Summer of activity to be hot for WMIA and members.

As the mercury climbs higher after this winter's bitter grip on the country, a wide variety of events are heating up for the WMIA and its members.

WOOD & WOOD PRODUCTS caught up with WMIA president John Derda, president of Derda Inc. of Niles, Mich., to discuss what surprises to expect at this year's IWF show in Atlanta, some of the association's goals and what other events members can look forward to.

Q. The business reports and forecasts we have recently received from key wood products and furniture industry associations are very encouraging. The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, for example, reports that sales of cabinets and vanities have increased in each of the last 27 months, and further projects that they will reach a record of 52.7 million units this year. Similarly, the American Furniture Manufacturers Association and Business & Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association each project new records to be achieved in 1994 -- $19.3 billion and $8.5 billion in shipments respectively. With these gains taking place, are WMIA member companies seeing a corresponding willingness by American manufacturers to invest in their plants?

A. Most definitely. The economic recession that negatively impacted business the first two years or so of this decade created a lot of pent-up demand. Companies that put off purchases of profile sanders, automatic spray machines, tenoners, moulders, CNC machining centers and other types of woodworking equipment supplied to the U.S. by our members either have or are in the process of buying. American wood products manufacturers are well aware that they are battling in a global marketplace. The most progressive ones are looking for worldwide solutions to their productivity problems. As a result of the economic turn-around, our members are not only continuing to add new customers to their rosters, they are also helping established customers upgrade their facilities with more sophisticated equipment.

Q. If there is a down side to the information we are collecting from the big industry groups, it is that many wood products companies, large and small alike, are currently having difficulty finding an ample supply of raw material, including particleboard, medium density fiberboard and hardwoods. What advice can the WMIA offer to companies that are feeling the pinch of supply crunch?

A. We are well aware that a lot of woodworking companies have been put on allocation by their material supplier, especially those who purchase MDF. This not the first time the industry has experienced a 'supply crunch.' We hope it will be the last, but as you well know, the wood supply issue is literally up in the air.

Because wood supply issues are paramount to the health of our industry, the companies that our members represent have invested an extremely large amount of time, energy and money in the area of optimization technology. I think that if you look at some of the equipment that has recently been introduced, and which will be displayed at IWF '94, I think you will begin to appreciate the equipment and software that has been developed to increase yields and reduce waste. This includes everything from feed-through devices for optically scanning lumber for defects to optimization software used in today's sophisticated panel saw scraps. These systems not only help woodworking companies save money by improving their yields, they also help save trees.

Q. What other significant developments have recently taken place in woodworking technology?

A. The most obvious answer is the integration of the computer into the design manufacturing of wood products. Ten years ago, computers were pretty much relegated to routers. Now you find them virtually being used on any piece of woodworking equipment -- profile sanders, automatic spray machines, boring machines, automated lines -- you name it.

What's especially exciting, though, is how these systems have become not only more cost affordable and versatile, but also user friendly. You no longer have be a mathematics professor to program one. I also think it's exciting to see how the most progressive companies in the industry are linking their order entry, design, cut lists and machining with CAD/CAM systems.

On the other hand, not all of the development require a computer brain. Just as the computer has been a tremendous tool for helping reduce downtime for machine set-ups. machinery manufacturers are also adding low-tech solutions to semi-automatic and automatic equipment to speed machine changeover through the use of digital displays and systems that make it easier access to tooling.

We're also seeing continued improvement by machinery makers to construct machines that are safer and that are engineered to contain wood dust and reduce volatile organic compound emissions in finishing and gluing processes.

I should add that WMIA members are committed to helping their customers not only improve their productivity and competitiveness, but also to helping them comply with OSHA and EPA regulations. This means not only selling wood products companies state-of-the-art machinery, but also backing those investments with qualified service technicians, inventorying replacement spare parts and offering training and retraining opportunities.

Q. What are the WMIA's plans for 1994?

A. Our goals have always been to provide the tools and leadership necessary to help the American woodworking industry become a leading player in the global marketplace.

In 1994, we will continue this work by publishing our 1995 WMIA Sourcebook to Global Woodworking Technology, which is more than just an association directory. It's over 200 pages and provides a one-stop reference to the latest in high-tech machinery, plus handy charts and technical tables and easy access information about member training programs. We will be doing a pre-mailing of this book to more than 5,000 woodworking companies in July and will have it available at IWF at the WMIA's booth and at the information kiosks throughout the show.

