Simpson Strong-Tie Receives David Weekley Homes’ Award

For the ninth consecutive year, Simpson Strong-Tie has been honored with the Partners of Choice award by David Weekley Homes, a privately held home builder. The company has again earned an “A” ranking in both quality and service. The Partners of Choice Award is the result of a rigorous supplier interactive feedback system that recognizes world-class excellence in supply chain management.

This rigorous system and resulting award recognize top-performing suppliers in David Weekley’s evaluation program. Simpson Strong-Tie has been part of the survey since its inception in 2003, and is among 16 companies this year to achieve the double “A” ranking.

More than 600 employees at all levels within David Weekley Homes review the company’s approximately 175 trading partners (suppliers) and rate them on both quality and service each quarter. The National Trading Partner Survey is a web-based interactive feedback platform that tracks employee responses to measure how effective partners are in managing the supply chain. Partners are rated on a scale from 1-10. Numeric scores are averaged and an alpha ranking of A through F is assigned in 20 percent increments based on each company’s relative standing to others. The award program honors suppliers who earn an “A” in quality, service or both within a 12-month period. The results of the survey are shared with all David Weekley Homes trading partners every quarter to foster ongoing improvement within the program.

“We are pleased to once again present the Partners of Choice Award to our friends at Simpson Strong-Tie,” says Bill Justus, VP of supply chain for David Weekley Homes. “What Simpson Strong-Tie has accomplished over a number of years is truly remarkable, especially when you consider that the length and breadth of our process does not allow shortcuts to success.” 

“The rankings in the National Trading Partner Survey become more and more competitive every year. Being awarded the Partners of Choice Award for the ninth consecutive year exemplifies our commitment to providing exceptional quality and service,” says Mike Moran, VP of Simpson Strong-Tie builder programs. “On behalf of all Simpson Strong-Tie employees, we are honored to be a chosen supplier of David Weekley Homes and a recipient of this coveted award.”

Construction Jobs Up From June 2012 - 2013

Construction employment increased in 191 out of 339 metropolitan areas between June 2012 and June 2013, declined in 97 and was flat in 51, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials welcomed the construction employment gains but cautioned that demand remained spotty amid continued efforts to cut federal investments in vital infrastructure projects, including for clean water systems.

“Although construction activity remains extremely spotty, with strong residential activity offsetting lackluster private nonresidential investment and shrinking public construction spending, workers are being hired in more and more metro areas,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “There is widespread good news for now but the industry remains far below previous employment peaks in most markets.”

The number of metro areas with construction employment increases rose for the fifth consecutive month in June after bottoming out at 146 gainers in January, Simonson notes. The June total of 191 metro areas adding construction jobs was the largest number since March 2012.

Two metro areas tied for the largest number of new jobs added in the past 12 months: Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass. (9,900 jobs, 19 percent) and Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (9,900 jobs, 6 percent). They were followed closely by Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz. (9,600 jobs, 11 percent) and Los Angeles-Long-Beach-Glendale (9,200 jobs, 8 percent). The largest percentage gains since June 2012 occurred in Pascagoula, Miss. (33 percent, 1,500 jobs), followed by Eau Claire, Wis. (31 percent, 1,000 jobs).

The largest job losses were in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (-5,500 jobs, -9 percent), followed by Northern Virginia (-2,900 jobs, -4 percent). The steepest percentage declines in construction employment occurred in Rockford, Ill. (-13 percent, -600 jobs) and Pocatello, Idaho (-13 percent, -200 jobs). They were followed by Gary, Ind. (-12 percent, -2,500 jobs) and Yuma, Ariz. (-12 percent, -300 jobs).

Association officials said that despite growing signs of a construction recovery, the industry still faces challenges, including continued efforts to cut federal investments in infrastructure projects. They noted that a Congressional subcommittee voted last week to cut funding for water and wastewater infrastructure by 75 percent for next year, from $2.36 billion in 2013 to $600 million in 2014.

“Construction employment is heading in the right direction for now, but demand remains weak and the industry’s recovery is still very fragile,” says Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “Beyond the obvious threats to the broader economy, cutting investments in vital infrastructure projects puts some of these new construction jobs at risk.”

View construction employment figures by state and rank.

Acme Brick Wins 2013 Partners of Choice Award

Acme Brick Co. is one of 24 twenty-four companies nationwide to receive the David Weekley Homes 2013 Partners of Choice Award with an “A” ranking. Acme achieved the “A” rating for Quality. This is the second consecutive year that Acme has been chosen a “Partner of Choice.”

