President's Message: Creating Component Momentum
Positioning Components as the Go-To Solution
I am writing this after attending the SBCA Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM) in Charleston, SC, this past March. Gathering with fellow CMs, framers, suppliers, and industry professionals to gain insights into the latest developments within our field is always a rewarding experience. These events also provide a valuable opportunity to connect, forge new friendships, and generate innovative ideas.
Being actively involved and having a voice at the table is essential, not only for us as individuals, but also for the companies we represent or own. In-person gatherings like these are where business truly happens, enabling us to move our industry forward as a unified force.
One example of this is the BCSI-2025 (Building Component Safety Information Guide) review and update. As part of this revision process, SBCA invited members from the National Framers Council (NFC) to participate and share their knowledge and experience to ensure the updates made sense and were applicable to those in the field installing the components. Their perspectives offered valuable insights, which led to bracing options that benefit the installers.
The next OQM, scheduled for June in Washington, D.C., will be particularly important for those wishing to advocate for our industry. On June 4th, the first day of the event, attendees will have the chance to visit Capitol Hill and meet with their elected members of Congress, raising awareness and positioning the structural framing industry as a solution to housing’s various challenges. SBCA will provide templates, instructions, and talking points for these meetings. To register for the D.C. OQM and the Legislative Fly-in, visit www.sbcacomponents.com/events/sbca-and-nfc-open-quarterly-meeting---washington-dc.
Speaking of advocating for the use of components, every member of the companies we work for, from the shop floor to sales to executive leadership, should understand how to effectively promote the use of trusses and wall panels as a systemized solution for housing and construction. This requires equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to advocate for components.
SBCA provides excellent resources that can support our sales, design, and production teams in communicating the benefits of components. Promoting components should be a company-wide effort within our organizations and the broader industry. Doing so can increase adoption, raise awareness, and extend the use and understanding of components to builders, framers, architects, engineers, building officials, and beyond. Ultimately, our goal is to position components as the go-to solution for construction.
As we all know, there are many benefits to using components. SBCA does an outstanding job presenting them in a clear, digestible format. Studies comparing stick-framing to component-framing provide clear evidence of the differences, which can be valuable when discussing the benefits with our customers (Learn more at www.sbcacomponents.com/fad). Sharing this data with our sales teams, teaching them how to incorporate it into their pitches, and educating them on how to speak about components will enhance their ability to sell both the product and the “why” behind using it.
We must help builders understand the long-term savings and advantages of components beyond the initial cost. Soft costs, such as reducing waste and eliminating the need for on-site dumpsters, significantly impact the bottom line. These savings, though often initially overlooked, are critical when evaluating overall project efficiency. Components deliver on efficiency, sustainability, speed, precision, and cost-effectiveness—all of which builders, framers, and other stakeholders value. Once we gain buy-in from builders and framers, aligning with different trades during the pre-construction phase and overall construction process can streamline timelines and improve project outcomes.
I encourage all our members to utilize SBCA’s Marketing Toolbox (www.sbcacomponents.com/marketing-toolbox) for linking or downloading promotional items for your company websites or for use in social media campaigns that promote component benefits. Another valuable resource is SBCA’s Knowledge Center (kcenter.sbcacomponents.com), where technical papers on components can be found.
Finally, to add another key point for components, we should explore how to innovate and offer unique solutions to the construction industry. With more vendors seeking to partner with installers, we can position ourselves as a one-stop shop. Offering integrated solutions to the industry’s building and housing challenges could differentiate us and strengthen our position as a leader in the field.
By equipping our teams with the proper knowledge, resources, and tools, and promoting a unified approach to advocating for components, we can drive meaningful change in the industry and establish components as the preferred solution for construction.
Jeff Taake, SBCA President