Good morning everyone!

I am going to mix things up for the next couple of weeks.

I will be out of town making several shop visits over the next few weeks, and I thought I would reach out to a couple of intelligent people I have connected with over the past few months and see if they would be interested in writing an article for you all.

So this week, I’m excited to have Jacob Edmond from DuckWorks Millwork Solutions give us some insight into the benefits of utilizing a drafting partner in your shop. As the CEO of DuckWorks, which has grown to be a successful drafting outsourcing solution, Jacob certainly has the authority to speak on the topic.

I hope you enjoy it,
Myron

The Value of a Good Millwork Drafting Partner

In the busy world of millwork and construction, getting projects done on time while keeping the quality high is a big deal. When a new project comes in, the clock starts ticking. But if your in-house engineering and drafting teams are already swamped, how do you keep up? This is where a reliable drafting outsourcing partner comes in handy.

Think of a good drafting partner as a helpful neighbor. They know your way of working, can use your templates, libraries, and software, and work well with your teams. They’re the extra hands you need when there's too much work and not enough time, making sure you don’t have to turn down new projects just because your engineering team is busy.

A drafting partner should be ready to help from day one, adapting to your systems and processes. They should be able to use your CAD templates and libraries, and be willing to talk to your team to understand how you like things done. This way, they can help make sure everything is drawn up correctly from the start, without slowing down the submission process.

The goal is simple: to help you take on the work you need, when you need it, and meet those tight schedules. A good drafting partner will adjust their team to get your client’s submission done on time, handing it over in a way that your engineering team can easily pick up from there.

Growing Your Millwork Business:

Growing a millwork business is tough. It needs a lot of different skills, from hands-on craftsmen, machine operators, and project managers, to the number crunchers in accounting and finance. Finding, hiring, training, and keeping good people in all these areas is getting harder every day. This is where a millwork drafting and design partner can help.

Working with a drafting and design partner lets you grow your business without the headaches and big costs of a full-time in-house engineering team. This partner is like an extra set of skilled hands that’s there when you need it, without all the costs and long-term commitment of hiring more full-time staff.

Teamwork, Not Replacement:

Partnering with a drafting outstaffing partner doesn’t mean saying goodbye to your internal engineering team. It's more about giving your existing staff a boost. They can get more done by using the drafting partner as extra hands, while still focusing on the high-value tasks that really need their attention. A solid drafting partner has the experience and systems to take full advantage of your team’s know-how and experience, adding their own capacity to get more done right from the start.

In short, a good millwork drafting partner is not just a service provider, but a valuable teammate. They help make sure you can take on more projects, keep your clients happy with on-time deliveries, and grow your business in a smart, sustainable way. It’s about building a long-term relationship that helps your operations run smoother and makes your business more competitive in the market.

Thanks, Jacob, for sharing some knowledge from your perspective on how outsourcing drafting can be a resource to benefit your team, not replace them

I love to see people who are willing to share their wisdom and help others.

On that note, Jacob hosts a podcast for the millwork industry called Verify in Field, that I highly recommend. You can find his latest podcasts here.

Thanks for reading,
Myron