How To Be Successful With Truss How To Be Successful With Truss Design OutsourcingDesign Outsourcing

In the past, remote design has been In the past, remote design has been looked at like the black sheep of our looked at like the black sheep of our

industry, a last resort to use in industry, a last resort to use in desperation only. Some companies desperation only. Some companies

have adapted to it but still others have have adapted to it but still others have not. Why is this?not. Why is this?

Today, we would like to share a few Today, we would like to share a few new developments.new developments.

There are 3 main reasons for the There are 3 main reasons for the difference in opinion:difference in opinion:

1.1. After the drop in the building industry in After the drop in the building industry in 2007, downsizing companies laid off 2007, downsizing companies laid off designers. Other builders closed their designers. Other builders closed their businesses, leaving good designers to find businesses, leaving good designers to find new careers. new careers.

• Result: A shortage of proficient designers. Result: A shortage of proficient designers.

The many changes include software, codes The many changes include software, codes and material load bearing capacity values. and material load bearing capacity values. These differences have made it difficult for These differences have made it difficult for some designers to return to the industry. some designers to return to the industry.

2.2. Some companies have tried outsourcing, Some companies have tried outsourcing, sometimes with good results and some not sometimes with good results and some not so good. This has left some of them with a so good. This has left some of them with a reluctance to try it again due to being left reluctance to try it again due to being left high and dry or just wasting the high and dry or just wasting the manufacturers time by not being truthful of manufacturers time by not being truthful of their capabilities. It’s like drinking spoiled their capabilities. It’s like drinking spoiled milk and saying I will never try that again. milk and saying I will never try that again.

And the biggest factor is qualified, trained And the biggest factor is qualified, trained professionals. Component Designers are in the professionals. Component Designers are in the unique position of being the “middle man” unique position of being the “middle man” between the architect and the engineer. It is the between the architect and the engineer. It is the component designer’s job to recognize the component designer’s job to recognize the oversights and correct them before fabrication. oversights and correct them before fabrication.

3.3. A component designer is not required to A component designer is not required to have a college degree like the architect and have a college degree like the architect and engineer. Most , if not all training comes engineer. Most , if not all training comes from the Manufacturer’s expense. So , it from the Manufacturer’s expense. So , it depends on what they need at the time of depends on what they need at the time of training. How do you qualify your applicants?training. How do you qualify your applicants?

So what is the solution? Can outsourcing So what is the solution? Can outsourcing work? And if so how does it work? To describe work? And if so how does it work? To describe this in detail , I am going to fall back on (in my this in detail , I am going to fall back on (in my opinion) possibly the best book ever written opinion) possibly the best book ever written on how to be successful.Of course, I am on how to be successful.Of course, I am talking about the “7 Habits of Highly Effective talking about the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” written by Dr. Steven R. Covey. I am People” written by Dr. Steven R. Covey. I am also going to include references and also going to include references and information from his follow up book “The 8th information from his follow up book “The 8th Habit”.Habit”.

Referral Source Referral Source

Habit # 1 “Be Proactive”Habit # 1 “Be Proactive”

Reputation is essential to success, since Reputation is essential to success, since the manufacturer’s reputation is on the the manufacturer’s reputation is on the line every single time a product is line every single time a product is delivered. Be proactive and ensure your delivered. Be proactive and ensure your design resource is legitimate, much like design resource is legitimate, much like you would for a new employee. you would for a new employee.

Transparency Transparency

Habit # 2 “Begin With The End In Habit # 2 “Begin With The End In Mind”Mind”

Working successfully from a remote Working successfully from a remote location requires a commitment on both location requires a commitment on both ends. There must be a high level of trust. ends. There must be a high level of trust. No one likes a late delivery of a “surprise No one likes a late delivery of a “surprise invoice”. If you begin with the end in mind, invoice”. If you begin with the end in mind, goals will be established in advance.goals will be established in advance.