Derda

We are also strengthening our efforts in the area of woodworker education. As you know, we sponsor the Educator of the Year Award. We feel it is important to call attention to those universities, technical schools and companies that are doing a terrific job at educating tomorrow's woodworkers. But, beyond the award, the WMIA education committee is exploring the possibilities of expanding our efforts through scholarships or cooperative programs with U.S. and overseas educational institutions. We are also talking with other woodworking equipment manufacturing associations about coordinating our individual efforts for maximum industry impact.

We continue to offer our WMIA Shop Guide. which was produced last year. It's a handy booklet designed to hang on or near a machine or production area and contains conversion charts and technical formulas that will help an operator get answers quickly without down time. Most of us can't do metric to English conversions in our heads or remember complex dust collection formulas, so we feel this is an item many people will want.

Finally, we are focusing more of our time and effort on programs and activities that will help the industry export more American-made wood products. We recently formed an export committee. This committee oversees our new Exporter of the Year Award which is designed to give recognition to U.S. wood products companies who which is doing an excellent job selling to overseas markets. The association's members believe that it is important to highlight these efforts because they provide outstanding examples of how high-technology equipment can help produce the quality products at competitive prices needed to compete globally. We also know that companies who are exporting are generally expanding and therefore retaining or hiring more employees and this is good for the entire industry.

In addition, the WMIA Export Committee is looking at concrete ways to link American woodworking companies with the overseas resources, market information needed to open global markets for our wood products. The WMIA membership is rich with knowledge of what it takes to compete in the global marketplace and we want to harness this knowledge for the benefit of the industry.

Q. What advice do you have for those planning to attend IWF '94?

A. First of all, I would use this section to help plan and get the most out of my days at the show.

As we discussed earlier, woodworking machinery and equipment technology have taken a quantum leap in the last three years. What is available now is a lot more sophisticated than even what was available in 1992. Government regulations that were only proposed in 1992 are now in effect and we all know that raw material shortages will continue; government regulations regarding harvesting of lumber will only get more restrictive. I'd throw away last year's shopping list and make a new one based on my firm's long-term needs for production flexibility, precision and raw material optimization.

I'd also take a look at my employee base and spend more time assessing my future training and hiring needs. Many universities and technical schools exhibit at IWF, including most of our WMIA Educator of the Year Award winners. But beyond that, equipment manufacturers can help too. Many of our members offer seminars and training programs that go well beyond the typical on-site training at the time of new equipment installation. Talking with them about training needs can reap benefits that go well beyond a new piece of equipment.

And, I'd take advantage of seminars.

Q. I noticed that the association to use the theme, 'Working with WMIA pay off.' Why?

A. Because we know it's true. Our members are committed to delivering the best technology available and then going the extra mile to back up that technology with the service, parts, on-time delivery, training and assistance to get the job done.

By forming long-term relationships with WMIA members, companies benefit from sharing ideas. Talking it over with someone who has a different perspective and experience can be beneficial.

Many of our members also have set up special consulting teams which can design custom production systems or software packages that can greatly increase productivity. Further, our members are a wonderful source of information regarding overseas markets and products. We know what types of products are being made, what machine tools are being installed and can help U.S. manufacturers plan for the future in terms of equipment purchases, production techniques and in some cases, new products. In some instances, WMIA members also can be helpful in providing contacts in the freight and shipping industry and by providing insight into the standards mandated by other countries.

Q. What do you see for the future of WMIA ?

A. The WMIA will continue to build on the agenda I have already discussed, but beyond that, we will also remain deeply involved in working with other industry associations to address the critical issues of the decade. Both the IWF and the Woodworking Industry Conference, which we helped to create, are forums for addressing such topics as job creation, resource management, product liability, woodworker education, government regulations and the environment.

It is the intent of the WMIA to make these forums and relationships even more effective. It's only by pooling and coordinating our resources and talents that we, as an industry, can make a real impact on resource and environmental management and government policies. Cooperation is also vital if we are upgrading our workforce so necessary to the growth and health of the industry.

We consider ourselves to be problem solvers. The WMIA will continue to help identify and define the issue and anticipate future problems. We exist to serve the American woodworking community.