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The Cutting Edge^™ June 2005

Education & Scholarship

Tim Horn was an enthusiastic WMMA Scholarship recipient from 2002 to 2004, as a student at North Carolina State University (NC State). He continues to be involved with WMMA member companies through their affiliation with NC State, where Tim recently received his Bachelors Degree in Wood Products, and is beginning the Masters program for manufacturing engineering. We are pleased to be able to keep tabs on Tim and update our members on this eager young man progressing through his career.

Upon completion of his scholarship term, WMMA asked Tim what he thought of the entire experience, and what he envisions for the future:

1. What was the most productive part of your WMMA scholarship experience?

   The most productive part of my WMMA scholarship experience has been simply to gain so much experience in a short period of time. I was able to learn a great deal from real experts in the field.

2. What was the highlight/best part of your summer internship, in terms of helping your growth for the industry?

   The project that I worked on while at Newman's was the highlight of the internship experience. Newman-Whitney Machine as you know produces a wide variety of quality woodworking machines including but not limited to planer-matchers, ripsaws and double-sided planers. The project I worked on involved the improvement of the surfaces generated by planing. To do this, it was necessary for me to learn about a subject for which I had no prior experience (and to re-learn what I thought I knew). I can't say too much about the project at this point because it is still under development, but hopefully it will help this part of the industry in some small way.

3. How could the scholarship program/summer internship be improved? Be honest!

   The WMMA Scholarship program has been a wonderful experience for me. I have learned more in one summer than I have in most of my college career. It is hard to suggest improvement when I have had such a good experience. I think that what made my experience particularly good was the help and support of my mentor, Jim Laster. I can't speak for the other students, but if every student worked with someone like Jim, the scholarship program would certainly be approaching a level of excellence that would be difficult to match.

4. What do you want to do professionally, and when are you available?

   I would like to continue to pursue work in the research, design and/or manufacture of woodworking machines. I plan to graduate within the next year.

5. Are you interested in working for a WMMA member? What city is idea?

   Yes, however, location is not important.

Spring 2005 Update with Tim:

You have attained a Bachelor's degree in Wood Products, and are entering the Masters program for manufacturing engineering, both at NC State.

What do you love about this field, and how did you decide that you want to make a career out of it?

For the most part I enjoy working with the people that I have had the opportunity to meet in this field. So far it has been an exciting and rewarding experience. Pursuing a higher degree in manufacturing engineering will, I hope, be more valuable for the woodworking machinery manufacturing industry.

As younger college students try to narrow their focus, what interests and personal goals could they pay attention to that may lead them into the wood technology field, based on your experience?

As far as the interests of younger students that may be thinking about coming into the woodworking machinery manufacturing industry are concerned, I believe that this industry offers a great deal to potential engineers who would like a different atmosphere than what is offered by other engineering fields. Many aspects of the woodworking machinery manufacturing industry are both high tech and fast paced but also allow engineers to interact throughout the manufacturing process, making this ideal for engineers who do not want to be tied to a desk.

Table of Contents
What's Happening in the Business World?
Taxing the American Dream
Global Trade Trends for Wood Products
US Import and Export Trade Statistics
WMMA Scholarship Student Tim Horn Recaps Scholarship Experience, Gives Update on Current Endeavors
June 2005 Quarterly Economic Outlook Report
Do You Have a Buy U.S.- Made Story to Share?
Multicam - Proud WMMA Member and U.S. Manufacturer
Members Only Bulletin Board and Job Bank Expand Your Reach