The Cutting Edge – January 2004

WMMA® 2003 Year in Review

The extensive work done by the Strategic Visioning Task Force and WMMA leadership in 2003 continues to come to fruition with each passing week. The way in which they looked at the Association and all its parts, was, in a word, strategic.

• Through the Competitive Business Models Initiative, the Board approved a new Committee Structure which paves the way for Committee Chairs to implement more focused programs, which will be discussed at the new Committee meetings in February. Fresh and veteran faces will team up to craft the direction of each new (or existing) Committee.
  

• Through the Industry Information Initiative, members are already accessing valuable quarterly trend data, courtesy of the Institute for Trend Research (ITR), (http://www.wmma.org/members/mpdf/ce1203_ITRStepProcess.doc - password required). The Industry Information Task Force also negotiated a special discount for members who wish to have a their company receive its own trend analysis from ITR.

• And the new International Business Development Committee will implement programs of the International Strategic Initiative, which will aggressively lead members to selling and sourcing in markets outside of the United States.

It is with confidence and excitement that we begin 2004, with a renewed set of goals and vision.

The WMMA® Committees had another stellar year, and their success in providing services and programs to the members will only be enhanced in 2004 with the implementation of the new Committee Structure. From the Foreign Buyer’s Program to the collection of end-user contact information; fromtwo well-attended member breakfasts to ANSI Standards updates; your Committees were hard at work.

The WMMA was faced with the proposition of modifying the Membership Eligibility Requirements, which have been in place for over 10 years. The proposed changes instigated healthy, yet sometimes impassioned discussion, among the members and the Board. The choice was between enforcing the current Requirements, which state that the products that a manufacturing member company sells must be designed, marketed, and manufactured “primarily” in the U.S. (meaning at least 51% in the U.S.); or to modify the Requirements to reflect the changing industry landscape.

In December, the Board of Directors made the challenging decision to keep and enforce the standing Membership Eligibility Requirements. The Board spoke on behalf of the membership at large and based their majority decision on the desire to keep WMMA® an Association of primarily U.S.- manufacturing focused companies, a trait which many long-standing members have come to value above all else in the Association.

The media attention which WMMA® began to receive in 2003, and continues to enjoy, has certainly put our Association and its leadership at the forefront of the most intense and forward-thinking initiative to come out of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (www.nam.org). Through the leadership of Ken Hutton, a wide-spread campaign has taken hold of the U.S., which is causing both manufacturers and policy makers alike to look at our current state of affairs. Everywhere you turn, another magazine, newspaper, or internet article is focusing on the state and future of manufacturing in the U.S., and encouraging citizens to become aware and to take action.

Ken Hutton, Executive Vice President of WMMA®, was even honored by NAM with their 2003 National Association of Manufacturers Council of Manufacturing Associations’ Leadership Award, “given annually to the chief staff officer who has done the most to further the NAM Council’s mission.” He certainly did just that in 2003, asking the tough question of NAM, “What is your stance on the future of U.S. manufacturing?” WMMA® is fortunate to have such a strong and determined ambassador, who continues to raise the awareness about manufacturing issues in the U.S.

WMMA® also had success behind the scenes in 2003. The hiring of Information and Marketing Director Bill Norton has given the Association a real edge in strategic thinking and marketing. He continues to provide direction and support on the Strategic Initiatives and is now heading up the multi-association Marketing Coalition for the Future of U.S. Manufacturing.

The Cutting Edge™ is now produced in an all-HTLM version, which allows readers to easily navigate from article to webpage. Users can access complementary articles and background information on the topics which interest you.

And an agreement was made that will open up the 2004 Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC, http://www.wmma.org/events/wic.cfm) to sister association, The Architectural Woodwork Institute. The value of our joint annual meeting with AWFS® and WMIA is recognized across the industry.

I’m sure you will agree that 2003 was a critical year for the future of WMMA®. The strategic mission which took us through the year carried over into all aspects of the Association. Now, the work of implementing the programs and increasing the opportunities for our members begins.