Add Your Voice to lnduslry's Affairs lFhe A- -NAC

H-E-A-R and T-H-E-R-E Healdsburg Dealer Russ Stevens, former LMA president, and his wife are currently enjc-rying a well-earned sojourn in the Far East and rvill return December 1 . . . San Jose Dealers Don Soutar and Ken Bacon of the Redwood Lumber Company are now operating in au attractive new store designed to draw the rapidly increasing remodeling trade Dealer Ben Loomer of the Coalinga Lumber Company is back on the job after recovering from an operation Major lires continue to plague the industry-latest casualty was Fowler Lumber and Hardware Company, which was destroyed by fire or.r November I (we strongly recommend that all dealers review their insurance coverage and tighten up on fire prevention measures) We welcome to the industry Ed Rotticci, who has recently joined George Ground of the Ground Lumber Comoanv. Modesto Tom Jacobsen and his associates are conitructing a l-randsome new store adjoining their Lafayette yard which is sure to be a prize winner Best u'ishes to Herb Crawford, rvho recently joined Pacific Manufacturing Company of Santa Clara as manager of their retail yard Dealer Norm Cords of Fresno is installing handsome display fixtures lvhich add greatly to the appearance of this attractive store Ray Kellner, recently retumecl from the armed services, has joined his father and associates at the Kellner Lumber Company of Fresno Our warmest congratulations to Dealer Charles Moorehead and son Warren of the Mooreheacl Lumber Company, who recently celebrated their 45th anniversary in Escalon-certainly a record of which to be proud.

Materials Handling Meeting

Securing increased profits through reduced operating costs by effective utilization of materials handling equipment was the theme of recent Association meetings held in Bakersfield and Fresno. and shortlv to be announced in other Northern California areas. Retognizing that labor costs have risen faster than manhour output, and that such costs can be expected to continue theii steady rise, the dealers were told that it is in the area of handling costs that they must look for increased efficierrcy-for a reduc- tion of $!000 in operating.expense will normally yield as much additional profit as a $20,000 increase in volume.

The more than 90 employes and dealers who attended the meetings were shown an outstanding materials handling film produced for the retail lumber industry by the U.S. Gypsum Company, which dramatically demonstrated recommended handling procedures. Reduced labor costs cannot be achieved solely by "cleaning up the yard-even though this is often an excellent beginning," the dealers learned, but yard operations must form parl of a co-ordinated program with warehousing, yard layout, movement engineering and planned ordering.

_ Commenting upon the film, Jack Wright of the Hyster Corporation, who participated in the Fresno meeting, noted that many dealers could earn increased operating profits .!-ply by using smaller lift trucks as well as workihg more closely with mills and suppliers and urging them to-divide their load to fit li{t capacity. Among several ideas, he also noted, as did Hal Berg of Hyster Corporation, who participated in the Bakersfield meeting, that in many operations dealers could profitably use optional fork lift attathments, such as the end-loader and wide swivel.

Management Seminar

The Lumber Merchants Association will sponsor a management seminar in Palo Alto, January 78-23, under the direction of Arthur Hood. The program, which will be limited to managers and owners, will include extensive review of managerial practices affecting the modern retail yard as well as presentation of thought-provoking ideas, discussion of industry trends, etc. Registration is expected to be heavy and advance application is suggested.

"Home Workshop Projects," a |44-page book with 172 illustrations, is available at $2 a copy from Arco Publishing Co., 480 Lexington Ave., New Yoi[ 17, N. V.