A New Perspective On Computers

How are computers and insurance alike?

"In two ways," Dinny Waters, a computer expert at Dataline, points out. "First, both are ongoing expenses. Second, both protect against the downside. "

How are they not alike? "The computer is much less expensive and, unlike insurance, offers upside results, otherwise known as retum on investment," Waters answers.

Computer expense, just like insurance expense, is continual, he main-

Wood Panel Market Growth

Growing market demand could boost U.S. structural wood panel industry production to a record 27.9 billion sq. ft. (3/8-inch basis) by 1994.

But that level of production, the American Plywood Association notes, is based on two important assumptions-resolution this year of the northern spotted owl protection plan impasse in the West and congressional modification of the Endangered Species Act to permit consideration of the tains. "Computer expense is ongoing because technology continues to charrge, but that change brings increases in productivity. For example, when measured in terms of productivity, today's computer is I billion times more productive than the machines in use during World War II with 90% of the change occurring in the last l0 years." economic consequences of species protection.

"If you disregard group health, insurance costs run almost l% of the average building rnaterial dealer's sales dollars," Waters says, "while computer expenses run only about | | l0th of l%."

"It would be hard to imagine operating without insurance or a computer system," he adds, "but, compared to what it costs, the computer is a dealer's most productive asset."

Continuing his comparison, Waters emphasizes that the more you use insurance, the more it costs. "However, unlike insurance, the more you use the computer, the more it does for you," he says.

"Don't sweat the small stuff such as changes," he advises. "Think first about how that change may help you run your business more productively. Look at the big picture and use the computer for all it's worth."

Without timber supply relief, westem production will continue to decline and "the industry will have difficulty supplying full expected demand beyond 1992," APA concludes. Western production fell about 9 billion sq. ft. in 1987 to just over 5 billion sq. ft. last year as a result of federal forestland timber harvest constraints.

Total industry production last year was24.3 billion sq. ft., the lowestsince 1985. The 1992 forecast is 2-5.6 billion sq. ft.

APA predicts single and multi-family housing starts will increase to more than 1.4 million in 1994 and that residential market panel demand will rise to 10.6 billion sq. ft. by 1994. Residential construction consumes structural wood panels for floor, wall and roof sheathing, exterior siding, soffits, underlayment and other applications.