April 2010
WCMA Sponsors IWF Seminar: “Managing Your Expenses: Improving Profits Through Cost Control and Productivity Gains”
by Erik Lawser, CAE, Membership & Marketing Manager, Wood Component Manufacturers Association
Being competitive in today’s tough global market requires an evaluation of all company operations with a goal of lowering and controlling costs to improve a company’s competitive position. The bottom line is that companies are being forced to do more with less and that means controlling costs while improving productivity, which can be a difficult balancing act.
Because of the importance of improving company profits, the Wood Component Manufacturers Association, along with the International Woodworking Fair, is sponsoring a seminar on how appropriately managing your expenses can benefit woodworkers. This seminar, “Managing Your Expenses: Improving Profits Through Cost Control and Productivity Gains,” will focus on how to increase profits by controlling costs more effectively and improving productivity. The seminar will be held in conjunction with IWF 2010 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on Wednesday, August 25, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Participants will learn how their companies can achieve cost savings through reductions in labor, overhead, materials, inventories, travel and other discretionary expenses while improving yields and productivity. This seminar will discuss creative cost saving steps in the areas of labor, materials, manufacturing processes, machinery optimization, and plant efficiency that can be taken to reduce expenses and the cost/benefit of some of these options.
WCMA Executive Director Steve Lawser will moderate this session. Experts from the cabinet, furniture, millwork, and component product industries will discuss their experiences in reducing costs and improving productivity gains resulting in increased profits. The speakers are…
- Chris Watson, President – Kitchen & Bath Division of Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., one of the country’s top cabinet door manufacturers. Chris is also Past President of the Wood Component Manufacturers Association.
- Wyatt Bassett, President/CEO of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture, one of the largest bedroom furniture manufacturers in the United States. Wyatt is also Chairman of this year’s IWF Technical Conference.
- Sean Benetin, President of Millwork & More, LLC, a custom cabinet and millwork company serving the custom residential and historic restoration markets. Sean is also the current President of the Cabinet Makers Association.
- Randy Jensen, Vice President of Leonard Peterson & Company, Inc., a leading casework manufacturer. Randy is also Chairman of the Architectural Woodwork Institute’s Technical Committee.
- John Shurley, CPA and Audit Partner at Gifford, Hillegass & Ingwersen, LLP, a provider of audited financial statements and accounting systems.
We encourage you to attend this session and learn some practical ways to implement cost savings strategies in your businesses from experienced people. You will be able to see for yourself how managing your expenses while increasing productivity can help you succeed in today’s highly competitive global marketplace.
The International Woodworking Fair (IWF) is the largest woodworking machinery and supplier fair in the western hemisphere. Woodworkers will get an update on the latest technology in woodworking machinery, equipment, supplies, software and business solutions. Attendees can stop by the WCMA’s booth for assistance in locating suppliers for the wood components you need and receive a complimentary copy of our new Wood Components Buyer’s Guide. You can also visit our website at www.woodcomponents.org.
For further information on how to register for this IWF Technical Conference Session and IWF 2010, please visit the IWF website at www.iwfatlanta.com. You can also contact the International Woodworking Fair office at (404) 693-8333; email: iwf@iwfatlanta.com.