The Woodwork Career Alliance North America continues to seek volunteers to review and contribute to the development of machine-specific Woodwork Manufacturing Skill Standards.

The goal of the skill standards and accompanying performance evaluations is to create an ongoing program that can help "woodwork manufacturers not only to retain and make optimum use of their current workforce, but to train and retain new workers. In addition, newly trained woodworkers need to be trained in the latest woodworking machinery and techniques."

More than 50 skill standards authors and editors have contributed to the creation of skill standards so far, but more are needed.

Greg Heuer, a spokesman for the WCA, said, "We have specific machine and skill needs. We are so close, it would be a shame not to use the collected wisdom of our industry to cross the finish line."
 
Among the machine operator skill standards still being developed are:
• Multiple-Spindle Horizontal Boring Machine;
• Dowel Bore and Insert Machine;
• Random Orbital Sander;
• Duplicating Lathe;
• Back Knife Lathe;
• Roll Coater Finishing Machine;
• Curtain Coating Finishing Machine; and
• Robotic Sprayer Finishing Machine.

Heuer requests that you contact him, "If you know even a little about any of these machines." He can be reached at [email protected].

Additional information about the WCA is available at woodworkcareer.org.

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