying tasks, keeping a sense of humor and tackling one thing at a time.