With all of the supply chain issues and labor shortages we have seen during the last few years, manufacturing costs have risen dramatically. While things are settling down in the supply chain for the most part, the higher costs of materials, components and labor seem like they are here to stay. Because of this, coupled […]

“The best way to predict the future is to create it!” — American computer scientist Alan Kay As 2023 gets rolling, we need to take a moment to recognize and realize that the last 30 months have been bizarre for our industry. We battled against deadly viruses, shutdowns, limited start-ups, and then full-go, massive inflation, […]

Many companies, including JELD-WEN with its Women’s Network, are taking note of the opportunities available by increasing the number of women in the workforce. Faced with labor shortages, it’s no secret that the industry is looking to bolster its workforce by tapping into a previously untapped employee market. The National Association of Home Builders kicked […]

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing last week regarding the role of tax incentives in affordable housing, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress that the housing affordability crisis is far-reaching and will require action on several fronts, not just the tax arena. “The housing affordability crisis is the result of failing to […]

Right now, window and door fabricators live in a world where creating demand for their products is no issue. The day-to-day challenges of their business are driven by supply chain issues, labor shortages and long lead times associated with new equipment. But with inflation on the rise, interest-rate hikes being doled out by the Fed […]

With the same challenges carrying over from 2020, you might expect door and window sales to suffer, but not so. Despite labor shortages and supply chain issues, the industry’s best sold more than ever in 2021—averaging more than 30% increases over the prior year. “We grew 50% last year organically, from $40.5M to 65.9M,” says […]

I was in the woods in my hunting blind earlier this week and, of course, checking my emails when all of a sudden, my cell phone died. I plugged it into my portable charger only to discover that battery power wasn’t the issue. It was just plain broke. I was hunting alone, so this made […]

There have been increased reports of nationwide labor shortages in recent weeks. From airline companies to hotels, it seems like every sector and industry is set to experience the consequences. However, the manufacturing industry is looking to get ahead of the curve. During the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) 2021 Virtual Summer Conference, taking […]

As labor shortages hang over the construction industry, builders and contractors ponder how they might use the latest technologies to replace human functions. Five years ago, around 20% of builders reported they had begun to tinker with technologies like drones and 3D printers. Since then, robots have surfaced doing everything from installing studs, drywall and […]

Members of the door, moulding and millwork industries are in Reno, Nev., this week for World Millwork Alliance’s (WMA) Annual Convention and Tradeshow, where over the course of a three-day event the association and its speakers look to send a clear message: their industry is no gamble. Instead, members must learn to play their hands amid […]