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I still give a damn. Sawmills in the time of a pandemic.

Times are uncertain, and I know many of you are worried about your job security, and if you’ve been laid off, the stress of wondering if or when you’ll go back to work is constantly eating at you. It doesn’t help that going back isn’t something easily don…
Okay—so this is a bit of an understatement—but boy have things changed since I wrote about sawmill closures last year and how devastating these conditions were for small towns. I … https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2020/06/i-still-give-damn-sawmills-time-pandemic/

Frankly, I Do Give A Damn: Sawmill Closures

Paper machines facing curtailments. At least 130 jobs lost. Another BC sawmill closure. Mill workers walk off the job for the last time. Sawmill to shut down permanently.
BC sawmill closures. What is there to do? Paper machines facing curtailments. At least 130 jobs lost. Another BC sawmill closure. Mill workers walk off the job for the last time.… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2019/09/frankly-i-do-give-damn-sawmill-closures/

I Can Tell How Profitable Your Sawmill is Just by Looking At It

You know the old saying that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress, and how they present themselves? The same rule applies to business. I had lunch with a friend the other day and like usual, we were talking shop. He seemed agitated, …
You know the old saying that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress, and how they present themselves? The same rule applies to business.  I had lunch with a frie… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2017/04/i-can-tell-how-profitable-your-sawmill-just-looking-it/

No Ongoing Training? No Problem? No Sawmill!

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about his experience in sawmills. The more we spoke, the more the same issue kept coming up. It reminded me of my first experience driving in European roundabouts. The infamous six lane roundabout circl…
I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about his experience in sawmills. The more we spoke, the more the same issue kept coming up. It reminded me of my first experien… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2017/03/no-ongoing-training-no-problem-no-sawmill/

If It’s Not Good Enough for You, Why Is It Good Enough for Your Customers?

Some of the decision making that I see going on in this industry is simply amazing. A lot of it involves the words, “Good enough!” I keep hearing those words over and over. It seems to have become a catchphrase in government, industry and many other secto…
Some of the decision making that I see going on in this industry is simply amazing. A lot of it involves the words, “Good enough!” I keep hearing those words over and over. It seem… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2016/12/if-its-not-good-enough-you-why-it-good-enough-your-customers/

What North American Manufacturers Can Learn from the Japanese

A few days ago, I was talking with a friend of mine who works at a subsidiary of a well-known Asian car company. My friend’s employer manufacturers components for their vehicles, and sends those parts to Japan to become part of the assembly line. My frien…
A few days ago, I was talking with a friend of mine who works at a subsidiary of a well-known Asian car company. My friend’s employer manufacturers components for their vehicles, a… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2016/08/what-north-american-manufacturers-can-learn-japanese/

The Best Solutions Look Like the Worst Without Buy In

I was talking to a good friend of mine on the phone the other day. We were just chatting about past projects we had worked on together, and others that my friend had worked on. Our conversation was light and going really well until out of the blue, my fri…
I was talking to a good friend of mine on the phone the other day. We were just chatting about past projects we had worked on together, and others that my friend had worked on. Our… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2016/04/best-solutions-look-worst-without-buy/

The Sawmill Industry Needs an Education

I have recently attended a few forestry sector tradeshows, the same ones the sawmill industry usually attends. I have spoken with many people in the industry who have questions about sawguides, which of course I am always very happy to answer. There is on…
I have recently attended a few forestry sector tradeshows, the same ones the sawmill industry usually attends. I have spoken with many people in the industry who have questions ab… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2015/07/sawmill-industry-needs-education/

Are You Spending Money at the Wrong Time?

I think about this question a lot, and I am often stumped by what I see going on around me in the manufacturing sector. I find that people in our sector are doing the opposite of what I think should be the norm when it comes to spending money. The questio…
I think about this question a lot, and I am often stumped by what I see going on around me in the manufacturing sector. I find that people in our sector are doing the opposite of … https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2015/06/are-you-spending-money-wrong-time/

Training for Success

For many of us, our first jobs were simple, mind numbing, broom operating tasks that required very little training—and there wasn’t much responsibility to go with them. But is this level of training sufficient for an Oiler in your saw mill?
For many of us, our first jobs were simple, mind numbing, broom operating tasks that required very little training—and there wasn’t much responsibility to go with them. But is this… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2015/01/training-success/

Get The Draft’s First Choice Even If You've Already Won The Cup!

A lot of people I know are national sports fans, may it be NFL, NHL or NBA. Each one has an annual draft where they try to draft the best up-and-coming talent for their team. Unfortunately, the previous year’s winner usually gets last pick. I assume this …
A lot of people I know are national sports fans, may it be NFL, NHL or NBA. Each one has an annual draft where they try to draft the best up-and-coming talent for their team. Unfo… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2014/10/get-drafts-first-choice-even-if-youve-already-won-cup/

A Problem Sawmills Need To Address!

I have been to a lot of trade shows and filers conventions. A common theme is emerging at each one; business is improving at a rapid rate and sawmills are going full tilt. This is great news but what’s holding many back is the lack of acquiring more skill…
I have been to a lot of trade shows and filers conventions. A common theme is emerging at each one; business is improving at a rapid rate and sawmills are going full tilt. This is… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2014/10/problem-sawmills-need-address/

What to Look for in a Babbitt Grinder

After writing my last article on gap control, a business acquaintance of mine asked me if Babbitt grinders (some call them Guide Dressers) played an important role in maintaining the gap. Well the answer is—YES. For years I have been visiting customers an…
After writing my last article on gap control, a business acquaintance of mine asked me if Babbitt grinders (some call them Guide Dressers) played an important role in maintaining t… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2014/01/what-look-babbitt-grinder/

What’s Important When Selecting Equipment? Part I – Choosing the Right Vendor

So you’ve decided it is time to buy another machine! This is a very big decision. Now what do you do? I’ve faced this decision many times and each time is as difficult as the last. It’s a very critical decision with long-lasting impact. The decision often…
So you’ve decided it is time to buy another machine! This is a very big decision. Now what do you do? I’ve faced this decision many times and each time is as difficult as the last… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2013/09/whats-important-when-selecting-equipment-part-i-choosing-right-vendor/

Top 3 Sawmill Equipment Video Sources

After a quick review of the main sawmill equipment manufacturers, there’s definitely a leader in the area of video galleries.
After a quick review of the main sawmill equipment manufacturers, there’s definitely a leader in the area of video galleries. After a quick review of the main sawmill equipment… https://sawguidesdirect.com/blog/2013/05/top-3-sawmill-equipment-video-sources/