Sometimes lean improvement is hard to see, unless you know where to look.

“It doesn’t look like there is much going on in the shop,” said Elvin Martin, president of Mullet Door. “But we’re actually doing more work.”

Mullet makes cabinet doors in a shop in Abbeville, South Carolina. The company primarily serves cabinetmakers that choose to outsource their doors. Most doors are solid wood, but some MDF is also used if required.

Mullet Door was started in 1985, and Martin has owned the company since 2001. Over time, the company’s cabinet door business became busier and busier, and he considered CNC machines to increase the amount of production.

“We were running terribly far behind,” Martin said.

Martin attended a seminar on lean at SCM Group in Duluth, Georgia, and saw Jim Lewis and Brad Cairns of the Center for Lean Learning.

Lewis and Cairns visited the Abbeville operation in April 2016 for three days, primarily to observe, although Cairns made some immediate recommendations. He started right at the beginning of the process, where lumber is received. Previously, this area was full of stacks of unused lumber.

Cairns saw a “tons of parts and carts” in the shop.

Mullet reduced its lumber inventory sharply by making smaller orders and working with its lumber suppliers, ordering only what was needed for a specific job in the shop.

Cairns also recommended cutting down on the batch size for doors moving through the shop.

Mullet now focuses on smaller lot sizes. Even a larger order of 100 doors is broken up into smaller jobs of 10 to 15 doors, for example. Martin said that work flows more quickly through the shop this way.

Another change was getting rid of what employees didn’t use regularly. The shop shut down completely for one day to make a major cleanup. The goal was to reduce clutter. They got rid of excess carts, and employees got rid of objects they didn’t need in their work area.

“We’re in a good place right now,” Martin said.

Martin said he researched lean carefully, but once he made the decision he was committed and willing to hand over control of the process.

They also arranged the new shop layout by using colored pieces of paper on the kitchen table, then marked the floor with spaces that the machines would be moved to. Ultimately, almost everything got moved.

The new layout has space between processes and makes sense from a flow perspective. The new layout was accompanied by training on one-piece flow.

In the door shop

Mullet makes residential cabinet doors, primarily of solid wood. Martin said that maple is currently the species most often used, with alder, cherry and oak also popular. Shaker-style flat panel doors are the most popular style, accounting for more than 50 percent of overall work.

The process starts with an Extrema ripsaw. Ripped lumber then goes through an Extrema planer and a Cantek cutoff saw with Razorgage optimizer pusher system.

A Larick shaper cuts tenons on the pieces, and an Accu-Systems 1045 miter machines makes miter cuts. A Powermatic rip saw is also used.

Another change to create a more efficient flow was the replacement of a large clamp carrier with an RF gluer for glued-up door panels. Glued door panels go through a Larick 410 shaper for raised panel doors, then directly to sanding.

Also in the Abbeville shop is a Ritter shaper, Doucet cabinet door clamp and an Extrema three-head widebelt sander. The next step is a Voorwood shaper that is used for outside edges. Added recently was a Holz-Her Kundig finish sander with polishing heads. Two people can also do hand sanding, if needed. Mullet Door doesn’t do finishing.

Since the lean transformation began, Mullet Door has added only three new machines: the new RF gluer, Kundig sander and Voorwood shaper.

Lean results

Previously, Mullet Door produced 75 to 100 doors a day in its shop. Today, the shop has increased production 30 to 35 percent, and with fewer people.

There are six employees in the shop. The company focuses on a single day of work. On Tuesday afternoon, for example, John Miller, office manager, draws up the work plan for Wednesday. Originally, the goal was 100 doors a day. Now, they can do close to 200 on certain days.

Employees agree that the current system is less stressful, and there is no feeling of having to rush to complete work. More of the planning and work is done in the office.

Miller said that everyone’s ideas matter, and everyone at the company is part of the lean process.

“I never thought it would be this stress-free,” Martin said. “Part of it is breaking habits, getting people to think. Once they started seeing improvement they bought into it.”

One of the challenges to start was to get people to believe in the process before results started to show up.

Recently, Martin offered employees an incentive if they could reduce the turnaround time to produce a cabinet door by 10 percent.

“We asked if they were working harder now,” Martin said. “They said no, they aren’t working as hard as before.

