The Cutting Edge™ - March 2004

Association News

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Purpose: To provide identified management tools and information to member companies which allow them to better develop their businesses. The Business Development Committee looks at the profit and cost sides of business; provides guidance to members in finding new sources of revenue; and supplies members with programs enabling increased efficiency and profitability.

Programs:

1. Competitive Business Models
   Programs will educate members on the alternative business models being used by a variety of manufacturing corporations and the benefits and draw backs of these models. Additional programs will expose members to business planning tools they can use to grow or expand their business. i.e.
   • Market Segmentation
   • Strategic Planning
   • Corporate Strategies
   • International Strategies
   • Systems Marketing
   • Line Leveraging
   • Joint Venture

2. Industry Information
   Programs will provide members with pertinent industry statistics and professionally developed Economic Forecasts and reports. Key programs include the free WMMA® quarterly Industry Economic Forecasts and a low cost way for members to purchase their own customized analysis using the unique characteristics of their business.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Purpose: To provide programs and assistance to WMMA® members, promoting expansion of their business models to include opportunities beyond U.S. borders.

Programs:

• Organizing and assisting participation in foreign market trade shows
• Bringing foreign dealers and buyers to IWF and AWFS shows
• Providing information on foreign markets, dealers, translation services, customs
• regulations and exporting procedures
• Support / reform public policies that will benefit membership
• Provide personalized information and assistance through the services of Harold Zassenhaus
• Participation in the Export Trade Certificate allowing members to work together on foreign projects which might normally be hindered by the bounds of Anti-Trust guidelines.

Future projects will also include providing a comprehensive reference manual covering the export process and the investigation of outsourcing and alternative partnerships with foreign companies.

This Committee is at full capacity at the moment, but for more information please contact Chairperson Tim Brown at tbrown@mereen-johnson.com.

MANUFACTURING STRATEGIES COMMITTEE

Purpose: To present educational opportunities to member companies in existing and emerging manufacturing techniques.

Programs:
We plan to explore such topics as Lean manufacturing, E-technology, Kaizan and Six-Sigma. We also plan to provide information and guidance for common sourcing of components from both domestic suppliers and sources outside the US.

If you are interested participating, please contact WMMA® Headquarters or Chairperson Jim Arvin at jima@duboisequipment.com.

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: To strengthen WMMA® membership participation, retention and recruitment by developing, implementing and supporting new and existing membership benefits.

Programs:
The Committee makes suggestions, observations, and recommendations about membership benefits and activities to the Board of Directors. It promotes existing membership benefits directly to the membership, and promotes our members products to the woodworking marketplace through advertising.

If you are interested in participating, please contact WMMA® Headquarters or Chairperson Ed Fiantaca at ed@accurate-technology.com.

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE

Purpose: To give direction to WMMA® Legislative Counsel in representing the Associations' position on legislative and regulatory matters affecting the industry, as well as keeping members informed of developments that will impact their businesses.

Programs:
Our Committee is working hard to increase the awareness of our elected officials of the issues our industry is facing. The goal is to keep member companies strongly supported in the U.S., and to keep America working.

The Committee visits Washington DC each year to be briefed on the issues, and then goes to the Hill to meet Senators and Representatives in person. We go there knowing that we are representing over 200 woodworking manufacturing companies across the U.S., including you! This year, we invited all members to go to The Hill and had enormous success. Each member who visited with their officials had a story to share of great promise.

Your efforts within your own community and company can help to save American jobs and to keep America growing. We welcome your interest in the association’s strong pro-manufacturing initiative, and your presence on our dynamic Committee.

If you are interested in participating, please contact WMMA® Headquarters, or Chairperson Mark Chappell at info@dodds.com.

RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMMITTEE

Purpose: To educate and assist members with issues related to 1) existing and new standards, 2) product liability risk management, and 3) safety and health aspects of emerging engineering technologies.

Programs:
The Committee continues in the oversight of the ANSI 01.1 Standard. This general standard has been revised and submitted to ANSI for review and publication. Sub-committees of the ASC O1 group are developing several machine specific standards.

We are supporting development of the Wood Products Industry Skill Standards.

We are working jointly with the International Business Development Committee to bring together existing and new reference material for use by members when exporting machinery. This Export Guide will be available at the WMMA® website.

The Committee will coordinate educational workshops for our members on topics such as ergonomic considerations in machine design.

We will update material on a regular basis that our committee has developed in the past, including the User Manual Guideline and the Safety Sign & Label Guide.

If you are interested in participating, please contact WMMA® Headquarters, or Chairperson Kathy Wettschurack at kathy@tylermachinery.com.