Is your design source a seasoned veteran at outsourcing? Or is this their Is your design source a seasoned veteran at outsourcing? Or is this their first attempt at it? What is the level of experience available? What checks first attempt at it? What is the level of experience available? What checks and balances are already in place? What are the turn around times and and balances are already in place? What are the turn around times and pricing? Do you really want to take that chance with your workflow? pricing? Do you really want to take that chance with your workflow? Where did your design outsource referral come from? How valid is it? Was Where did your design outsource referral come from? How valid is it? Was it referred by your software provider? What do others say about this it referred by your software provider? What do others say about this source? Can there be references provided of past experience? These are a source? Can there be references provided of past experience? These are a few of the questions that should be asked and answered upfront. few of the questions that should be asked and answered upfront.

License & Insurance License & Insurance

Habit # 3 “Put First Things First”Habit # 3 “Put First Things First”

Would youWould you get into a car with a driver that is get into a car with a driver that is unlicensed and uninsured?unlicensed and uninsured? A driver without a A driver without a

license and insurance is totally irresponsible. A license and insurance is totally irresponsible. A driver without a license is totally irresponsible. driver without a license is totally irresponsible. And drivers without insurance are the reasons And drivers without insurance are the reasons

why rates go up so often. These types hurt us all.why rates go up so often. These types hurt us all.

Architects and Engineers are required to have Architects and Engineers are required to have General Liability Insurance. Engineers are required General Liability Insurance. Engineers are required to have Errors & Omissions Insurance (Professional to have Errors & Omissions Insurance (Professional

Liability). Put first things first and require this Liability). Put first things first and require this from your component design resource.from your component design resource.

Expectations DefinedExpectations Defined

Habit # 4 “Think Win/Win”Habit # 4 “Think Win/Win” Every company is different. Each has it’s own Every company is different. Each has it’s own

needs and requirements. Design sources that needs and requirements. Design sources that are triumphant will ask the right questions are triumphant will ask the right questions within the first few minutes of the initial within the first few minutes of the initial conversation. conversation.

How thorough was the qualifying interview? How thorough was the qualifying interview? Did the salesman conduct a thorough Did the salesman conduct a thorough interview, asking relevant questions to your interview, asking relevant questions to your needs? Was any setup process initiated to put needs? Was any setup process initiated to put details on paper?details on paper?

Design CriteriaDesign Criteria

Habit # 5 “Seek First To Understand…Then Habit # 5 “Seek First To Understand…Then To Be Understood”To Be Understood”

Some companies have designers sitting next to Some companies have designers sitting next to each other, but they are doing things each other, but they are doing things differently. One optimizing splicing while others differently. One optimizing splicing while others optimize webs, etc. A reputable company run optimize webs, etc. A reputable company run with integrity will seek to understand and insist with integrity will seek to understand and insist on protocol establishment.on protocol establishment.

Does your company have a uniform design Does your company have a uniform design criteria? If not ,then why not? If you do, is it criteria? If not ,then why not? If you do, is it current? Does everyone use it, or only a select current? Does everyone use it, or only a select few? Doesn’t your company deserve consistent few? Doesn’t your company deserve consistent margins? How can your design source know margins? How can your design source know what you expect without design a uniform what you expect without design a uniform criterion to follow?criterion to follow?

InteractionInteraction

Habit # 6 “Synergize”Habit # 6 “Synergize”

Simply put, we all recognize the fact that Simply put, we all recognize the fact that teamwork is essential to success. For teamwork is essential to success. For example, if there were no farmers, there example, if there were no farmers, there would be no grocery stores with products would be no grocery stores with products stocked on the shelf. The same is true with stocked on the shelf. The same is true with remote design. Frequent interaction is remote design. Frequent interaction is required much like it would be with an in-required much like it would be with an in-house employee. Regarding truss design house employee. Regarding truss design outsourcing, synergy is critical. How does outsourcing, synergy is critical. How does everyone interact? everyone interact?