“Guys on the shop floor are great. They’ve bought into this lean journey. They’re working hard and are engaged. I couldn’t ask for a better crew.”

Customers have also benefitted from the improvement in the shop. Mullet can often offer shorter lead times on orders for cabinet doors.

“Nothing appears to be going on,” Martin said of the shop. “If you look at a computer you can see something is happening.”

But Martin said that reminding people how things used to be and how they are better now is a continuing challenge.

Today, they have much more room, and are producing more cabinet doors, with seemingly less effort.

“I never envisioned we would be doing what we’re doing now,” he said.

At a glance:

Mullet Door,

Abbeville, South Carolina

Product: Solid wood cabinet doors

Employees: 6

Mulletdoor.com

For more information:

Accu-Systems  Miter machine

800-369-5746  accu-systems.com

Cantek America Inc. Cutoff saw

888-982-2683  cantekamerica.com

Doucet Machineries Inc. Cabinet door clamp

819-367-2633   doucetinc.com

Extrema Machinery Co.  Ripsaw, planer, widebelt sander

225-567-3867   extremausa.com

Holz-Her US Inc., Div. of Weinig Group  Kundig finish sander

704-587-3400  holzherusa.com

Larick Machinery Inc. Shaper

970-224-3061  larickmachinery.com   

Razorgage Optimizer pusher system

515-232-3188  razorgage.com

Voorwood Co.  Shaper

530-365-3311  voorwood.com

RESTON, Va. - Cabinet sales rose 1.8% in November compared to the previous year's figures, continuing the upturn recorded last month. According to participating members in the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association's (KCMA) monthly Trend of Business Survey, semi-custom cabinet sales recorded the highest rise in November 2017, growing 3.7%, while custom sales rose 2.2%, and stock sales showed a minimal gain of 0.1% compared to the same period the prior year.

Year-to-date sales through November 2017 also showed growth, with total cabinetry sales up 2.8%. Stock sales were up 3.0%  and semi-custom sales increased 3.5% year-to-date, however custom sales dipped slightly, down 0.4% compared to sales through November 2016.

The KCMA Trend of Business Survey participants include stock, semi-custom, and custom companies whose combined sales represent approximately 70% of the U.S. kitchen cabinet and bath vanity market. KCMA says 63% of its cabinet manufacturer members report sales below $10 million annually, reflecting the importance of small manufacturers in the industry.

KCMA is the major trade association for kitchen cabinet and bath vanity manufacturers and key suppliers of goods and services to the industry. The association has been compiling and reporting industry sales data for more than 40 years.

Q. What makes cabinet doors stick? We have several theories thrown around in meetings, but we want the truth.

A. The key to answering this question is, “Wood in use does not shrink or swell unless its moisture content changes.” When the moisture increases, wood swells and when the moisture decreases, the wood shrinks. So, a sticky door is one that has swollen -- swollen since the cabinet was made.

To assist in your analysis, solid wood only shrinks or swells in width and thickness; lengthwise movement is rare, very rare. Composite wood products, like MDF, plywood, particleboard, etc., move in all directions. In fact, if many of these products are wetted with liquid water, they tend to swell in thickness quite a bit, as the water is relieving some of the stress when the product was compressed when it was made.

So, you now have enough information to analyze your particular situation. You need to answer the question “With a cabinet door that is rubbing or sticking, is it the door that's gained moisture and swollen, or is it the frame or other wood components holding the door that are shrinking and pulling the door closer to an adjacent door of component?”

For example, if MDF is used for the main components of a cabinet, and this MDF has been stored in a humid location (which is not suggested) before manufacturing the cabinet, the MDF can swell a bit before use and then when put into use, it will shrink to the low moisture condition that is typical of a house or office. With this shrinkage, the door opening becomes smaller. So the cause of rubbing is drying of the cabinet itself, not the door.

On the other hand, with solid wood, the entire door frame is made with pieces that run lengthwise, a direction in which solid wood is stable, so the door opening is essentially fixed in size. Rubbing is therefore because the door has swollen.

Gene Wengert, “The Wood Doctor” has been training people in efficient use of wood for 35 years. He is extension specialist emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Having trouble solving some of your cabinet company’s problem areas? Need some practical advice?

