Conference Overview

Don’t miss these extra-special half-day workshops

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, September 24
Discovering Sales Opportunities in the Closet & Home Organization Market
Oragnizer: CLOSETS magazine

Learn more about closet, garage and other home organization products at this session presented by CLOSETS magazine. The program will provide an overview of the home organization industry and cover design, market trends, hardware innovations and more. The program is being brought back to WMS by popular demand following its very successful debut at WMS 2007.

8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, September 25
Leaning & Greening Your Finishing Operations
Organizer: Centre for Advanced Wood Processing at the University of British Columbia

This half-day program focuses on ways to achieve greater cost efficiencies in the finishing department without compromising quality standards. At the same time, the seminar will introduce participants to the latest innovations in finishing materials and application methods, and in particular the ways that manufacturers can utilize water-based and other green finishing methods to achieve regulatory compliance and marketing advantage.

Plus, check out these one-hour technical and business sessions.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Selling Wood Products to the Green Building Market

Presenter: Jennifer O’Connor, M. Arch. Group Leader, Energy and Environment of FPInnovations

Green building programs and the environment are hot topics right now. O’Connor will discuss what LEED credits are related to the woodworking industry and what other Green Building programs are being developed. Her presentation will also include how the LEED point system works, and how LEED points are accumulated, tracked, documented and submitted.

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Three Keys to Economy-Proof Your Business and Double, Even Triple Your Sales in Just 10 Months

Presenter: Lynne Jacob, MLJ Coaching Intl

In just 1 hour you’ll learn:

1. The #1 thing you need to focus on to get the BEST results in each 24-hour day;
2. The necessity and ease of “Sticking to What you do BEST; and Hiring out the REST;” and
3. The $ & ¢ of using completely recharged batteries.

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
How (and Why) to Differentiate Your Products in the Finishing Room without Major Capital Investment

Presenter: Kathy Andersson, Manager of Color and Marketing for the Chemical Coatings division of Sherwin-Williams.

Product differentiation tactics that won’t break the bank

Don’t want to reinvent the wheel or invest millions in order to sell more products? You don’t have to. Learn how implementing color symbolism into your product design and understanding the power of the emotional bond created between a product and consumer can help sell your product and set it apart from the competition.

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Three Simple Tactics to Turn Your Employees into a Championship Support Team

Presenter: Lynne Jacob, MLJ Coaching Intl

In just 1 hour you’ll learn:

1. The most powerful Question an entrepreneur / team captain can ask;
2. The 3 biggest challenges in the workplace today… and how you can kick them off the playing field; and,
3. How you can “Stick to What you do BEST and hire out the REST” with confidence.

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Exporting: Opening Doors to New Markets

Presenter: Al- Pegasus Alan Ballak, Trade Commissioner, Building Products/Wood Products, International Trade Canada

This seminar will introduce manufacturers to the government programs that can be accessed to help them find new markets for furniture, cabinets, millwork and other wood products. International Trade Canada, through the Trade Commissioner Service, has the programs and expertise to help set up manufacturers with contacts from the Canadian government in other markets who can, in turn, introduce them to distributors and representatives who may be able to help them build distribution in new countries.

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Virtual HR Department: A New Way to Service Your Business Needs

Presenters: Richard Lipman and Carrie Morgan, Wood Manufacturing Council

The Wood Manufacturing Council recently launched its new Virtual Human Resource Department tool, allowing small- and medium-sized companies to focus more on their issues by spending less time managing HR issues. The VHRD is an online resource containing tools, templates and guides than can be downloaded, customized and used on an on-going basis by the individual company. Learn more about the six modules that cover the main Human Resource functions: Recruitment and Selection, Employment Policies, Compensation and Benefits, Training and Development, Managing Performance, Reward and Recognition.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

11:00 a.m. to Noon
Three Keys to Economy-Proof Your Business and Double, Even Triple Your Sales in Just 10 Months

Presenter: Lynne Jacob, MLJ Coaching Intl

Repeated from 1:00 Thursday

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Three Simple Tactics to Turn Your Employees into a Championship Support Team

Presenter: Lynne Jacob, MLB Coaching Intl

Repeated from 2:30 p.m. Thursday

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Regaining a Competitive Edge with the New CKCA Certification Program

Presenter: Claire Honey, Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association

The CKCA is introducing a new standard for cabinet construction and material testing as a means for Canadian cabinet manufacturers to differentiate their work from non-certified cabinets both from within and outside Canada. This program is being introduced for the benefit of Canadian cabinet producers, and is a home-grown solution to the problem of differentiating the proven quality of Canadian-made cabinets from the confusion of imports. Like other well-established certification programs like Energy Star and CSA, this program offers producers a mechanism to build consumer confidence with the promise of consistent quality they can trust. The task of our marketing program is to introduce, in a stepped fashion, the concept and advantages of the standards to stakeholders groups. The marketing program will be timed in three phases to introduce the concept to each stakeholder group in sequence. Attend this seminar to learn the requirements and benefits of this new program, developed in response to industry demand.

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Implementing Lean Manufacturing Techniques in Smaller Shops

Presenter: Phil Ginter, Lean Champion, FPInnovations

Some people think that only large companies can benefit from implementing Lean Manufacturing techniques. This is a misconception, and many smaller companies have seen significant results when they applied Lean techniques on their shop floor. Using examples of actual situations, Ginter will show you how companies have focused on various areas to maximize their productivity, increase product quality and improve profitability.

3:00 pm. to 4:00 p.m.
How to be a Marketplace Leader: Mastering a Single-Business Proposition

Presenter: David Angers, Closet Tailors

What makes your business compelling? Is it your superior product line, service excellence or are you the low price leader? True market leaders excel in one business proposition and consumers overwhelmingly prefer to work with businesses that have clarity and focus. This exercise will help you to identify your single business proposition and help you understand why it pays to be a specialist.

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How to Shorten Your Lead Times & Improve Your Competitive Edge

Presenter: Sepp Gmeiner, VP Operations, Lignum Consulting

Have you lost a potential order because someone else could fill it in a shorter time? Would you be able to enter a new segment of the market if you could shorten your lead times? Learn how to adapt your business and manufacturing operations to lower your finished good inventories and shorten your production cycles from international woodworking consultant Sepp Gmeiner.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The Virtual HR Department: A New Way to Service Your Business Needs

Presenters: Richard Lipman & Carrie Morgan, Wood Manufacturing Council

Repeated from 4:00 p.m. Thursday

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Ins & Outs of Nesting

Presenter: Michael Cassell, Holz-Her

Is nesting the answer to your production problems or merely another solution on the long list? Learn what nesting is and the pros and cons of using it for producing wood products.

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
How to Shorten Your Lead Times & Improve Your Competitive Edge

Presenter: Sepp Gmeiner, VP Operations, Lignum Consulting

Repeated from 4:00 p.m. Friday