Education a priority for AWFS: strengthening and developing industry education is a primary focus of the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers.

Educating tomorrow's workforce--as well as today's--is one of the three main priorities set by the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers[R].

"We have a strong focus on education and trying to develop an avenue for future educated and quality employees for our members and their customers. This is our future and it is very important. Many of these positions will require more skills, and experience than they do today," says Barry Howerton, AWFS[R] president.

"We are working in several ways to develop this educational process. Our College of Woodworking Knowledge at our AWFS[R] Fair is one of these programs, and our Student Design Contest was another we developed to encourage the young students to look at our industry in a new way," Howerton adds.

AWFS also supports the industry through other educational endeavors, including: WIC Joint Education Forum, AWFS member scholarships and general industry/WoodLINKS USA scholarships.

'COLLEGE' COURSES

Along with a 17-member committee, representatives from seven industry associations and several trade publications participated in the 2005 College of Woodworking Knowledge (CWWK) education program in order to pinpoint the most relevant needs and issues for the diverse AWFS[R] Vegas attendees. The organizations involved in the program include: American Wood Finishing Institute (AWFI), Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWl), Cabinet Makers Assn. (CMA), Composite Panel Assn. (CPA), Hardwood Plywood Veneer Assn. (HPVA), RadTech and Woodwork Institute (WI).

"All members of these organizations received a special discount on all education programs." says Nancy Fister, AWFS education and conference director.

In addition, all CWWK attendees can obtain Continuing Education Unit certificates on-site and, for the first time ever, all the education programs are offered with a money-back satisfaction guarantee, Fister says. Attendees can also register for any open sessions at the seminar location area, which is in the upstairs lecture hall area of South Half.

Session costs range from $50-$100. with discounts available on advance registration and multiple sessions. Forty-five seminars comprise the seven education tracks: Cabinet/Millwork, Sanding/ Finishing, Business Management, Techniques & Applications, Software/Technology, Hand-Crafted Furniture and Safety & Environment. They are presented in three different formats: 11/2 and 2-hour seminars, 3- and 4-hour in-depth sessions and the 1 1/2-hour SMART (Special Machinery And Relevant Technology) programs that take place on the exhibit floor.

Cabinet/Millwork sessions include "Commercial Contracts: Realities and Pitfalls," "Profitable Pricing," "Marketing Strategies," Design Ideas to Distinguish your Product," and "Getting More from Quickbooks." In the Sanding/Finishing track, sessions include: "Multi-Step Finishes: Optimizing your Process, Equipment and Techniques," "How to Analyze and Optimize Widebelt Sander Performance." "Finish Repair" and "Foolproof Finishing."

The Business Management track focuses on improving business methods and increasing profits. Sessions include: "Estimating," "Lean Manufacturing for the Job Shop," "Leadership for a Successful Lean Journey," and "Lean Production: How to Design and Implement Cellular Manufacturing Systems." Also, a session on strategies for growing your business will be presented by individuals from three companies identified on the Wood & Wood Products "WOOD 100" list of fastest growing companies.

The Techniques & Applications track offers programs on "Curved Veneering and Bent Laminations," "Specifying and Finishing Veneered Hardwood Plywood Panels" and "UV Cured Finishes, Equipment and Advancements for the Wood Industry." Sessions in Software/Technology include: "Integrated Business Development: Technology as a Competitive Strategy" and "Power Tools for your Office--Your Untapped Profit Center."

The Handcrafted Furniture track includes topics such as "Photographing your Furniture," "Five Ways to Form Wood," "Design and Detail," and "Marketing & Pricing for Independent Craftsmen." The Safety & Environment track offers information on laminate and decorative surface processes in "Composite Panel and Decorative Surfaces: Performance & Synergy." Regulations-oriented topics include "Safety & Health Regulations for Woodworking and Furniture Shops" and "VOC Regulations and Your Shop Applications."

