Posts by M@tt
Servant Leadership and One of Our Industry’s Best
By Ben HersheySolutions Provider & CEO4Ward Solutions Group I remember it clearly; I was in the Lounge at Portland International Airport when I got a call from Joe Kannapell. Joe was going to be sharing with the MiTek team in the next day that he would be officially retiring at the end of 2020; Joe…
Read MoreThe Last Word on Roof Truss Wizards
By Joe Kannapell Four roof truss innovators have changed our industry, from its beginning to the present day. Their names may be largely unknown now, but their work lives on and is worth assessing. The most notable is A. Carroll Sanford, whose machines are still cranking out trusses (see my March 2020 article). Mr. Sanford…
Read MoreChange Your Supply Chain Management with Analytics and Systems Integration
By Owen EldridgeSolution Provider, 4Ward Solutions Group This article also appears in The Component Manufacturing Advertiser. Relying on traditional supply chain execution systems is becoming increasingly more difficult, with a mix of global operating systems, pricing pressures, and ever-increasing customer expectations. There are also recent economic impacts such as COVID-19, supply shortages, the global recession,…
Read MoreThe Battle Within Our Operations
By Ben Hershey, CEO, 4Ward Solutions Group Does this conversation sound familiar? “How fast can we reliably supply that component job to our customer?” asks the sales manager. “And don’t make us look like fools by telling me a date that will never be met or is too far out!” “I will tell you how…
Read MorePRESS RELEASE: Wood Tech Systems and 4Ward Consulting Group welcome Mike Ruede Jr.
Wood Tech Systems of Muncie, IN and 4Ward Consulting Group of Stanwood, WA are excited to welcome Mike Ruede, Jr. to our independent teams. Having hands-on experience with advanced solution-based equipment, Mike has a broad industry background, which includes robotics. This knowledge comes from his experience working with Finland-based Trussmatic as their North American Technical…
Read MoreThe Importance of Change Management in Today’s Business Climate
By Ben Hershey, CEO, 4Ward Solutions Group The current global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has created a severe shortage of PPE across the world. And while regular distribution channels ramp up, we have seen several creative ways some individuals and companies are making changes to support our COVID-19 response, including obtaining and producing…
Read MoreSet the Course of Your Business
By Ben Hershey, CEO, 4Ward Consulting Group, LLC Many of us just returned from this year’s BCMC show. How appropriate it was to be in Columbus, a city named after a visionary who discovered the new world, and the theme was “Set Your Course.” In your business, no matter the role you serve, you have…
Read MoreThe Importance of Change Management in Today’s Business Climate
By Ben Hershey, CEO, 4Ward Solutions Group The current global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has created a severe shortage of PPE across the world. And while regular distribution channels ramp up, we have seen several creative ways some individuals and companies are making changes to support our COVID-19 response, including obtaining and producing…
Read MoreAre Your Managers Equipped for Change?
By Ben Hershey, CEO, The 4Ward Group of Companies Ask yourself this question, true or false: The most resistant group of employees in many component and LBM companies is the frontline employees? If you answered true, like most people you guessed incorrectly. It’s not our frontline employees who resist change the most, it’s the managers,…
Read MoreAre You Communicating the Same Old Message?
By Ben Hershey, CEO, The 4Ward Group of Companies Here we are at the start of 2020 — Happy New Year! As we begin the year, we’ll likely have times when we look at the past and then look forward, as we plan our strategy and set the tone for our teams and work with…
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