Is it email, Skype, or teleconferencing?Is it email, Skype, or teleconferencing? Do the personalities mix, or do they clash?Do the personalities mix, or do they clash?

Performance Performance MeasurementMeasurement

Habit # 7 “Sharpen The Habit # 7 “Sharpen The Saw”Saw”

Any successful business takes regular Any successful business takes regular inventory, no matter what. Stock is taken and inventory, no matter what. Stock is taken and critiqued. Some stock is purged. Employees critiqued. Some stock is purged. Employees get a semi-annual or annual review. The same get a semi-annual or annual review. The same should be true of your outsourcing firm. should be true of your outsourcing firm. Sharpen the saw and heighten the Sharpen the saw and heighten the performance requirements. performance requirements.

Why should your design source be any Why should your design source be any different? How do you measure your design different? How do you measure your design resource’s performance? How does your resource’s performance? How does your design resource measure its own performance design resource measure its own performance for you? Are you “settling” for what you have for you? Are you “settling” for what you have now due to fear of change, or for comfort now due to fear of change, or for comfort reasons? Doesn’t your customer deserve the reasons? Doesn’t your customer deserve the best talent available to be utilized?best talent available to be utilized?

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Habit # 8 “Find Your Voice And Inspire Habit # 8 “Find Your Voice And Inspire Others To Find Theirs”Others To Find Theirs”

So many companies out there are just So many companies out there are just “winging it”, flying by the seat of their “winging it”, flying by the seat of their pants and doing the minimum to get by. pants and doing the minimum to get by. It just doesn’t make sense. Companies It just doesn’t make sense. Companies and people who do things well are not and people who do things well are not afraid to share their secrets. afraid to share their secrets.

Professional Development Professional Development cont. cont.

In doing so, we make the world a better In doing so, we make the world a better place. We help people reach their full place. We help people reach their full potential. This is where development comes potential. This is where development comes in. As I mentioned above in. As I mentioned above there is nowhere there is nowhere on earthon earth a truss designer can go to learn a truss designer can go to learn how to do his job proactively at his own how to do his job proactively at his own expense.expense.

Professional Development Professional Development cont. cont.

The closest we come is the The closest we come is the SBCA’s SBCA’s TTT TTT (Truss Technician Training). This coarse (Truss Technician Training). This coarse does a great job at truss math and 3d skills. does a great job at truss math and 3d skills. But it leaves out the two most important But it leaves out the two most important factors: field experience and software factors: field experience and software knowledge. knowledge. Does your design firm have qualified Does your design firm have qualified people? How do you know this to be factual? people? How do you know this to be factual? How much time and money is spent towards How much time and money is spent towards Professional Development? Does your Professional Development? Does your source have a proven system and a track source have a proven system and a track record to back it up? What specifics are record to back it up? What specifics are involved, and can they be provided to you?involved, and can they be provided to you?

By applying Dr. Covey’s habits, we can see By applying Dr. Covey’s habits, we can see that each one is particularly relevant to that each one is particularly relevant to determining determining if your design source is qualified if your design source is qualified to to handle your company’s workload. Using these handle your company’s workload. Using these habits together, all concerns can be addressed habits together, all concerns can be addressed in advance. This not only allows a quality in advance. This not only allows a quality product and consistency, it ensures unity. After product and consistency, it ensures unity. After all, you worked hard to “weather the storm” of all, you worked hard to “weather the storm” of the economy and to maintain a happy, loyal the economy and to maintain a happy, loyal customer base. Shouldn’t your design team customer base. Shouldn’t your design team work symbiotically, no matter what location work symbiotically, no matter what location they happen to be in? they happen to be in? Do your customer favor and ask the important Do your customer favor and ask the important questions above before you try outsourcing. questions above before you try outsourcing. Your company’s reputation and sustainability Your company’s reputation and sustainability demands it.demands it.