The AWFS Vegas Fair returns this July with an impressive array of educational seminars, covering topics of importance to the wood industry.

“Lean Manufacturing Production Simulation” is being offered twice due to limited enrollment, and will allow participants the opportunity to gain insight into the lean process through hands-on use of lean tools. The “10-Hour OSHA Safety Training“ session is also new.

”We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this program for the first time,” says AWFS Education Director Nancy Fister. She notes that participants who attend all 10 hours of the class over the two days will receive the OSHA Standards for General Industry Manual and the OSHA certificate of completion.

Other classes range from classroom to hands-on environments and Continuing Education Units are available. Sessions range from 1-1/2 hours to a full day and cost from $55 up to $150, if tickets are purchased before June 25. Further information is available at www.awfsfair.org or by calling AWFS at (800) 946-2937.

Seminars are divided into 7 categories: Business Management (blue), Cabinet/Millwork (brown), Techniques/Applications (red), Software/Technology (orange), Hand-Crafted Furniture (maroon), Safety & Environment (green) and Teacher Track (rose). The SMART (Special Machinery and Relevant Technology) seminars begin at 7:30 a.m. at the speaker’s booth.

Seminars At a Glance

Tuesday, July 17

TU-11 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Lean Mfg Hands-On Production Simulation
Speaker: Brian Swanson, Lexington

TU-12 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: OSHA 10-Hour Safety Training (continues Wednesday.)
Speaker: Ken Hanson
Sponsor: Mount Wachusett Community College

Wednesday, July 18

WE-20 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Getting Started with Electrical Troubleshooting
Speakers: Victor Matthews and Matthew Paras, Stiles Machinery

WE-21 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Profitable Veneering Operations
Speaker: Marty Jones, Stiles Machinery

WE-22 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Creating Excel Cutlists and Networking to Your Machine
Speaker: Dave Krevanko, RazorGage

WE-23 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Veneering for Craftsmen
Speaker: Paul Schürch, Schürch Woodwork

WE-24 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Lean for Office Applications
Speaker: John Kim, Lean Horizons

WE-25 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Green Building: Get the Competitive Edge
Speakers: Brian Gitt, Build it Green; Phil Guay, Columbia Forest Products
Sponsor: Build It Green

WE-26 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Got Sustainability? Get the Facts on Industry Programs
Speakers: Brad Miller, BIFMA International; Will Warberg, Plum Creek MDF/CPA; Billl Weaver, Canyon Creek Cabinetry/KCMA;Patti Wells, Royal Plywood/USGBC
Moderator: Roger Rutan, Timber Products

WE-27 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Vacuum Forming for Teachers
Speaker: Michael Fortune, Michael Fortune Studio

WE-28 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Using Electrical Schematics on Woodworking Machines
Speakers: Victor Matthews and Matthew Paras, Stiles Machinery

WE-29 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Marketing Strategies: Getting Answers
Speaker: Andrew Glasgow, Furniture Society
Sponsor: The Furniture Society

WE-30 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: How to Design & Build a Better Contract
Speakers: Sean Benetin, Millwork & More LLC; Mark Palma, Hinshaw & Culbertson
Moderator: Jim McDermott, Avvento
Co-Sponsor: Cabinet Makers Assn.

WE-31 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Selecting CNC Software to Match Your Application
Speakers: James Falk, Progressive Wood Works Inc; Alan Harp and Hector Henry, Advanced Wood Products Lab, Georgia Tech
Moderator: Rob Szurgot, GATech

WE-32 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Window and Door Trends & Opportunities
Speakers: Val Brushaber, Hurd Windows & Doors; Scott Shober, Ducker Worldwide
Moderator: Rich Walker, American Architectural Manufacturers Assn.
Co-Sponsor: Door & Window magazine

Thursday, July 19

TH-40 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Maximizing the Performance of Your CNC Router
Speakers: Bill Blackmon, Delmac Machinery Group; Scott Feimster, Onsrud Cutter

TH-41 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Getting Started with Electrical Troubleshooting
Speakers: Victor Matthews and Matthew Paras, Stiles Machinery

TH-42 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: How to Improve Productivity and Edge
Quality When Cutting Plastics
Speaker: Phil Bryant, SCM GROUP

TH-43 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Creating Excel Cutlists & Networking to Your Machine
Speaker: Dave Krevanko, RazorGage

TH-44 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Simplifying the Finishing Process
Speakers: Robert Kostelnik, Cefla Finishing America; Timothy Middleton, Stiles Machinery

TH-45 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: 5 Ways to Form Wood
Speaker: Michael Fortune, Michael Fortune Studio

TH-46 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Triple Training Techniques: Systems, Manuals and Motivation
Speakers: Chris Hallam, American Woodmark; Charles Meyer, Sauder Woodworking Co.; Deborah Tierce, Tierce Motivational Training
Moderator: Steve Lawser, WCMA

