ABOUT 4WARD
About Us
4Ward Solutions Group helps offsite manufacturers modernize operations through consulting, design, workforce, automation and software solutions — built by a team that's spent decades on the factory floor, not just around a boardroom table.
With 330+ years of combined experience, our team helps clients improve efficiency, increase profitability and reduce waste while building a stronger foundation for long-term growth.
4Ward was founded on a simple idea: that a handshake still means something. We come alongside our customers as partners, not just consultants — showing up, rolling up our sleeves and treating your operations like we're owners too.
We work with lumber dealers and building material distributors, component manufacturers, modular and volumetric builders, and the millwork and building industry at large. Whatever stage your business is in, our in-house experts and technology leaders are ready to help you get to the next one.
Building Businesses That Last isn't just our tagline — it's how we measure success. Every engagement is judged not by the deliverable, but by whether it holds up long after we've left the floor.
Ben Hershey, CEO and Founder
info@4wardconsult.com · 360.210.6094
You’ve leaned out your company, cut waste, but now that it’s time to grow, your team can barely cover today, and work you want to deliver is sitting in a backlog.
I grew up in this industry and have owned and operated these businesses through some hard years. We provide the resources, tools and software to clear out what’s slowing you down. We come alongside you to walk your floor, train your people, streamline and automate your processes and supply the skilled workforce you need.
Mike Ruede, Sr., COO
info@4wardconsult.com · 360.210.6094
Bio: Coming soon
Allen Washburn, Director of Component Design
design@4wardconsult.com · 360.210.6094
Most problems on a shop floor were decided long before anyone got there. A component detail that looked fine on paper becomes a field fix, a rework order or a crew standing around waiting on it.
Design decisions are the cheapest place to solve a problem and the most expensive place to get one wrong. I know where designs break down once they hit production, and how to catch it while it’s still a drawing, so your time, budget and growth are protected.
Roger Wagner, Director of Design Training & Development
design@4wardconsult.com · 360.210.6094
Offsite manufacturers are often too close to see efficiency issues, and the solutions sold come through a siloed lens that can create even bigger problems.
My integrated team tackles challenges across strategy, operations and design, which is how we pinpoint the root issues with precision. Fortunately, we don’t just identify problems. One client cut costs 15% and improved delivery times 20% with practical solutions we built together. I’m committed to doing the same for you.
Darren Hamar, Offsite Industrial Engineer
info@4wardconsult.com · 360.210.6094
Designing a factory can be difficult and even overwhelming. Where does the equipment go? How does material flow? What happens if you find out after the concrete is poured?
I’ve modeled over 300 locations in 3D and have seen more layout options than most people in the industry. I’ll help you visualize your space, identify bottlenecks and solve problems before they become a reality.
Mike Ruede, Jr., Strategic Client Advisor
sales@4wardconsult.com · 360.210.6094
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” In manufacturing, that’s where inefficiencies hide. Processes that look fine on the surface but in reality cost you output, time and money.
When I step onto a shop floor, I find something the people who work there walk past every day. No facility operates exactly the same, and gaps are easy to miss when you’re in it every day. I bring a fresh perspective to your workflow so you know where your margin is going.
Jason Ward, Strategic Client Advisor
sales@4wardconsult.com · 360.210.6094
Plenty of people claim they understand offsite manufacturing. Then they hand you a report, sell you a subscription and disappear when it doesn’t work.
At 4Ward Solutions Group, I’ve built, operated, turned around and grown these businesses myself. I’ve sat in the same seat as you, faced the same operational challenges and solved them. This experience allows me to look beyond the symptoms to develop your people and implement the systems that are right for your plant.
Thomas Griffin, Director of Moducore Operations
info@moducore.com · 206.627.0035
Has a missing part ever brought your line to a stop? I’ve stood as a production manager, watching ten workers sit idle because they didn’t have the prints, materials or tools to keep going. It’s frustrating and unsustainable.
I’ve pushed material carts down that line myself. Moducore is industry-specific software that gets the right information, materials and processes to that worker when they’re needed. Workers are effective, no one is frustrated anymore and throughput goes up.
Bill Oliver, Co-Founder and Customer Success Manager
info@moducore.com · 206.627.0035
Have you ever watched your inventory balloon out of control while still experiencing line stoppages due to a lack of materials at the same time!? To make matters worse, nobody in the building can tell you why.
I'm Bill. I’ve lived that exact contradiction and felt the frustrations of losing revenue, time and customers. What can feel like the function of one department is actually a communication breakdown from design to production and everywhere in between. That’s why I created Moducure, our industry-specific software that gives offsite manufacturers a single source of truth for data, so silos are removed and everyone is working off the same information. Buyers and builders can now work together accurately. Inventory is handled efficiently, lines keep moving and you get to reclaim your time, money and sanity.
It’s my passion to get all departments talking together and using the same software, so your life is easier and growth is predictable. Call me, Bill, at Moducore.
Robert Snyder, Supply Chain Services Manager
bob@4wardconsult.com · 720.308.7220
You can have the best people, equipment and processes, but if the right materials aren’t in the right place at the right time, production stops.
After nearly four decades in building materials and supply chain, I know opportunities are often hidden between your BOM, suppliers, inventory and production schedule. I look beyond buying materials to see how your supply chain works together, where money is tied up, where risk is hiding and where better sourcing, planning and relationships can turn materials into margin.
TALK TO US
Have Questions? Get Answers.
Whatever you're working through, our team replies fast and gets you to the right person.
A Family Legacy
4Ward Consulting Group was founded in 2010, almost by accident. Ben Hershey had sold his ownership in several manufacturing centers and was searching for a new challenge. His father, Don Hershey, himself an industry pioneer, suggested he share his industry knowledge with other companies.
Don's words inspired Ben to create 4Ward Consulting Group (later 4Ward Solutions Group). The company grew and brought on additional experienced team members to provide solutions for companies in the Offsite Building industry. Solutions included labor, component design, automation/robotics, and more.
Today 4Ward has over 500 employees worldwide and has provided solutions to more than 300 companies.
Learn More About 4Ward
READY TO TALK?
Book A Free Consultation
Tell us where your plant is today, and we'll help you map out what's next.
Grow With Purpose
Every change has a reason behind it and an outcome ahead.
Trustworthy Expertise
We know this industry from the factory floor up.
Hands-On Partnership
We show up, roll up our sleeves and work alongside you.
Fun: It's How We Work
Set up for success, work becomes something to enjoy.
Ready For Growth With Purpose?
Tell us where your plant is today, and we'll help you map out what's next — from a quick process fix to a full facility launch.
When it's time to grow, companies today need both the people and resources to do it. We come alongside our customers to help them innovate, take advantage of the technology out there and have fun while doing it.