Certification of side-hinged exterior doors should...
Latest Articles in Operations
Notching Rather than Cutting
A new vinyl window manufacturing system seeks to create "true one-piece flow."
Most companies making vinyl windows follow the same basic manufacturing steps as 35 years ago. Lineals are optimized and cut into lengths. When the welding station operator is ready to assemble a particular unit, all four pieces are located and loaded one piece at a time into a welder. Sash and frames are then welded, cleaned and sent to glazing. There have been improvements to the process over ... more » Window and Door Makers Still Spending on Equipment
Eventual market recovery, demand for triple glazing and continued efforts to reduce labor will spur more investments, suppliers predict
Back in 2005 and 2006, window and door manufacturers were investing in new equipment and plants to expand capacity as the housing market boomed. With the housing bust of 2007 and 2008, things changed. Suppliers report that investments in new equipment are now down dramatically, but they also point out that spending has not come to a halt. Manufacturers continue to replace machines and upgrade ... more » Current Slump Shows It Pays to Be Proactive
An aggressive commitment to constant improvement in systems and procedures enables some manufacturers to thrive, even in tough times
The decline in new home construction, combined with an anemic remodeling market, has created serious setbacks for many companies and the people who work-or worked-for them. Yet some window and door makers not only made money in 2007, they grew. Some expect no worse than flat sales for 2008. What separates these companies from those that are struggling, or already out of business? To get some ... more » Take Control of the Manufacturing Process
In the current market, it’s time to get started
You may be busy. You may be understaffed. You may even be in denial. But the time for action is now. In today’s market, window and door manufacturers need to cut costs, and they have to do it by getting manufacturing processes in order and under control.Relax...it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. There’s no need to spend $100,000 for the advice of an outside consultant; no ... more » 
Equipment Demand Down But Not Out
The decrease in window and door sales means new investment priorities among manufacturers
Strong demand for windows and doors spurred significant investment in new machinery and production systems by manufacturers looking to expand capacity over the past several years. “With the downturn in the window and door industry, the equipment market has followed suit,” reports Stürtz Machinery’s Mike Biffl. Like most suppliers, however, he says spending has not come to a ... more » Finding Real Savings in Screen Production
New machines reduce labor costs and increase output and quality
Today many window and door fabricators manufacture their own screens, while others prefer to buy them from an outside source. Larger, more vertically integrated companies typically make their own screens, with many taking advantage of new automated screen manufacturing equipment. Recent advances in these low cost, flexible screen machines are also attracting the attention of those manufacturers ... more » Manufacturers Can Do More with Technology in the Selling Process
Software provide offers manufacturers advice at NWDA Winter Meeting
Atlantic City, NJ—Technology, in addition to products and services, is becoming a decisive factor when dealers and distributors select a manufacturer, said Lynn Hartl, president of WTS Paradigm, speaking at the Northeast Window & Door Association winter meeting yesterday. The event, which drew about 120 industry executives, also featured presentations on new decorative finish processes ... more » 
Six Areas Where Software Can Save More Money
Continued advances in software mean window manufacturers are still finding ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies
In today’s market, driving down cost is the number one priority for many window manufacturers. The key is to simplify and streamline process areas without hurting precious competitive advantages—quality, delivery time and product differentiation. Although computer technology is not new in most plants, many manufacturers are winning the battle through the use of increasingly ... more » Distributors and Dealers Embracing Barcode Scanning
Use of product tracking technology expands with RFID looming for the future
Radio frequency barcode scanning at window, door, and millwork distribution companies is one of the most significant technology growth trends of the last 5 to 10 years. To some extent, almost every segment of the supply chain has embraced the use of RF scanning.The great gain in operational efficiencies from the use of RF scanning provides a tremendous return on investment for those companies ... more » Adding Safety To the Quality Equation
Making the work environment safer also makes employees work smarter and be more productive
For Therma-Tru Corp., being a preferred brand of entry doors and producing high-quality, beautiful products doesn’t fully define success. Being a true leader also means being a preferred place of employment and delivering operational excellence in all of our facilities. One hallmark of operational excellence is a safe workplace, where smart manufacturing processes and proactive ... more » Copyright © 2008 NGA – National Glass Association. All Rights Reserved. Questions? Comments? Contact the Webmaster.
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