A Few Minutes With...
A Few Minutes With… Jeff Meyer, President
Baillie Lumber Company, Hamburg, NY
Differentiation is the challenge.

Custom Shop
Northeast custom woodworking company Brad Jenkins, Inc. seeks long-term large jobs to maintain steady production pace.

Finish Line
With the resulting reduction in labor costs, coating costs and costs of rejects, even the largest and most automated finishing lines can have a three year or less “payback.” Finishing expert Bob Kostelnik explains the ins and outs of automated finishing lines.

Hot Gear
Get descriptions and request information about products from our participating companies.

Drying and Roughmill
Some comments on hand-held moisture
meters in hardwood lumber drying. Dr. Fred Lamb examines the different types of moisture meters and their role in hardwood drying.

Material Issues
Hard maple and soft maple ride the wave of white wood popularity.

Production Line
Palmer, MA-based Vartanian Cabinets’ ability to design and build a variety of cabinetry is due in no small part to its flexible design software, automated production methods and efficient woodworking equipment. The company’s most recent machinery addition is a optimizing crosscut saw, which is taking operations that used to take eight hours down to an hour and a half, with increased accuracy and improved yield.

Process of the Month
For Ernst Cabinet Works in Hamburg, Pa., the implementation of an advanced software program has simplified the complicated designs associated with high-end custom kitchen cabinetry, along with streamlining its production process. Meanwhile, Top Drawer Component in Apache Junction, AZ, has improved its margins with new optimization software.

Sanding Sense
Sanding expert Howard Grivna helps you define your widebelt sanding requirements, select a specific brand and then make the most of your decision.

Supply Side
Take a look at the latest product offerings from some of the industry’s leading finish manufacturers.

Think Lean
Lean manufacturing expert Ken Rolfes suggests that the woodworking industry might consider total supply chain velocity and driving down industry working capital as a strategy for survival. Velocity and our home field advantage could be more effective weapons than trade barriers, he says.

Trends
Kirsten Ingham is the 2004-2005 president of AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute) and also president of Pearson Millwork, Inc. in Arlington, WA. Modern Woodworking interviewed her to find out how AWI will be targeting education.

Trends: Extra
Indonesian furniture manufacturers report business as usual, but will the tragic tsunami create problems down the road?

Words of Wisdom
Can you identify your “Kitchen Zealot?” If not, your company needs a consumer attitude. Richard Forbes is the CEO and president of MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc. in Jasper, Indiana.Forbes says his consumer attitude basis of successfully competing is made up of six steps.