TH-47 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Business Growth: How NOT to “Grow Broke”
Speaker: Robert Hogan, Hipereon

TH-48 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Realities of CNC in the School
Speakers: John Martincic, Forest Scientific Corp.; Jeff McCabe, Lincoln East High School

TH-49 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Lean for Office Applications
Speaker: John Kim, Lean Horizons

TH-50 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: MEPs & Community Colleges: Resources for Workforce & Business Development
Speakers: Lorri Aiello, California Mfg. Technology Consulting; James Jacobs, Macomb Com. College; Brad Phelps, Phelps Wood Designs
Moderator: Duane Griffiths, Stiles

TH-51 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Analyze Your Financial Statements Wisely
Speaker: Robert Hogan, Hipereon

TH-52 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Teaching Marquetry
Speaker: Paul Schürch, Schürch Woodwork

TH-53 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Profit Savvy: How to be a Cabinetmaker and a Moneymaker
Speaker: Eric Lehmann, Innovative Wholesale Fabrication
Sponsor: Cabinet Makers Assn.

TH-54 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Maximizing your CNC Tooling
Speaker: Scott Feimster, Onsrud Cutter

Friday, July 20

FR-60 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Maximizing the Performance of Your CNC Router
Speakers: Bill Blackmon, DMG; Scott Feimster, Onsrud Cutter

FR-61 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Profitable Veneering Operations
Speaker: Marty Jones, Stiles Machinery

FR-62 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Nested-Based Manufacturing: Challenges & Benefits
Speaker: Michael Cassel, Holz-Her

FR-63 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Real Solutions to Fixturing Problems
Speaker: Hector Henry, Advanced Wood Products Lab, GA Tech
Sponsor: Georgia Tech

FR-64 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: CNC and Software: Taking It to the Floor
Speaker: Ran Rosin, SAI

FR-65 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Lean: Continuous Improvement
Speakers: John Kim, Lean Horizons; Mark Loberg, Premier Garage; James Love, Rosewood Ind.; Randy Roark, Impressions Marketing Group
Moderator: Rich Christianson, Wood & Wood Products
Co-Sponsor: W&WP

FR-66 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Got the Promotion, NOW WHAT! ABCs for First-Time Supervisors
Speaker: Deborah Tierce, Tierce Motivational

FR-67 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Making Color Work for You: Stains, Dyes, Patinas & Topcoats
Speaker: Peter Gedrys, Architectural Finishes LLC

FR-68 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Design for All: Kitchen & Bath Innovations
Speaker: Mary Jo Peterson, Mary Jo Peterson Inc.

FR-69 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Scheduling the Custom Shop
Speakers: Matt Lundahl, Meyer and Lundahl Mfg.; Jeff Stück, Stück Wood Works Inc.
Sponsor: AWI

FR-70 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Making the Internet Work for You
Speaker: Philippa Gamse, Total Net Value

FR-71 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Techniques for Fixturing CNC: When Vacuuming Isn’t Enough
Speakers: Alan Harp and Hector Henry, Advanced Wood Products Lab, Georgia Tech
Moderator: Rob Szurgot, GA Tech
Sponsor: Georgia Tech

FR-72 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Practical Design for Woodworkers
Speaker: Graham Blackburn, Blackburn Books

FR-73 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Designing the Client’s Dream: From First Meeting to Finish
Speaker: George Lemke, World of Wood
Sponsor: Cabinet Makers Assn.

FR-74 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Understanding Structural Panels and Applications
Speakers: Mark Halverson, APA: The Engineered Wood Assn.; Lewis Mabon, Wieland Designs
Moderator: Kevin Hayes, APA
Sponsor: APA: the Engineered Wood Assn.

Saturday, July 21

SA-80 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Simplifying the Finishing Process
Speakers: Robert Kostelnik, Cefla Finishing America; Timothy Middleton, Stiles Machinery

SA-81 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Nested-Based Mfg.: Challenges and Benefits
Speaker: Michael Cassel, Holz-Her

SA-82 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Real Solutions to Common Fixturing Problems
Speaker: Hector Henry, GA Tech
Sponsor: Georgia Tech

SA-83 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Lean Manufacturing Hands-On Production Simulation
Speaker: Brian Swanson, Lexington

SA-84 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: The Business and Aesthetics of Quality Custom Finishes
Speaker: Peter Gedrys, Architectural Finishes LLC

SA-85 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Creating a Culture of Safety for Your Workforce
Speaker: Don Cunningham, DC Safety Mgmt. Services

SA-86 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Profit Savvy: How to be a Cabinetmaker and a Moneymaker
Speaker: Eric Lehmann, Innovative Wholesale Fabrications
Sponsor: Cabinet Makers Assn.

Hundreds of woodworkers are expected to attend the seminars and SMART programs at this year’s AWFS Vegas Fair.