With Obama's election, how do you feel about the next four years?
I know there are a lot of readers out there less than thrilled with Barack Obama’s victory in yesterday’s election. Past polls we ran showed... »
Latest Articles in Operations
A Manufacturer's Guide to IG Certification
Getting ready for new NFRC and Energy Star mandates set to go into effect by 2010 is critical
Getting ready for new NFRC and Energy Star mandates set to go into effect by 2010 is critical more » Dealers of the Year 2008
Window & Door Honors Excellence in the Middle
Two companies honored for Overall Excellence winners, with six additional standouts named in arenas of marketing, installation, customer service, retail/showroom program, community service and innovative thinking.
more » 
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 » FILTER BY
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Our annual rankings of the 100 largest manufacturers in North America, based on sales volumes. The industry's unofficial scorecard, the list is divided into 10 sales range categories, providing facts, figures and recaps of important developments at major players in the residential window and door business. »
A stimulus program for replacement windows and doors…
Right now, there’s much talk about the need to bail out U.S. automakers. Those in favor say actions are necessary to save the economy from falling into... »
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