Testimonials

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Structural Wood / Roll Lock Truss
Michael McGee - Owner - Waddington, NY

I have been the General Manager of Roll Lock Truss for more than twenty-five years.  I was not ready to close the doors when business declined due to the ailing national economy.  We decided to call in Todd Drummond to take a fresh look at our operations and to make suggestions on what we should change. Todd took a straightforward and professional look at what we were doing and how we were doing it.  Although I was originally troubled by his analysis, I quickly realized it was what the company needed to make a positive change.

Todd’s expertise in the truss manufacturing business showed us how to apply these principles, not only to the truss industry, but also to our specific operation. His week-long consult took us down a path that displayed a logical and methodical progression of lean manufacturing principles and other issues that heavily affected the pricing, costing and quality of our final product.  Once we fine-tuned Todd’s lean principles, he gave us very specific and direct suggestions that we could clearly see would immediately improve our bottom line.

The suggestions included everything from management, sales and design to manufacturing and accounting.  As the week progressed, I was amazed at how quickly he was able to analyze our manufacturing techniques and identify our problem areas. He did this by asking numerous questions so that he could not only understand complete production flow, but also evaluate our use of resources such as personnel, plant space and equipment.

Todd’s direct approach allowed us to realize our shortcomings.  His recommendations were very straightforward and companywide.  As a business looking for improvement, it was what we collectively needed to hear. I have no doubt that we will improve our bottom line by implementing many of Todd’s recommendations.  I highly recommend his services to anyone in the industry who feels a need for production improvements.

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R&K Building Supplies, Phoenix AZ
Chad Coons – President

The Phoenix construction market has been hit hard by the downturn in the housing industry.  Like every other truss company in the area, we have tried to ride out this bad economy by downsizing and cutting every possible expense we could think of—including wages and office overhead.  As the 1st quarter 2011 ended, it was apparent that all the cuts and internal adjustments were still not enough to affect a positive outcome. We realized it was time for a drastic change, or we would need to get out of the wood truss business all together.  

We hired Todd Drummond’s consulting services, thinking that a professional looking in from the outside could help us with some ideas on improving our operations and further cost controls. What we actually got was that—plus a lot more. 

The ideas for changing the way we process the work orders from sales right through production were quite enlightening. The list of changes needed was long and, frankly, we were a little skeptical at the results Todd promised.  We have been building wood trusses for decades, but Todd showed us many common-sense changes in procedure and flow that we have not been doing.  Once he explained all the lean manufacturing rational, my team of people had to agree that he was right on the mark in every area. We are very appreciative for the many specific ideas and practices he suggested implementing to adjust to our current market needs. The savings potential is surprising and well worth the time and cost invested in his services.

What really surprised me was that not only did he talk about operational practices but he also provided sound advice on creating better market opportunities and other revenue streams.  Phoenix is a tough market to say the least, but he showed us there are opportunities we were not exploiting and gave practical advice on how to do just that. I will not go into detail, but I will say he was far more helpful than just reducing our operational expenses. Now, we are very focused and hopeful about our future.

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84 Lumber, 
Kings Mountain, NC
Mark Ignatowicz, 
General Manager

Times are tough for our industry and it is no different for our company.  At 84
Lumber we needed to take a new look at our operation and see how we might be able to do a better job with what we have for existing sales and setup.  We took a chance with Todd Drummond Lean Manufacturing Consulting Services and are very pleased with the results.

Positive net profit differences before and after the consultation are stark in comparison. Sales did not change, but the way we process the sales and the way we view internal operations certainly did.  In a matter of weeks we were able to implement changes that provided a much better view of what really makes a difference to the bottom line.   Rather than having to wait for the end of month for results, we now know on a daily basis how we are doing in terms of net profit.

We implemented Todd Drummond’s labor tracking software and now can view our true order processing costs and efficiencies, far better than we could with the old ways we used.  Implementing the lean practices that we learned during the consult takes more time, but we are already showing positive results, which continue to increase as we continue to implement more of them.  We quickly learned how very small things add up to make a big and positive difference. True lean manufacturing practices really do work and are already improving our net profit. 

Do not let traditional methods and theories keep you from seeking advice and help. There is no comparison.  He is well worth the money in these lean times.

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McCabe Lumber - Loveland, Ohio 
Joe Tepe -Components Division Manager, Co-Owner

In recent years, the market for component manufacturing businesses has changed drastically.  Our industry has become extremely competitive. The drop in construction has caused manufacturers to reduce prices as far as possible in order to “get the job.”  During this time, we are forced to question our estimating techniques.  We believe that a critical key to success is the ability to identify our true cost on every job that we estimate.  We have to be aware of the point at which the job is no longer profitable.

Todd provided us with time standards which were specific to the equipment that we use.  This information allowed us to estimate our jobs with a dramatically increased level of accuracy on each project, regardless of its level of complexity.  The time standards also gave us the information to measure our production and establish target output for each workstation in our shop.

Todd also offered suggestions for lean manufacturing practices, marketing, quality control, production, and design incentives.  We continue to implement his ideas, which have received positive feedback from our customers. Each has resulted in improvements to our operations.

