In the spirit of cooperation, WCMA is sharing its 2005 Market Study with WMIA to provide added value to WMIA members. Fifty-six WCMA member companies participated in the Dimension & Components Industry Market Study. The WCMA Market Survey is designed to give members a detailed indication of the major market trends and developments taking place in the dimension & components manufacturing industry. DETAILS

Victory for Manufacturers: New Law Strikes Major Blow Against $500 Billion Counterfeit Racket

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and its members scored a major victory after President Bush signed the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act (H.R. 32) into law. For the first time, the government is armed with much-needed tools to dismantle portions of the $500 billion global trade in fake products.  DETAILS

WMIA Member News

Click here to read the latest from WMIA members. DETAILS

Seeking New Opportunities

Contributed by Modern Woodworking

There are a number of indicators that signal a necessary change in product offering or market strategy. Chief among them is price – if you’re competing on price alone, your products have become commodities. Operating in saturated markets with too many competitors (or not enough customers) can quickly change what was a competitive advantage into a nightmare. DETAILS

Becoming a World Class Manufacturer

Contributed by FDM

Osborne Wood Products recognized the need for change, and wasn’t afraid to reinvent itself. Leon Osborne, president of the Toccoa, Ga., company, asked for help from Frank Mewborn of the Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute. The goal was to change from a commodity wood parts manufacturer to a specialist in small runs and short lead times, using lean manufacturing techniques. DETAILS

Wood Dust Study Q & A

Contributed by Wood & Wood Products

Breathing wood dust does not pose an adverse health risk to respiratory functions, concludes the six-year, $1.9 million study of 1,100 workers conducted by the Tulane University Medical Center. DETAILS

The Air Woodworkers Breathe

Contributed by Wood & Wood Products

Researchers at the Tulane University Medical Center have exonerated wood dust from causing non-malignant respiratory problems, at least for the levels they encountered in their longitudinal study of more than 1,100 workers at 10 wood products operations. DETAILS

A Boost for Woodworking Teachers

Contributed by Wood & Wood Products

For the past several years, CWB periodically has featured articles and editorial comments about the activities of WoodLINKS-USA, the nationwide initiative and certification program that has had much success in furthering woodworking education and training in high schools across the country. While WoodLINKS’ outreach spans the entire United States, there also are initiatives making strides at local or state levels. One in particular has a marketing effort underway that may be helpful to others in making an impact in their states as well. DETAILS

Illinois WoodLINKS Program on the "Mark"

Contributed by Wood & Wood Products

Mark Smith was determined to revive Shiloh High's wood program, and, in effect, he has done that and more. Ten years later, the program is thriving. With the utmost support from school administrators, he has turned the industrial technology program into one of the best in the WoodLINKS USA program. In a school with a current enrollment of 125 students, 50 participate in Smith’s wood technology classes. DETAILS

Tony's Rant: Cheap and Cheaper

Contributed by Wood & Wood Products

We are going to talk a little this month about employee retention. If it is a problem for you, here is the reason: You’re cheap.  DETAILS

Groundbreaking Plans for Continued Growth Give Hope to North America's Woodworking Industry

Contributed by Wood & Wood Products

Amidst the downright depressing news of lost jobs and plants closing to move overseas, Wood & Wood Products has found plenty of reasons to be hopeful for the woodworking industry’s future in North America. To a large degree, this hope comes in the form of new plant openings, expansions and renovations that look to create thousands of jobs. DETAILS

A Formula for Success

Contributed by Closets Magazine

Taking on a business that sells a hot product in a booming market is not automatically a guarantee for success, unless the right people are in charge and have a well-thought out business plan to follow. At the turn of the century, Ron Lichwala and Bob Qualters were positioning themselves to step into such a model. They had the right backgrounds to successfully operate a small business and both knew that they were ready for big changes in their careers. DETAILS