Manufacturing

Grade Marked Lumber

Question: 

When webs are cut is it alright that sometimes the grade mark is removed? From a liability standpoint, what is the rule with grade marks and web members?

Lumber Grades In Wood Trusses

Question: 

The grading rules usually permit some percentage of visually graded lumber to be below grade – I believe it is 5%. ANSI/TPI 1 requires that all lumber used in trusses be of the grade specified by the truss design. A strict interpretation of ANSI/TPI 1 would require that the fabricator cull the 5% that is off grade. What are your thoughts on this?

Parting Shots

Eras of Innovation

As the industry heads into 2017 focused on solving workforce issues with greater manufacturing efficiency, it’s instructive to look back at the August 2006 issue of SBC Magazine, which featured an interview with Gene Woloveke, the inventive force behind the Idaco Machine & Equipment Company.

The Poster Project

DIY safety messages have Plum’s production crew looking out for each other—and each other’s artwork.

Safety is often about statistics, inspections, reporting, paperwork…you get the picture. But Plum Building Systems in Osceola, Iowa has found a fun way to engage employees in the safety program: do-it-yourself safety posters.

Why Track Leading Indicators?

Mike Boswell—production manager of Plum Building Systems—and Chris Lambert—a general manager with Builders FirstSource—both understand how critical it is to cultivate a safety culture that empowers their employees. One way they accomplish this goal is by proactively measuring the success of their safety programs with the often underutilized practice of near-miss reporting.  

Lean Manufacturing...Where to Start?

Greg Griggs—southeast VP of component operations with Builders FirstSource—and BJ Louws—president of Louws Truss—both see untapped potential for productivity gains in inefficient plants. They introduced BCMC attendees to a few basic concepts of lean manufacturing: Kanban, Kaizen, 5 S and waste walks. They also made sure attendees left with a very clear picture of the value of good instructions and of the wasted effort in an inefficient workflow.

Preemptive Design

Can designing with lateral resistance in mind improve production QC?

A Training Transformation

To save you time and money, SBCA’s Wood Truss QC Program staff are going from on-site to on-call.

Practicing Preventative Maintenance

A little up-front effort can have significant downstream effects.

Do You Know What It Takes to Pick the Perfect Plate?

A lot of engineering goes into the design of metal plate connected wood trusses, including the connector plates themselves.