FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR
Blog
Notes, lessons and field-tested thinking on offsite manufacturing, lean operations and building businesses that last.
The 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 was a South Florida architect...
Change 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, supplier bases that have shrunk...
The 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 fast,” says the manufacturing manager,...
PRESS 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 Services Manager. His additional experience...
The 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 protective gear for our caregivers....
Set 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 a chance to set the...
The 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 protective gear for our caregivers....
Are 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, the ones who are expected...
Are 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 our colleagues. But… there...
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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.