David Weekley Homes, a privately held home builder in America, implemented its comprehensive supplier evaluation system and its measurement for world-class excellence, the Partners of Choice Award in 2004. The unique evaluation platform allows David Weekley Homes to analyze supplier performance in diverse industries, provide feedback, and recognize those truly outstanding achievers. Under this process Team Members are initially asked to rate each supplier’s performance on Quality and Service. Then through a series of discussions, meetings, and coaching calls, David Weekley Homes and its suppliers search for the best way to achieve excellence together.  

Bill Justus, VP of supply chain services for David Weekley Homes, implemented the evaluation method in order to reduce channel costs, improve service, and provide the highest degree of homeowner satisfaction. 

“David Weekley Homes’ A-Quality rating is an important benchmark to us as we strive for continued improvement and recognizes the dedication of all the people who have made Acme Brick an enduring standard for the brick industry for 122 years,” says Bill Lemond, senior VP of sales for Acme Brick Co.

“Receiving the  Partners of Choice Award is the highest compliment we can pay our providers,” Justus says. “To attain this award means that over 600 Team Members from every level of our company believe the provider is best in class in delivering its products to us in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. You cannot talk your way to a good score. The length and breadth of the program allows only those who are willing to invest in the process to achieve excellence.  It is extremely difficult for a company to repeat with this honor and speaks to Acme’s commitment to excellence.”

Commenting on the award, Acme President and CEO, Dennis Knautz says, “We are pleased, not only to be a “Partners of Choice” award winner for 2013, but also for being an award winner for the second year in a row.  As I have told our associates for a long time, our job is to provide quality products and outstanding customer service so that industry-leading homebuilders such as David Weekley Homes can deliver outstanding homes to families everywhere.  

"The supplier evaluation system that David Weekley Homes uses has become part of our standard performance review system," Knautz continues. "One unique aspect of the system is that it provides clear and specific feedback, thereby closing the communication loop that is so often missing in other forms of evaluation.  While the process is surely time consuming for Weekley, the value that it produces in creating a true team environment with their suppliers is evident in the quality of homes that they provide to the homebuyer.”      

Paladin Attachments Names Garmenn as Parts Manager

Paladin Attachments recently hired David Garmenn to lead its new strategic initiative focusing on aftermarket parts and attachment specific maintenance kits. As parts manager, Garmenn will lead implementation of the new initiative. He will work closely with all internal departments including customer service, engineering and sales to enhance product support for Paladin, which includes their eight powerful brands: Bradco, CP, CustomWorks, FFC, Harley, JRB, McMillen and Sweepster.

Garmenn comes to Paladin with more than 20 years of aftermarket experience in internal engine parts for automotive, heavy-duty on-road, and heavy-duty diesel off-road construction applications. He is a proven leader in driving successful implementation of value-added engineering and marketing initiatives, as well as inventory management. 

He most recently worked in Product Management at Mahle Clevite Inc., where he managed a staff of 15 and lead product development for multiple product lines. Garmenn has extensive experience in post-merger integration and in implementing best practices among product lines, as well as product information management systems.

Concrete Masonry Design Awards of Excellence Accepting Entries

The National Concrete Masonry Association, along with Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, is now accepting entries for the Concrete Masonry Design Awards of Excellence program. Awards are presented for commercial, residential, landscape and sustainability. The deadline for submittals is Sept. 4, 2013.

“The Concrete Masonry Design Awards program gives the design community the opportunity to highlight all that concrete masonry has to offer," says NCMA Chairman of the Board Charles Newsome of Johnson Concrete Co. Inc. "The program recognizes those projects that excel in design using concrete masonry and hardscapes for commercial, residential and landscape applications. We are excited that this year’s program will also include manufactured stone veneer projects.”

Winners will be nationally recognized through trade show exhibits, publications and media.
 
For complete information about the Concrete Masonry Design Awards of Excellence and entry forms, visit www.ncma.org/designawards.

Atlas Copco Names Heiser as Engineering, Purchasing Manager

Daryl Heiser has been appointed to the position of engineering and purchasing manager for Atlas Copco Construction Equipment. His new appointment will be effective Aug. 1. Heiser will be based out of a home office in Indiana and will report directly to Joey Parker, service operations manager – USA. 

Heiser joined Atlas Copco in 2008 as a project engineer for Atlas Copco Hurricane. His most recent position has been as application and product support manager for Hurricane. In his new role, Heiser will work closely with the Construction Technique Service division to develop service products and support operations for the supply of parts. Heiser will also work with the service operations team and managers to support special packaging, retrofit and refurbishment programs and to further develop and diversify the business. 

Heiser has more than 25 years of manufacturing, design and engineering experience, specializing in air and gas compression equipment sales for 10 years.