Modeling software I gives dealers an edge selling to builders

ITH COMPETITION tougher than ever, LBM dealers need to think beyond price and reliability to remain competitive. Dealers that set themselves apart through value-added services can attract and retain customers by saving them time and money, eliminating jobsite hassles, and improving their business processes.

Three-dimensional modeling sofr ware, such as Javelin from Weyerhaeuser, is one such valueadded opportunity. By converting a customer's house plans into a 3D model of the structural frame, the dealer can optimize the layout of members for efficiency and accuracy, while streamlining materials and ordering.

Once the house plans are imported into the modeling software, the dealer draws out the plan to capture the exact lengths as the program creates a 3D model of the structural frame. By seeing the house in this way, the dealer and builder can more easily spot issues that, without the tool, may not have been caught until installation-a costly and time-wasting problem.

It also can be used to define locations for plumbing and mechanical runs, providing precise placement of holes in joists and beams while ensuring that issues, such as a toilet placed on top of a joist, don't occur. Finally, the process may highlight redundancies in the framing or an opportunity for small changes that can save material costs.

From there, a dealer can generate material lists and quotes, as well as placement plans, plus provide documentation on design values.

Taking it a step further, the dealer can provide additional value-added services by sending the plans to

Weyerhaeuser's Stellar software. Using Stellar, the dealer can choose to generate an optimized list of materials with cutting instructions to ship to the jobsite or, when combined with an automated cutting solution, create a NextPhase Site Solutions framing package that includes pre-cut materials that are marked, labeled and bundled for ease of installation.

When the bundles arrive on site. the framer installs each piece in order, ensuring accuracy and eliminating the need for cuts. This solution not only reduces construction time and the labor, it optimizes material usage and handling in the yard and increases turns that result in lower inventory carrying costs.

Such technology is particularly helpful in areas of the country where engineers and architects typically aren't active on a home project. In regions where engineers are more prevalent, such as California, builders may not need the full set of services, but the program will still help the dealer build an accurate material list, generate quotes, and even provide cutting and assembly information.

If 3D modeling is too big of a step, dealers might first consider moving to a takeoff program such as Estima, a more efficient, automated process than manual takeoffs. The tools offer winwin benefits: better accuracy for builder customers, plus time-savings and fewer errors on the back end.

What's more, built-in analysis and retention tools allow dealers to maintain profiles of customers and analyze their preferences for products, brands, order of materials, etc.-for example, how they like to frame corners-and make adjustments accordingly.

The analysis provided by takeoff and modeling programs can also can help guide your inventory. For example, based on cutting history, you can determine common lengths of material that is cut; from that you can order and stock those lengths in the yard to reduce cutting and order processing.

Along with implementing these types of technologies, dealers will need to actively communicate the enduser benefits. Be sure to demonstrate to builders how these programs save them time and money-and how they can't get such a service from the yard down the road.

2x4 Suit Troubles Dealers

Lumber dealers are wondering if they could be next, after a California Bay Area judge ordered Lowe's to pay $1.6 million for allegedly selling and advertising lumber using incorrect product dimensions.

The payout ends a civil enforcement action brought by the district attorneys of Marin, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties.

Lowe's said it had traditionally identified products with the dimensions provided by its suppliers. The chain will now list certain commodity products by their common name (such as 2x4) as well as their actual measurements (1.5x3.5). Under the deal. Lowe's was required to immediately remove products from sale or correct any misleading descriptions.

News of the settlement gave pause to dealers, concerned they too might have to pull lumber from their shelves and re-label in nominal sizes. Apparently, however, Lowe's ran afoul for labeling products in nominal terms that did not match even nominal dimensions.

West Coast Lumber & Building Material Association advises dealers to ensure all dimensional lumber is received from suppliers in correct quantities, with both nominal and actual sizes listed on the invoice. Non-standard items must be identified in actual sizes, not in common nominal terms for lumber identified in PS 20-10.

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