Moulding & Millwork convention

aCt- OMPANIES now realize V employees are their best asset, yet most spend money on plants, not company employees, and that's backward," kickoff speaker Robert Gillson told members of the Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers at their annual meeting.

Stressing the need for training at all levels, Gillson, Bio-Energy Ltd., Ft. Smith, Ar., said that in training managers you should (l) pick potential managers you like; (2) start them at the bottom; (3) move them rapidly through various jobs; G) keep in close contact with theml (5) have more than one trainee; (6) don't leave them in sales; (7) don't let the trainee become your helper, and (8) listen to their questions.

In tracing various working functions in a plant, he observed that: reducing inventory is not the final goal, reducing costs is; zero defects is a mindset; problems must be fixed, not symptoms; and that quality consciousness must go from top to bottom in a firm.

Exports, the next topic on the agenda, were adressed by Steven V. Lawser, manager of the National Dimension Manufacturers Association, Marietta, Ga. He urged WMMPA members to get more involved in selling overseas, pointing out that for many firms, exports are more profitable than domestic sales.

Lawser told of the great interest in U.S. woods generated by NDMA ex-

Story at a Glance

Plant management, the export trade, housing forecasts, OSHA and lumber quality theme annual Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers Association meeting

Bob Weiglein new president hibits at trade shows and conventions in the Far East and Europe. "The world is your market place," he said, "get involved by attending these shows, learn the markets and make the contact you'll need to participate."

... next meeting: Blaine, Wa., Aug. 21-26.

The state of the U.S. housing market was then described by National Association of Home Builders' economist Dean Crist, who said that 1990 and 1991 "would be more of the same." Crist said NAHB forecasts 1990 housing starts at 1.38 million, l99l to be 1.4 million and 1992 at 1.46 million units. The economy this year, he projected, would be slow in the first half with a pickup in the latter half extending into l99l with inflation receding to 4010, then rising during this period to 5ol0.

Interest rates, Crist suggested, will decline for the next two months, while mortage rates will decline moderately in the first half of 1990 and climb in the second half. "The Federal Reserve Bank is the key, as the economy weakens, the Fed. will drop interest rates," Crist said.

He feels housing is at its bottom now, though he sees no major changes through 1992. Regional markets will vary, Crist noted: the Northeast will stabilize at its present low level; Midwest markets will suffer more declines; the Southwest "oil patch" areas will strengthen and gather momentum, while the Far West will be overall the strongest, bolstered by Pacific Rim business.

The 28th annual WMMPA convention was held February l3-18 at the Royal Waikoloan Resort, Kona, Hi. The next meeting will be at The lnn at Semi-Ah-Moo. Blaine. Wa. Following that the group will meet at The Spa Hotel & Mineral Springs, Palm Springs, Ca., February 26March 3, 1991.

The final day's business session, Saturday, February 17, opened with a talk on OSHA (the Occupational Safety & Health Administration) by James E. Brown, Brown, Finney & Brown. Sacramento. Ca.

In a fact packed talk Brown described various levels of inspections, continually urging listeners to "keep your records up to date." Try to limit inspection scope and delay when possible, he said, noting that "machinery can't be inspected if it's under repair."

Brown said management should stay with the inspector, volunteer nothing, answer either "yes, no or I don't know" and explain to all supervisory people "that OSHA is not there to help our business." Fines for violation begin at $100, Brown warned, and can be up to $20,000 for willful violations while criminal violations cause the District Attorney to file personal criminal charges.

Good hiring practices, training, safety committees and record keep(Pleasc tunl to ltagc 4 0)

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HAWAllAtl c0nventi0n smiles lrom (ll Ed & Mary Richards, Donna & lVlitch Boone [2]

Gayle & Mitzi Morrison, Frank DeMott [3]

Jackie & Earl Moore. l4l Marianne & Denny

Curran l5l Bernie & Diane Tomasko, Tom Williams, [6] Steve Lawser, Tom MacDonald, Harald Schweizer. l7l Don & Eileen Fink. l8l

Karrine Slirnaman, DeLane Stewart, Brenda Rix l9l Jolyne Williams, Karen Wall, Elke

Weiglein Il0l Cathi & Steve Braswell lll] Mike & Kellie Massa ll2l Bill Larson (l3)

Joe Rise, Daniel & Kathrin Mathes Il4l ldelle & Dean Collins llSl Josh Tyler, Bill McCullough. ll6l Gary John & Virginia

Moore, Dave & Mickey Engle. llTl Roswitha

Schweizer, Nancy MacDonald. (l8l Don

Leckie, Loyce Dean. ll9l Debbie, Don & Troy

(1 6 mos.) Gonsalves. Pam & Bob Heskett.

(?01 Matt & Renee Allen. [2ll Margarel Larson, Jackie Runckel.