Author: Command Alkon
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The 0.26 w/c Myth-Conception
In these days of an ever increasing demand for improvements in concrete performance, it is easy for specifiers to continually decrease the maximum allowable water/cement ratio for concrete they specify. After all, a lower water/cement ratio produces higher performance concrete, right? And everyone knows that it only takes a 0.26 water/cement ratio to fully hydrate cement, right?…
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The Quality Plan
(Readers note: While my topic today specifically references ready mix concrete quality control, it is also applicable to contractors and any other industry, so I hope you will read on.) Do you have a Quality Plan in place? You should. Of the 28 respondents to the 2010 NRMCA Quality Benchmark Survey published in the January…
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If I Ruled the Concrete Industry
If I Ruled the Concrete Industry July 2, 2012 Have you ever tried to change the way people do things, only to have someone ask you, “Who made you God?” Well, I just realized that, even though I am not God, I do control what goes into my blog. Therefore, the following is a list of things that I…
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Well-Graded Aggregates vs. Gap-Graded Aggregates
Well-Graded Aggregates vs. Gap-Graded Aggregates June 11, 2012 Over the past decade a major “discussion” has arisen over the desirability of the use of well-graded aggregates (WGA) vs. gap-graded aggregates (GGA) in concrete. The discussion has centered on two areas: 1) the technical benefits of WGA vs. GGA and 2) the use of specifications to…
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Command Alkon Launches Innovative Cloud Sales & Quoting Application to Streamline Sales Processes
New Solution Enhances Collaboration, Automates Credit Checks, and Transforms How Sales Teams Manage Quotes and Customer Interactions Command Alkon, the leading software and solutions provider for the heavy building materials industry, is thrilled to announce the launch of its cloud-native Sales & Quoting application. Specifically designed for sales and operations teams, this innovation reduces friction…
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What Payment Transparency Will Mean For the Ready Mix Industry
The nature of the ready mix concrete industry is fluid, and those who can overcome the unexpected are rewarded. With the industry’s unique on-the-fly character, materials producers are reminded daily of just how acrobatic they must be to support an intricate ordering system as well as customer satisfaction. While smooth transactions and financial transparency offer…
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EPDs Are About to Be a Whole Lot Easier for Ready Mix Producers
Data shows that EPDs are on the rise — and in turn, so is business credibility. With independently verified product data, ready mix businesses are doubling down on their sustainability initiatives with readily available emissions data. As reporting regulations continue to develop in the construction world, businesses able to communicate their data at plant, product, and project levels…
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Work How You Work | Command Cloud Dashboards
Cross-functional professionals are a major driving force of the heavy building materials industry. But even for multitaskers, dispatchers, and order takers alike, sorting through a pile of data coated in layers of screens to find what’s relevant is tedious with a capital T. For many team members throughout an organization, combing for critical data could…
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How Load Assurance Ensures Quality, No Matter Who’s Driving
In the fast-paced world of concrete delivery, maintaining product quality despite an ongoing staffing pinch has become a challenge for businesses of all sizes. Skilled truck drivers are the backbone of any concrete operation, but with the industry facing a persistent shortage of experienced personnel, ensuring consistent quality can be tricky. Or at least it…
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Reeling in the renewable energy potential of the cloud
Trimming idle time with the power of cloud technology has sparked an efficiency revolution for heavy materials operations — igniting sharper business strategies from better truck routes to smarter material resourcing. And while this efficiency prompts material suppliers and producers to soak up cost-savings, switching from on-premises infrastructure to public cloud services can simultaneously save…