Third Stiles EBC explores manufacturing trends.

The third annual Executive Briefing Conference hosted by Stiles Education got off to a rousing upbeat start.

Keynote presenter John Brandt, CEO of the Manufacturing Performance Institute, noted that 80.1% of respondents participating in a survey of U.S. manufacturing executives expect their companies to post higher sales this year than last.

Brandt's keynote speech, "World-Class Manufacturing Strategies," set the stage for the EBC, held April 15-16 in Oak Brook, It. The event, attended by close to 100 woodworking professionals, was cosponsored by Wood & Wood Products, the Architectural Woodwork Institute and the National Assn. of Store Fixture Manufacturers.

Brandt, former editor of Industry Week, said the survey conducted by his company revealed that 43.4% of participating manufacturers have implemented lean manufacturing programs to make their companies more efficient and competitive. He said that two-thirds of the surveyed companies that have completely adopted lean principles or other cost-reducing, quality enhancing strategies, like Six Sigma or Total Quality Management, have made significant progress toward world-class status. In comparison, only 6% of companies that have not implemented a manufacturing strategy are on the road to achieving world-class status.

Brandt also kicked off the second day of the EBC with the topic, "Meeting the Challenge of Global Competition." He urged audience members to escape the "commodity trap" by redefining their companies, offering superior customer service, investing in innovative technologies, speeding delivery of products to the marketplace and training employees. He challenged the executives to ask themselves, "How will I create 5% more value this year, next year, and the year after for my customers, employees, shareholders and community?"

Other Highlights

The EBC featured six other presentations. They included:

* "Mass Customization Without Chaos," by Jean Mignault, CEO of 20/20 Technologies. Mignault observed that manufacturers should strive for "point-of-sale" customization and engineering. To do so they must invest in computer-integrated, flexible manufacturing systems to give their customers what they want, when they want it.

* "The Economic Impact of Culture," by Roger Jansen, PhD., partner of the Leadership Capital Group. Jansen said a company's climate can account for up to 30% of the organization's performance. He demonstrated how companies can assess their current business culture, compare it to company goals and precisely target areas for improvement.

* "Technology Update: Justifying Automation," by Jurgen Conrad, president and CEO of Viastore Systems. Conrad explained how automated storage/retrieval systems can improve the manufacturing and distribution process.

* "Technology Update: Light-weight Panels," by Gary Wernlund, regional sales manager of Stiles Machinery. Wernlund showed how lightweight panels are manufactured and can be used in furniture, doors and other wood products. The wood-faced panels, with a honeycomb interior of various thickness, weigh 50% to 70% less than standard panel products, which can help reduce freight cost and improve ergonomics in panel handling. Their biggest drawback, he noted, is that the edges have to be filled to be edge banded.

* "Technology Update: UV Finishes," by Bob Kostelnik, senior sales manager of Cefla Finishing America. Kostelnik noted the pros and cons of UV finishing systems. On the plus side, he said UV finishes have no VOCs, are easy to reclaim and are instant curing. On the other side of the ledger, he said special stain formulas are required, the film thickness is difficult to control and special handling equipment is required. He added that much research and development is being done to improve UV spray technology.

* "Leading Edge Technology for Most Efficient Processes," by Robert Malone, CEO of Robert Malone Assoc. Malone discussed the evolution of automation and variables today's companies need to consider to integrate automation throughout the entire manufacturing process and supply chain.