Panel products in manufactured housing

The manufactured housing industry produces homes through economies of scale year round. As in any other manufacturing environment, Fleetwood strives to maximize production efficiencies and reduce material costs. This paper describes the manufactured housing industry, Fleet wood Homes, and Fleet-wood's use of panel products. The intent is to provide the reader with insight into purchasing practices and decision criteria utilized at Fleetwood, as well as inspire new ideas from panel suppliers. In the last five years, Fleetwood has purchased over 512 million ft.(2) of panel and produced over 326,000 homes. Particleboard, oriented strandboard (OSB), and plywood have been used for floor and roof decking, ridge beams, exterior sheathing, and fixture backers. Wood panel products are an essential component of the home and as such, Fleetwood has paid close attention to its production practices and material waste. Panel producers, engineers, and distributors would benefit from studying the unique opportunities and challenges the manufacturing housing environment offers. The possibilities for innovative ideas such as interlocking decking systems are endless. Challenges such as deliveries and product consistency have often plagued Fleetwood, and open the possibility for a supplier with specialized distribution capabilities. The panel producer who can develop a specialized product or service that reduces time or material costs has a distinct advantage. This paper outlines Fleetwood's current applications and general usage of panel products. It also illustrates opportunities and challenges for the entrepreneurial panel producers.