Designers are under tight deadlines; they are constantly being pulled from one project to another, and are routinely being asked to make changes to a project. All of this can create an environment that burns them out and pushes them out the door. 

“It’s easy to fire people,” says Carl Allison, component division manager for 84 Lumber, and even easier to write off someone leaving “because he didn’t fit in or it just didn’t work out.” Yet, in a challenging labor market, an industry where entry-level pay is low, and turnover is traditionally high, easy comes at what cost?

Structural building components are not a commodity and should not be sold like one. 

Making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is simple, right? Totally.

Looking out over the next three years of housing starts, John Burns Real Estate Consulting (JBREC) is predicting a slight decline in housing starts from the recent 1.25 million average, with a rebound in starts post 2021. 

There was quite a buzz on the BCMC show floor this year concerning production automation. 

If you attended BCMC in Milwaukee this year you know you were part of something special. From the buzz on the show floor to the wide assortment of educational sessions to the many fun activities that went on throughout the week, there was an opportunity for every person to learn something new and forge a new relationship.

Since I’ve become involved in SBCA, I have found one of the most valuable aspects to be all of the opportunities to learn from fellow component manufacturers and suppliers.

At the SBCA Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM) in August, component manufacturer and supplier members broke into seven teams and took part in a race-to-the-finish scavenger hunt.

Builders Warehouse Manufacturing • Aurora, Colorado