Manufacturing Flexibility

One of the most important aspects of being a manufacturer of building materials is the ability to be flexible. Being flexible is something that can be difficult for many manufacturers. Sure, they may come up with new or innovative products for our industry, but once they have built their machine and have begun production on such a product, they are usually stuck.

They are stuck in their ability to allow that product to evolve and become something else. Once dies for a punch press or rollers for a roll-former are cast, there is no turning back. It is very difficult to change the shape, size, or function of the product that can be produced. So, how can one be a flexible manufacturer?

Well it begins with making products that can be manipulated in some way. Can you add or subtract a flange or hole-punch from a specific trim? Can you utilize certain products in more than one application? These sorts of questions have to be answered before a manufacturer invests several thousands of dollars on new equipment.

As we say at Flannery, “We can remove material from a trim, but we can’t add to it.” When Flannery invests in new machinery we do our best to design a machine that can be beneficial to the construction industry in more than one way. That is why Flannery has introduced not just continuous soffit vent, but also Vent Panels to the market. We never want to settle on one way of doing things. No one can survive in this market as a “one-trick pony.”