I recommend Todd’s consultation to any truss manufacturer, even during this difficult market.  The expense of the consult was money well spent in improving our profitability.

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Victoria Truss Ltd. 2007 - B.C. Canada
Luigi Mansueti  - Owner - Victoria Truss Ltd. 2007 - B.C. Canada

I have been working in the truss industry since 1987 and have owned my own truss manufacturing operation since 2007. One would be foolish to try making a go of it in the truss industry without believing in one’s own abilities. I have been involved in, and observed, many truss operations, and thought I had a good handle on best practices for truss manufacturing. Well, Todd has shown me far more than I thought possible. Mind you, we have been and continue to be a successful company. Todd simply showed us how to improve and I am very grateful for his advice.

I was glad that I did not get in the mindset that this was not the right time. Either, “We are too busy,” or, during the winter months, “Not enough sales.” We simply brought him in for a consultation right away, and Todd was able to help us in very short order. Our actual production increased substantially in just weeks when we took his advice! He also saved us thousands of dollars purchasing the wrong type of equipment and showed us which equipment would give us the most bangs for the buck. We are currently implementing his Truss Shop Labor Tracking software, which will help us to track the true cost of each order with a few mouse clicks. 

The time and money required to implement Todd’s advice have been well worth it. If you want honest, unbiased, new ideas that make real improvements to your operations, give Todd a call.

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Terra Nova Truss - Glenburnie, ON Canada

Now was the time to take our company to the next level of best practices.  We wanted to stay competitive in these uncertain times and remain profitable.  We knew we should evaluate every area and aspect of our business.  That is why we brought Todd into our operations.

Todd helped us address three key areas where we had some major issues.  The first area to address was implementing lean best practices in our production shop. A time standards system and lean practices have changed our whole production outlook for the better.  Although we have been building trusses for years, Todd showed us how we could improve our efficiencies and reduce our cost.  Second was our bidding process.  Now, every order can be processed using time standards, which he provided, with consistent results.  Our older bidding method was flawed, and these common methods were ones we and our competition have been using for too many years.  Due to Todd’s assistance, we clearly see the older methods’ shortcomings.  Last and certainly not least was [third key area].  We have implemented his Truss Shop Labor Tracking software.  As a result, with a few mouse clicks, we know our shop manufacturing efficiencies and our real labor cost.  Now, we are able to implement job costing into our accounting system and we know our real margins and profitability daily instead of quarterly.

No doubt about it, Todd will provide truly positive insight into your operations that will make a solid difference.

Mark Fox
Owner/GM - Terra Nova Truss - Glenburnie, ON Canada
 

Locke Truss Co. Ltd...

Locke Truss Co. Ltd. was established in 1968, and has long been known as the "Roof Truss Specialist”. Looking forward to the next 5 years in the very competitive South-Eastern Ontario Market, we know we were going to be facing very difficult times. 

Todd was the “key element” in kick starting our journey on lean manufacturing. A large part of my staff has many years of experience and Todd’s methods in the 4 days of training worked very well and were just what I needed to get going. I was amazed at the response, and willingness to embrace to changes needed. We look at production methods, standardizing procedures and written processes.

Gary Lalonde, President Locke Truss Co. Ltd., Brockville, ON Canada

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Fabco Building Components...

Since the founding of FABCO in 1978, my family and I have witnessed and been a part of the evolution of the truss industry. One tends to develop the attitude that you know what is best for your business since, after all, you built it from the ground up. The reality is that you are operating in your own busy little corner of the world.

Todd brought to the table a broader perspective, inviting us to question and compare our procedures with what he has witnessed in the industry as a whole. This led us to affirm some of our practices and change many others, resulting in a significant improvement in productivity.

We are excited to move forward with the measurement and comparison of our productivity to the labor standards provided by Todd. We feel that our relationship with Todd has had a positive influence on our company. I would strongly encourage others to make what we have found to be a wise investment.

Dan and Terry Tontarski, Owners, Fabco Building Components, Watertown N.Y

Mar-Span got its start almost 20 years ago, building pole barn trusses and long runs of trusses. This has been our focus through the years, which is still the mainstay of our business.  When the economy shifted, and our residential sector grew, we needed to be able to properly cost and market this style of project.

Hiring Todd fast-tracked our ability to efficiently design and build this style of project.  His consultation was a breath of fresh air, a new look at production methods, and helped us standardize our whole process. I would recommend to anyone looking to increase efficiency by taking a new look at production methods, or anyone who is integrating automation into their existing facilities, to use the services of Todd.

Terra Nova Trusses

We felt the time was right to have a person like Todd give us an independent assessment of our entire operation. We were struggling with labor estimations on certain jobs, and Todd implemented the proper Time Standards for us to follow, which would allow us to be more precise on job costing.

We discussed and received advice on the implementation of a marketing strategy, quality control, an incentive program, performance appraisals, and the principles of lean manufacturing.

Todd has laid the foundation for our company to be a leader in our industry and improve our bottom line. I would not hesitate to recommend Todd to others in our field.

Denis and Frank Galway, Owners, Terra Nova Trusses Ltd, Mount Pearl, NF Canada