Independent Manufacturing Operations Consulting
Engineered Labor Time Standards for Truss Manufacturers
Replace broad averages, outdated factors, and labor assumptions with clearer work-minute information grounded in the equipment, materials, staffing, and production methods used in your operation.
Todd helps truss manufacturers apply Work Minutes, R.E., S.U., and man-minute standards to support better labor costing, scheduling, staffing, productivity measurement, pricing, and capacity planning.
When stronger labor information may help
When Labor Assumptions Limit Better Decisions
Labor information affects much more than payroll. When estimated time does not reflect the work being performed, management may struggle to evaluate job cost, production schedules, staffing, productivity, pricing, and available capacity.
Costing Uncertainty
Labor cost is based on broad factors or historical assumptions rather than estimated time for the work.
Scheduling Friction
Production schedules do not consistently reflect job complexity or expected resource demand.
Staffing Questions
Crew requirements and operating expectations are difficult to compare across equipment, materials, or production conditions.
Productivity Confusion
Management lacks a consistent way to compare estimated labor time with actual performance.
Capacity Blind Spots
Workload and job mix are difficult to evaluate in a common time-based unit.
Outdated Factors
Equipment, materials, layouts, or production methods have changed while labor estimates have not kept pace.
Match the standards to the operation
Build Labor Information Around How the Work Is Performed
The service follows the manufacturer’s equipment, materials, processes, and operating questions rather than applying one unsupported factor to every condition. As relevant to the engagement, Todd may help management:
- Identify labor-time elements that fit current equipment, materials, and production methods.
- Use Work Minutes, R.E., S.U., or man-minutes as a consistent labor-time unit.
- Review how current labor factors support costing, scheduling, staffing, productivity measurement, pricing, and capacity planning.
- Compare work-minute information with an existing labor-estimation method.
- Consider how applicable labor-estimation software can use the selected factors.
- Recognize when standards need validation or revision as operating conditions change.
A clearer unit for labor
Measure Labor in Time—Not a Proxy
Board feet, piece counts, and other production measures can describe material or output, but they do not directly measure labor time. Work-minute standards give management a time-based view of the work expected under defined operating conditions.
Costing & Pricing
Connect estimated labor time with labor cost and evaluate the return expected from different work.
Scheduling & Capacity
Express expected workload in time so management can make more informed production and capacity decisions.
Productivity & Staffing
Compare estimated and actual time using a more consistent basis for operating review.
How an engagement begins
A Practical Path From Current Assumptions to Useful Labor Information
Start With the Current Method
Discuss the equipment, materials, staffing, production methods, estimating system, available data, and labor questions management is trying to answer.
Match the Standards to the Operation
Identify the relevant time elements and consider how they fit the conditions in which the work is performed.
Put the Information to Work
Use the selected labor standards to support the management decisions included in the engagement.
Scope note: TDC’s time standards are available with or without an onsite consultation. The starting conversation determines the appropriate scope, format, and level of support for the operation.
Current service and supporting guidance
Resources for Better Labor Clarity
Detailed Time-Standards Guidance
Learn more about Work Minutes, R.E., S.U., man-minutes, costing, scheduling, and related applications.
Read the detailed guidance
Board Foot vs. Work Minutes
See why time-based labor information can give management a clearer basis than material volume alone.
Read the comparison
TWE Truss WorkMinute Estimator
Explore Todd’s management-software application currently in development for truss manufacturers.
Explore TWE
Client experience
A Different Way to View Labor Decisions
“I came out of it with a completely different mindset on pricing, scheduling, and staffing.”
Shane Soule, President
ProTec · Read the full client story
Frequently asked questions
Before You Change Your Labor-Estimation Method
What are Work Minutes, R.E., S.U., and man-minutes?
They are time-based labor-estimation units used to express how much labor a defined task or production condition is expected to require. Terminology and setup vary by system and operation.
What decisions can labor time standards support?
They can provide clearer information for labor costing, scheduling, staffing, productivity measurement, pricing, and capacity planning.
Can the standards work with existing truss-estimating software?
Applicable labor-estimation systems may accept configurable labor factors. Compatibility, terminology, and setup vary, so the current system and operating requirements should be reviewed before changes are made.
Is an onsite consultation required?
Not necessarily. TDC’s published guidance states that time standards are available with or without an onsite consultation. The appropriate approach depends on the operation and the support needed.
Are labor standards fixed once they are installed?
No. Standards should be reviewed and updated when equipment, materials, layouts, staffing assumptions, or production methods change.
Do labor time standards guarantee a particular result?
No. They provide a clearer basis for management decisions. Results depend on appropriate setup, validation, operating conditions, and implementation.
What information is useful for the first conversation?
Current equipment, materials, staffing assumptions, production methods, labor-estimation approach, applicable system information, and examples of the costing, scheduling, productivity, or capacity questions management needs to answer.
Start with the current labor question
Where Are Labor Assumptions Limiting Better Decisions?
Describe how labor is currently estimated and where management needs greater clarity. Todd can discuss whether engineered labor time standards, a broader operational review, or another practical next step best fits the operation.