Shop Talk With the Publisher

Recruiting the X Generation

by Carol Carman

The dearth of qualified employees for the woodworking industry is not a new subject. The industry has pulled and tugged at the problem of competing against high tech jobs and high salaries - elsewhere. In an industry that traditionally gives off an "aroma" of low tech and low salaries, ‘how do we keep them down on the farm after they have seen Paris?’

First of all, our industry is NOT low tech - not anymore. Computers, robots and CAD-CAM systems are bringing a world of excitement to this industry with enormous opportunities. Secondary woodworking manufacturing is no longer a crafts business in the Old World tradition, but beautifully maintains the aura of craftsmanship in a high tech environment. Today’s industry requires engineering degrees, business degrees, computer geeks and people who are willing to be trained in computer-oriented manufacturing. It’s more exciting than ever!

How do we translate these opportunities and the thrill of using high technology to the Generation X’ers? It takes every company doing its part. The most obvious starting point is to alert every high school in your area to the Woodlinks web site at www.woodlinks.com. It’s filled with information on the industry and types of careers available in Canada and the United States. And now there is another tool.

North Carolina State University, in case you don’t already know, has the only four-year course in the United States that offers a B.S. degree in industrial engineering with a concentration in furniture manufacturing. The program has been in place since 1948 and was established at the request of the furniture industry, which, even then, recognized the need for well-trained people who would step into positions as engineers, company presidents, production heads and other leadership roles.

Now N.C. State has produced a video - available to you and being distributed to all North Carolina high schools, all AFMA (American Furniture Manufacturers Association) member companies, many community colleges in North Carolina and Virginia and to other four-year colleges outlining the N.C. State program and the golden opportunities available in this industry - opportunities that can bring highly skilled employees directly to you.

The program at N.C. State includes furniture product engineering, terminology, wood as an engineered material, construction, the manufacturing process, production equipment, manpower requirements, design, capacity and formulation of a business plan calculated to run a $30 million to $50 million company. A summer course gives students hands-on experience with drying, machining and finishing techniques through in-field study.

N.C. State boasts 100% job placement before graduation. Developing a product that is complex, ever changing and fashionable requires thinkers as well as hands-on capability. Perfect for the Generation X’er. And there’s a bonus. Both endowed industry money and annual scholarships are available that can virtually pay the whole tab.

Get this video; send it to schools in your area. Arrange to take interested students on plant tours; talk up the high tech excitement of seeing a product move from the forest to the living room. Whether a student is looking to lead a high-tech production job, direct marketing or sales, or head up the company as a CEO, the N.C. State program can get them there. Invite schools in your area to check out N.C. State’s web site at www.fmmcenter.ncsu.edu.

Get on board! Grow your future staff.

Carol Carman, Publisher
Phone: 770-399-5114
Fax: 770-399-9726
e-mail: ccarman@randallpub.com

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