Canadian wood industry stars on tap for conference at WMS 2017
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Sylvain Garneau, CEO of Montreal business furniture maker Groupe Lacasse, will address business and management issues he encounters, including workforce development and capital investment analysis, in operating one of Canada's largest furniture manufacturers and exporters. In his second year as chairman of BIFMA, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based business furniture association (he is the first Canadian to hold that post) Garneau joined the Groupe Lacasse in 2010, when it was Haworth's Canada operation. (Haworth had acquired it in 2000 from the Lacasse family.) In 2012 Garneau partnered with the founders to spin it off from Haworth. Before that, he was CEO of Nortrak, a Vancouver railway manufacturer. Garneau's November 2 luncheon keynote is sponsored by ACIMALL, the Italian trade group that operates Xylexpo 2018.

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Scott Hodson, CEO, Superior Cabinets, has managed Superior since 2008. Under his watch, it was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Canadian Manufacturing & Exporters trade group. One of Western Canada's largest cabinet manufacturers, Superior Cabinets has undergone a dramatic turnaround over the past decade in its manufacturing process, and employee engagement. Superior has deployed programs such as Lean and 5S, partnered with our dedicated staff in all departments, and developed a culture of constant innovation. Hodson is luncheon keynote speaker November 3. 

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Canada's Lean star, Brad Cairns, delivers his, "Kick Ass Lean: What the heck is this LEAN thing everyone is talking about?" Cairns, principal in the Center for Lean Learning, also heads millwork and cabinetry shop Signature Wood Systems, in St. Thomas, Ontario. "A passion for Lean Manufacturing had led me near and far helping companies break the traditional barriers and create a Lean learning culture," says Cairns, who notes that "'Lean" is not simply toolkit that can be applied, with predictable results to follow. Yes, there are many tools and techniques for 'Lean,", but just as important as the tools is management support, employee buy-in, and education." He speaks November3.

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Christina Lambert, Product Manager, Uniboard Canada, will address textures and colors in panel and surfaces on November 3. Lambert became a Product Manager at the headquarters of Uniboard Canada in December 2013, a role that allows her to be always at the forefront of new trends. Before that Christina was for 10 years a designer with Armoires Contessa (Contessa Cabinets), a fine custom cabinetry and vanity firm in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec. Lambert was on the team for Uniboard for its 2016 launch in North America of its second Synchro/EIR finish, Riviera Oak, with a deeply embossed texture called Sequoia; and a linen plate called Calico, a first for a North American TFL manufacturer. Uniboard Canada Inc. is a leading North American manufacturer of engineered wood products, with an installed capacity of over 640 million square feet of raw particleboard, high-density and medium-density fiberboard, of which over 50% is converted into value-added thermally fused laminate and laminate flooring products. Uniboard’s mills in Val-d’Or, Sayabec, Mont-Laurier and Laval employ over 800 people

Photo By Uniboard Canada

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Luke Elias, president of Muskoka Cabinet Company, will talk about the continued evolution of robotics and automated manufacturing processes during the conference at WMS 2017. His session, "Keys to Advanced Cabinet Manufacturing," will cover the implementation of AGVs - Automated Guided Vehicles - as well as Automated Part Processing, sorting and tracking using Robotics,  RFID and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. Elias has given presentations on his innovative approach to cabinet manufacturing at a number of venues (he spoke at WMS 2015, and at the 2017  Woodworking Industry Conference in the U.S. "The reaction of many in the industry still borders on incredulity. Many still believe these kinds of technology leaps are out of reach for most shops," says Will Sampson, editor of FDMC magazine. Elias bought Muskoka Cabinet in 1989. He came from a business background, and his brother, who joined the company in 1992, came out of the banking industry. The brothers also capitalized on on-going help from a Canadian National Research Council program that aided them in adopting the latest technology. 

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Nick Anastas, the Guarantee and Inspection Service  (GIS) Director for AWMAC Ontario will present, "Understanding the new NAAWS Manual," November 3. as part of the Expo's educational program. Anastas has worked both in privately and publicly held companies—shops of varying fabrication capacity. Some high-profile projects that Nick has been directly involved include the Toronto City Hall, AGO, Aga Khan Museum; TIFF, and many more. Nick is currently the Chief Estimator at Archmill House in Ancaster, with over $20 million in annual sales. He is also ad contributing member to the NAAWS publication and Joint Standards committees. 

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Jim Lawrence, president, Avondale Kitchens, Avondale Kitchens was launched in 1982, and since then has relocated from Avondale, to Jacksvonille, New Brunswick. Active in the CKCA, Lawrence is a highly respected manager and notable for his marketing acumen. He runs the business with his Co-Owner, and Showroom Manager, Suzanne Lawrence. His presentation at WMS 2015, chronicling the evolution of his business and its migration to ever more advanced technology, was extremely well received. This year Lawrence addresses, "10 Big Productivity Ideas for Small Budgets" on November 2 as part of the Cabinet Track.

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 Jason Chiu is a quality control certification specialist and extension trainer at the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, at the University of British Columbia. Jason holds a Bachelors degree in Wood Products Processing from UBC. He has worked for several secondary wood products companies performing; quality systems implementation, training, and process layout and design. Jason has conducted audits of several industrial finishing facilities and performed hands-on finishing training, as well as developing a comprehensive range of finishing testing services for industry. Chiu will moderate the Finishing Track on November 2

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Denis Staples, President, Deslauriers Custom Cabinets, addresses social media strrategies for cabinetry businesses, in, "Your Face, My face, Snap Face - The World of Social Media," presented November 2 in the Cabinet Track. "We will discuss the social media initiatives that we use, which ones work the best, what social media has done for us, how to measure the effects of social media, the dangers of social media, and whether to do social media in-house," says Staples. Deslaurier Custom Cabinets, which Staples’ father founded with partner Jim Deslaurier, develops custom kitchen and bathroom cabinets, which it markets through three main sales channels. These include the company’s 7,500-square-foot Ottawa showroom, a province-wide dealer network and local builders.The company has won numerous awards, including Best Managed Business from the FInancial Post. 

Some of wood manufacturing’s best and brightest will present at the Conference at WMS 2017, running during the first two days the national event for  Canada's woodworking industry.

Nearly a dozen top managers will share lessons drawn from real-world experience operating a woodworking business - including capital investment strategies, workforce development, and Lean management.

Practical presentations on social media marketing and tips for amping up profitability are also on the conference docket, 

The Woodworking Machinery & Supply Expo, which runs November 2-4 at the International Centre, in Mississauga, Ontario, includes four conference tracks (Cabinetry, Finishing, Best Practices, Panel & Hardware)
 
 The day-long track, which includes a luncheon keynote, leads off with woodworking magazine editor Will Sampson, delivering the results of the just-completed 2017 FDMC Pricing Survey. This is followed by Cairns, who remains on the dais for a panel discussion on Lean Principles in Action sponsored by the Blue Water Wood Alliance and moderated by its executive director, Mike Baker. 
 
Following the luncheon keynote by Scott Hodson, a session covering Industry 4.0 is delivered by Lignum Consulting's Sepp Gmeiner, and the track wraps up with a review by this author of award-winning technologies whose vendors are on the floor at WMS 2017. 

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About the author
Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.