Industry's challenge

By Al Leitschuh, CAE Executive Vice President National Building Material Distributors Association

HE BUILDING products industry has faced numerous challenges over the past decade. Direct buying, increased competition and an unpredictable economy have played niajor roles in the modernization of the building products distributor and manufacturer. Today we are faced with an even greater challengeeducation, which affects our industry at all levels.with the last of the "baby boomers" entering the work force, a shortage of young professionals is evident. Business technologY is changing with new demand on employees. A competitive business environment places emphasis on eduand refine employee productivitY. catlon to lmprove