Demand for Material Outpacing Supply Mike Silvers, CPRC, Silvers Systems Inc. and FRSA Director of Technical Services
Everyone in the roofing industry is familiar with the severe shortage of almost all the materials we use. Lead times are extraordinarily long, if not completely unknown. Prices are high and getting higher and, like lead times, often unknown or unavailable. How did we get here and when can we get back to something similar to normal? How do we get there? I have been following the issue closely and want to share some of what I’ve learned. I’m very fortunate in my position at FRSA to have a group of industry professionals to turn to for help. They volunteer their time serving on many FRSA committees and are a great resource for me. The manufacturing members of our Codes Subcommittee are a great example of this. It was clear to me that they would be a great place to get additional input about the issue. I reached out and asked them for their assistance and received the following replies. I think you will find them interesting.
parts of the world, the expectation seems to be that the overburdened chain of chemicals and other raw materials will not recover any time soon. It is our commitment to our customers to produce as much of the best products possible over the coming months. We are also committed to being a transparent resource of information about what we can do to help our partners and our industry succeed. Working with ARMA, NRCA, FRSA and other industry organizations to find the best pathways to take care of our people is our number one goal at Atlas now and far into the future.
Duro-Last, Inc., Bill Boyer, CPRC
Like many in the commercial roofing industry, DuroLast, Inc. continues to navigate and pivot through Atlas Roofing Corporation, the unpredictable climate of material shortages and Stephanie Daniels prolonged lead times. While we are not immune to the Supply chain woes and challenges that are facing the industry, we are uniquematerial availability in ly positioned to meet core product demands through the roofing and conour vertical integration approach. By manufacturing struction space have our own plates, screws, membranes, accessories, been at the top of all edge details and coatings, we can supply materials our minds for over a for the entire roofing system much more efficiently year now. This past than other manufacturing operations; and contractors year has shown us can coordinate their project needs with one phone more clearly than ever that the entire global communi- call. This approach provides us with more control over ty struggles and rises together to overcome adversity. the manufacturing process, helping to ensure prodAtlas has had to make very hard decisions during uct quality and keeping lead times manageable. That this time about the products and colors we produce. said, polyisocyanurate insulation shortages continue Our mission has been to best serve our customer base to affect everyone and our insulation team is working diligently with our supply partners to help contractors with what the majority really need to be successful. manage the delay. Whether that be strategically stagIn a time when raw materials are very strained and gering shipments to keep projects moving forward or demand for finished goods is higher than we have seen, possibly ever, Atlas has been able to supply more finding suitable alternative product solutions, our numshingles, underlayment, ventilation and other prodber one goal is to ensure contractor success through ucts during this past year than at any other time in our the unknowns that we currently face. history. It is still not as much as our customers would At the end of the day, we believe that knowledge wish. is power and we are committed to doing everything The year started with low inventory of finished and that we can to minimize negative impacts on our raw materials, then the problem was exacerbated customers through daily communication. Along with by the ice storms that rolled through the Southwest. personal calls, one of the main ways we communicate From there, we saw significant disruption in transwith our contractors is through a Product Availability portation, pallets, labor and overall equipment wear page that is updated daily on the Duro-Last Contractor and tear across the supply chain. Watching the unPortal. This page ensures that contractors are aware folding saga of ports having ships stacked 70 deep, and prepared when planning their upcoming projects. the overwhelming need for truck drivers, chassis, rail In addition to essential product and lead time inforspace and the coal powered energy shortfalls in many mation, we provide customers a variety of resources 14
FLORIDA ROOFING | November 2021