By Nate Tarbox For many years those of us in the ready-mix concrete industry have complained and struggled to fill open delivery driver positions. As recently as 2017, almost one-half of ready-mix producers reported lost business due to the shortage of drivers. Over three quarters of our industry’s producers have been actively hiring drivers in recent years. We have the…
Read MoreBy Edward Antonini While we have always supported the research, education, and promotion of concrete masonry units, Angelus Block Co., Inc. vehemently opposes the CMU Checkoff about to be voted on by the industry. Among the multitude of problems in the Department of Commerce’s proposed CMU Checkoff order and its associated one-cent per block collection, we find: It mandates an…
Read MorePeople make the concrete masonry industry. And it doesn’t hurt that the men and women who call the business home also contribute to one of the most economically sound, environmentally friendly and functional building materials on the planet. A new checkoff program will help propel the industry to new heights, help block producers put more money in their pockets and…
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After more than 25 years training segmental concrete pavement industry professionals, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute is providing solutions through a new form of interactive learning.
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By all accounts, concrete is a good business these days. Construction and building materials industries are largely considered essential. Work continues despite the current circumstances, though often adjusted to meet new safety requirements and economic conditions. But even without the impact of Covid-19 on life and business, the concrete industry faces unique challenges:
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As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the country, it will impact project performance. As you have undoubtedly heard, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is affecting the global construction industry.
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by William C. Holden
The start of a new year and a new decade seems like a good time to take stock. Looking back over a long career in concrete, there’s a lot to consider. This is the industry that has literally built the modern world. It’s also the industry often blamed for it. But as our long history proves, no one stands more ready to face the challenges of the future than we do.
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by Jeffrey A. Hite
Concrete Products’ November editorial concerning the Federal Highway Administration’s withdrawal of the patented and proprietary products rule may have unintentionally conflated the concrete pipe industry’s position on the repeal of that rule and the ever-present threat to our industry from so-called “open competition” legislation. For the sake of clarity, this letter elaborates on the position of the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) on “open competition” legislation.
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There’s a newly released version of the American Concrete Institute’s ACI 318: “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete,” the document that governs design and construction of structural concrete. While the document is primarily used by engineers and building officials, it incorporates provisions that address materials advancements and applications that have been making inroads in the marketplace. Therefore, it will have an impact on concrete producers.
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Systems and ideologies, such as the three sigma rule or lean six sigma, are used by companies to improve the quality and efficiency of their product manufacturing while minimizing defects and waste. Usage of the word “sigma” traces back to the mathematical concept of standard deviation (σ), and it is a way to define outliers or, in manufacturing categories, defects. The implementation of these “sigma methodologies” evokes a sense of quality and excellence, and therefore combining the word “sigma” and concrete is a creative way to represent high quality concrete. Furthermore, there are six specific attributes of concrete, all starting with the letter “S”, that directly contribute to high quality.
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