ATLANTA — The International Furniture Fair, Franklin Furniture Institute and the American Home Furnishings Alliance are partnering on a one-day symposium, “Surviving in the Upholstery World of Over-Supply.”

The program, scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 24, will provide information for upholstered furniture manufacturing companies geared to help them improve their manufacturing process, understand current regulations and build a strong team of employees. It will include the following topics and speakers:
 

•  “Adjusting to a Changing Workforce,” Beth Herman, regional director Atlanta Metro Market;
• “Manpower: Unleashing your Employees’ Entrepreneurial Spirit,” Michael Harbaugh, operations manager, Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi,
• “Lower Your Fabric Layout/Cutting Yardage Requirements, Increase your Plywood Yields on Every Frame you Cut, All with Production Quantities of One,” Cliff Thorn, VP of upholstery manufacturing, Ethan Allen;
• “Value Engineering & Waste Reduction,” Dale Smith, vice president of manufacturing, Bradington-Young;
• “Federal Policy Implications and the Domestics Manufacturing Environment,” Bill Simmons, managing principal, Dutko Worldwide; and
• Bill Perdue, VP ESH-standards, American Home Furnishing Alliance.

 

IWF 2010 will also feature a new Upholstery Pavilion on the show floor dedicated to products for the upholstered furniture sectors. New products from some of the top manufacturers serving the sector will be showcased.

In addition IWF will have an educational session August 25th “Leading in a Lean Upholstery Environment,” presented by Jim Lewis, principal of the Center for Lean Learning.

“The new symposium and pavilion will provide industry professionals a rare opportunity to learn from industry leaders and see new technology all in one place at IWF,” said Riccardo Azzoni, IWF 2010 chairman and president of Atlantic Machinery Corp., based in New Millford, CT. For more information about the IWF 2010 Technical Conference program, visit iwfatlanta.com.