WOODWORKERS 'GET SMART'

The SMART programs complement lecture topics with a more technical, "hands-on" approach and sharing of machine processes on the exhibit floor. Attendees can choose from several CNC sessions as well as edgebanding, veneering/sanding, robotics and e-readiness presentations. Participating companies include Biesse, Delmac Machinery Group, Giben, Holz-Her, Komo Machine, Miller Veneers, Onsrud Cutter and Stiles Machinery Inc.

New this year will be headphones for all SMART seminar participants, Fister says. "The SMART sessions are the ones on the exhibit floor early in the morning before the show starts, The ambient noise of the exhibitors readying their booths has always been a problem." The SMART programs are all selling out because the enrollment is limited, she adds.

FORUMS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SPONSORED BY AWFS

AWFS coordinates a joint education forum among woodworking associations at the annual Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC). Association representatives will have the opportunity to share about their organizations' educational efforts and to learn about scholarships, internships, model programs and more from across North America. For the 15th annual WIC, to be held May 3-1 in Maul, HI, the theme of "Aloha, Catch the Tradewinds of Successful Global Business." will be explored Proposed topics will include: Ins & Outs of Strategic Planning for Your Business: Lean Manufacturing: A Case Study: Trade Shows as a Business Tool - From A Manufacturer's Perspective: Trade Shows as a Business Tool - From A Distributor's Perspective: Negotiating Strategies: Demystifying Price Objectives; Improving Your People Skills; and the Future of the Economy: Where Is Your Business Going?

In addition to educating the current workforce, AWFS does what it can to help students entering the woodworking field. Since 1918, AWFS has offered a Members Scholarship Program, which has been used to grant more than $1 million to children of individuals working at member companies within the industry. In addition, AWFS also contributes to the General Industry and WoodLINKS USA scholarship funds. The General Industry scholarship is open to high school woodworking students continuing on to a post secondary woodworking course, as well as to technical school, community college and university woodworking students in a woodworking program. The WoodLINKS scholarship is awarded to students who have successfully completed the WoodLINKS USA certificate and are continuing on in an advanced woodworking program.

AWFS Supports WOODLINKS' Education Efforts

One of the issues facing members of the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers[R] is the lack of a skilled labor force. The AWFS[R] is a strong sponsor of WoodLINKS USA and other industry programs which promote the woodworking industry to today's youths.

Barry Howerton, AWFS president, recently presented a $50,000 check to Keith Malmstadt, president of WoodLINKS USA. AWFS is again sponsoring up to 40 teachers--covering travel and hotel expenses--in order for them to participate in this year's WoodLINKS Teachers Forum, to be held during the AWFS Fair, July 27-30 in Las Vegas.

"We are very thankful for AWFS' support of WoodLINKS USA," says Malmstadt, "Our teachers are working to create a high quality instruction environment with limited resources, "With industry support like this, we are able to be more effective in developing quality woodworking employees."

The woodworking industry needs more skilled workers in order to be competitive in the global marketplace," Howerton says, "WoodLINKS' role in helping teachers keep up with current trends in the industry, as well as working for a National Skill Standard for students, is a high priority for AWFS and our goal of "strengthening industry education'."

AWFS also supports WoodLINKS USA with a number of initiatives, including funding and distributing the WoodLINKS "Careers in Wood" kits to teachers and providing scholarships to students graduating with the WoodLINKS USA certificate, In addition, registrants to the AWFS Fair are encouraged to give a donation to the program.

WoodLINKS is an industry-driven and supported program that certifies students to a National Industry Standard for the wood industry. Programs are currently offered in more than 50 schools, including high schools, vocational and career-training facilities.

New Educational Site

Coming soon, www.woodindustryed.org is a resource Web site with education and training information for the woodworking industry. It is designed for educators, students and wood industry professionals who seek career information, skill training enhancement and other wood industry resources. It includes searchable databases and a resource links list, with more resources to be added as the site grows.