M ACdverti$er
Th e
omponent
anufacturing
May 1st, 2016 #09202 Page #4
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$er
Question of the Day
SAWS
“I am new to the component manufacturing industry, what are some of the industry’s ‘Gotchas!’? Thanks for this Question. There are several ‘Gotchas!’ that come immediately to mind. Perhaps the one most often cited is not having, and sticking with, a well thought-out business model. This would be a situation where the Sales folks are promising one thing, the truss technicians/designers are doing their own thing and the manufacturing is just trying to get product out the door as quickly as possible without regard for design assumptions or quality standards. It is critically important that everyone on your team understands your desired and intended scope of work. That scope is the one that is based in ANSI/TPI 1, Chapters 2 & 3, and has been reviewed by your insurance carrier and attorney, as they too are part of your team. Good communication, paired with great design and certifiable quality, will keep you away from many trying moments in this business. Stan Sias
Mid-90's ASI/Monet DeSauw B500 Component Saw Push Button Controlled Movements with Digital Readouts Backup Mechanical Counters & Scales (1) 30” & (4) 16” Saw Blades cut from 18” to 20’ Lumber Hold Downs Vibrating Waste Conveyor (under saw) Incline Waste Conveyor (adjacent to saw) $22,900 FOB IL. Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com
Another ‘Gotcha!’ is one that you may feel that you have little control over because it is not your call to make, but one where you may well make a friend forever for just talking about it. That one has to do with the “boiler plate specifications” we see on many jobs utilizing metal plate connected wood trusses. How often do you see the same specifications for the trusses no matter what the spans or complexity? Having a conversation with the specifier, be it the architect, engineer or building owner, about something as simple as truss deflection in an educational-type setting will do wonders for your perceived integrity. Lots of roof truss specs call for the trusses to have maximum allowable deflection of L/240 for Live Load and L/180 for Total Load. This may have worked well back in the day of short span roof rafter construction, but it can wreak havoc when applied to clear span trusses. Let’s look at a relatively short span of, say, 28’ for residential roof trusses. Assuming we meet the spec of L/240 and L/180 for LL & TL, the trusses would be expected to deflect vertically under design live load up to 1.4” (28’ span x 12 inches per foot/240). Really?! Is there any detailing within the typical construction documents that would allow for that magnitude of deflection without serious issues with the finishes? What is the ceiling joint going to look like at parallel partitions? Just imagine the scene when these trusses aren’t for the little 28’ residence but for the 60’ wide commercial space. Now that “allowable” (that is, it meets the specs) Live Load deflection would be upwards to 3”, with Total Load deflection approaching four inches! You could quote this job, win the bid, supply it per specification and still end up being hated (if not sued) by the contractor, architect, engineer and building owner. There are many aspects of metal plate connected wood truss design and manufacturing that can fit nicely into a company’s Procedures and/or Quality Control manual. There are other parts of the business that are just better suited for lunch and learn-type environments, or specifier group association presentations, where you are not actively trying to sell the recipients anything other than a better understanding of the products you manufacture or provide. This is the time to explain the features and benefits of your philosophy or process that will set your company apart from the rest of your competition. Yes, some of the features may increase your delivered truss invoice price, but if it saves numerous hours of installation time, eliminates additional material cost and assures a better end product, isn’t it worth talking about? The fact is it is relatively easy to eliminate the ‘Gotchas!’ from your processes, but it takes effort to share your knowledge with the specifiers, installers, inspectors and others involved with truss applications to complete the loop. The best designed and manufactured trusses that are not handled and installed properly will not ultimately perform as designed/intended and you will be forced to defend yourself though having done no wrong. If you want to be included among the trusted suppliers, and seen as a go-to company, in your market, I suggest that you invest in this type of non-sales education. My experience says that it will pay off big-time in the long run and you will make many friends in the process. Thanks for reading, SS. PHONE: 800-289-5627
ASI/DePauw Combi-Cut Web Saw Push Button Controlled Movements with Mechanical Counters & Scales. (4) Angulating Saw Blades plus External Cut-Off Blade cut 2x4 and 4x2 from 8” to 16’. Cut 4 Angle Floor Webs down to 12”. Powered Lumber Hold Downs. Lumber Feed Magazine. Vibrating Waste Conveyor (under saw). Incline Waste Conveyor (adjacent to saw). $24,500 FOB IL Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com
Speed Cut Saw with Hain Measuring System •Speed Cut Metra-Cut Saw (5 HP / 3 Phase) •20’ Hain Powered Measuring System •Cutting Depth of 6” with 16” Blade •Angular Capacity of 164 Degrees •Saw Barrier Guard •Turntable Air Brake $8,300 FOB IL Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com
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