Solutions for Wood news and articles in the media.
Achieving Gold : Best Practices for Successful Product Development
by Barbara Bell, Woodworking Canada,
Mar / Apr 2008
www.woodworkingcanada.com
Dynamic markets and competitive pressures are forcing wood product manufacturers to move to higher-value markets that require highly innovative products. The pros at Solutions for Wood talked to Guy Belletête, general manager of The Institute for Product Development (IDP) in Montreal, a company who has specialized in product development and design issues for more than 25 years.before you start developing a new product.
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Going Lean : A custom millwork business increases production capacity by implementing Lean practices
by Gilbert Steinke, Woodworking Canada,
Jan / Feb 2008
www.woodworkingcanada.com
Many manufacturers think that solving a specific problem requires a single-point answer. In truth, a system-wide approach to finding a solution is often the best way to increase overall productivity and efficiency.
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Quality Matters
by Ken Wong, Canadian Kitchen & Bath,
Winter 07/08
www.kandb.ca
While most companies spend the bulk of their time trying to increase throughput and sales, few realize that they must strengthen their ability to consistently produce quality products — on time, all the time.
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Leading the Pack
by Roland Baumeister, Canadian Kitchen & Bath,
October 2007
www.kandb.ca
Many companies fail in their efforts to be
innovative. Often the reason is a simple one: they have not invested enough thought into the areas
where they can be the most innovative.
In many cases, the need to innovate is forced upon
companies by external factors, such as changing raw
material supplies, a labour shortage and increasingly, the
need to be “green.”
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Vancouver’s Upholstery Arts takes an innovative and “green”
approach to gain the competitive edge. You can too
by Roland Baumeister, Woodworking Canada,
Sep / Oct 2007
www.woodworkingcanada.com
Recently, daily and trade media have
highlighted the need for innovation
to help Canadian manufacturers
become more competitive and environmentally
responsible. Currently, many companies
fail in their efforts to be innovative. Often the
reason is a simple one: They haven’t invested
enough thought into the areas where they
can be the most innovative.
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Flatware from the forest
by Megan Stewart, Globe and Mail Update, September 7, 2007
Claus Gerlach leans his tall frame against a post and scoops caramel pudding from a plastic cup. The handle may be splintered, but the spoon still works.
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Reman Revamp
by Tony Kryzanowski, Logging & Sawmilling Journal, June 2007
A BC reman company has utilized the technical support of wood products research organization FPInnovations to look at different and better ways to manufacture products and develop effective equipment solutions.
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The Green Building Industry and LEED
by Roland Baumeister, Woodworking Canada,
March 2007
www.woodworkingcanada.com
The environment has become the issue of most
concern for Canadians. With ever increasing environmental
challenges and the public’s strong desire to
address them, few industries possess as promising a
future as the Canadian environmental industry.
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Lean Machines
by Phil Ginter, Canadian Wood Products, Jan / Feb
2007
www.canadianwoodproducts.ca
A look at how manufacturers add lean muscle
to their business — from theory to practice at
a reman shop in Alberta
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The Psychological Impact of Wood
by Jenny Rice, Canadian Kitchen & Bath, Spring
2007
www.kandb.ca
Cabinet manufacturers, and the many designers
in the industry, already know intuitively that the design
and styling of products and interior spaces play a role
in alternating the emotional states of consumers toward
their products.
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The Psychological Impact of Wood Products
by Jenny Rice, Woodworking Canada, January / JUNE
2007
www.woodworkingcanada.com
In our previous article, a cabinet and millwork
manufacturer was featured that differentiated itself
from its competitors by incorporating trends and unique
features into its products. This company, intuitively,
already knows that the design and styling of products
and interior spaces play a role in alternating the emotional
states of consumers towards their products.
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Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturing : Keeping Ahead in the
Innovation Game
by Roland Baumeister, Canadian Kitchen & Bath,
Winter 2006
www.kandb.ca
The number of kitchen cabinets being built and
installed has significantly increased over the last few
years, thanks to the boom in housing construction and
renovation. Today’s kitchen cabinet sector has
become a fashion industry, with various styles ranging
from suburban classic and rustic to sleek urban contemporary.
Along with this, consumers are becoming more knowledgeable
and are looking for unique designer items to personalize
their kitchen.
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CNC + Humans = Innovation
by Alain Albert, Woodworking Canada, November /
December 2006
www.woodworkingcanada.com
Founded 22 years ago, Pacific Woodworking specializes
in manufacturing custom architectural millwork and components
for its customers using the latest CNC equipment. Their
clients include a “who’s who” list
of hotels, bars, retail outlets and offices across
North America.
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Take back control…from your product line.
by Roland Baumeister, Woodworking Canada, October
2006
www.woodworkingcanada.com
Early in 2004, Vancouver area solid wood furniture
manufacturer Whistler Creek Furniture was a struggling
three-year-old start-up that had managed to secure quite
an impressive list of clients. Just as impressive though
was its product line. More than 450 distinct products
were available in 12 colours, made out of four different
species of wood and spanning the whole market spectrum
from low- to high-end. The company had everything for
everyone, a salesperson’s delight and a production
manager’s nightmare.
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Switching to lean: Pushing production and profit through
the roof
by Roland Baumeister, Woodworking Canada, June /
July 2006
www.woodworkingcanada.com
The owner of Saskatoon’s SBC Case Industries Ltd., Patric
Byrns, was already sold on the potential benefits offered by
the lean manufacturing approach before participating in a multiple
module lean training program. However, he needed help to raise
the knowledge level of shop employees and to implement the
concepts on the shop floor first. That’s where the technical
expertise of an outside resource really paid off.
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Focus on processes keeps door and window producer
competitive
by Roland Baumeister, Woodworking Canada, May 2006
www.woodworkingcanada.com
Most successful business operators are always looking for ways
to improve. In fact, the sign of a good company can often be
judged by its desire to review and improve its operations.
For such efforts, management is often rewarded with improved
product quality and increased production and sales. This was
the case for Custom Window and Door Millworks of Salmon Arm,
B.C., a manufacturer of high-end wood doors and windows for
over 25 years. Its products are well known for their quality
and workmanship throughout North America and Asia, and have
been featured in some of the finest buildings around the world.
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Cabinetmaker Goes from Batch Flow to Lean Operation
Wood & Wood Products, May 2006
http://www.iswonline.com/
With help from research group FPInnovations, Regina, Saskatchewan-based
Cabtec Mfg. has
made the successful transition to lean manufacturing.
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Modelling for Efficiency to Improve Manufacturing Processes
by Roland Baumeister
Woodworking Canada, January/JUNE 2006
www.woodworkingcanada.com
A strong Canadian dollar, an increase in offshore imports,
a shortage of skilled labour and rising raw material costs
are all impacting the profitability of the Canadian wood products
industry. So how do you use technical knowledge to improve
manufacturing processes and remain competitive?
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