A look at some of the key issues facing small- and mid-size woodworking shops will be the focus of the roundtable discussion, “What’s your problem?” presented by the Cabinet Makers Association.

Moderated by Amanda Conger, CMA executive director, the roundtable discussion will be part of the Cabinets Track at the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo in Pasadena, California. The conference portion takes place March 27, with the expo being held March 28-29.

Topics for discussion in this highly interactive panel discussion include:

• Developing time management strategies for the workplace, and how best to balance business obligations with your personal life.
• Finding your niche market.
• Managing customer expectations, while ensuring you get paid for the job.
• How to price for profitability.
• Obtaining, retaining – and motivating – your employees.
• Finding and forming strategic partnerships with vendors.

Past roundtable discussions have yielded tips for time management and avoiding job burnout, along with the following advice:

On the topic of obtaining workers, in addition to working with local colleges, the suggestion was made to utilize current employees as job recruiters.

Also, you don’t have to do all things for all customers; it’s not always practical nor profitable. Constantly evaluate and assess what you enjoy doing, what makes you money – after expenses – and be willing to sub out the rest.

For more information or to register for the Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo, visit cabinetsandclosetsexpo.com.

BUFORD, Ga. -- Atlanta Cabinet Shop Inc., long known for its panel processing and commercial cabinetry, has launched a new line of contemporary cabinet fronts available online. The new product line includes both shaker style (5-piece) and slab style door and drawer fronts available in many material choices. The focus is on high-gloss acrylics and textured thermally-fused laminate (TFL).

Don Clements, President of ACS, stated: “Our goal is to become the premier source for TFL and acrylic cabinet fronts in the south”.

Founded in 1928, ACS has concentrated their efforts for two decades on panel processing. “We excel in panel processing and the new product line is a perfect fit for our operation,” said Gary Balcom, chief operations officer. “We will offer a quality door, sized to their needs, with short lead times. We have invested in equipment and developed processes that will benefit our customers. The new TFL and high-gloss acrylic materials are amazing, and are beginning to rival solid wood in appearance.”

Currently, ACS has more than 30 material choices. This includes 10 high-gloss options. Utilizing modern edgebanding equipment, ACS uses zero-edge technology on all solid-color fronts, resulting in a visually seamless edge. Depending on the material selection, the new products’ core material is MDF or particleboard. All board is Carb 2 compliant.

Material choices include Uniboard, DixieLam, StyleLite, and Panasphere, among others.

“We are excited about the look, feel and performance of the new TFL panels,” said Clements. ACS continues to grow their product catalog, and many products are available now.

“Our online order system is fast and easy, and available 24/7. We want to partner with our customers, not just be another supplier” Balcom said.

Find out more at www.atlantacabinet.com.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Eric Skorge has been named the CFO of Fabuwood Cabinetry. Based in Jersey City, New Jersey, Fabuwood is a large provider of customized cabinetry in a variety of door styles, species and colors.

Skorge worked previously at MasterBrand Cabinets and Moen, and was most recently CFO and vice president Supply Chain with North American Ceramics, where he focused on margin improvement primarily through the supply chain optimization. He received his MBA in Finance and Marketing from Case Western Reserve University. At Fabuwood, Skorge will be responsible for all company accounting and finances, special projects including acquisitions and major expansion initiatives.

Fabuwood is in the final phases of constructing a 1 million-square-foot facility in New Jersey, to be opened this year. Founded by owners Michael Panzer and Joel Epstein, the kitchen cabinet manufacturer has more than 600 employees.

Executive search firm Brooke Chase Associates Inc. assisted with the job placement.

Watch the YouTube video of the company's current manufacturing.

Watch the YouTube video of the new plant construction.

ORLANDO - The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and co-located International Builders Show (IBS) opened this morning to a steady stream of woodworking professionals on hand for a closeup look at the latest design trends and innovations by some 600 KBIS and more than 1,000 IBS exhibitors, filling nearly 1 million square feet of exhibit space. An estimated 80,000 woodworking professionals are expected to attend the  Design & Construction Week shows, which take place Jan. 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

This year marks the fifth time KBIS and IBS have combined under the Design & Construction Week umbrella. KBIS and IBS are organized respectively by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Products on display of interest to the secondary wood products market include kitchen and bath cabinetry and related products, closets and home organization systems, wood components, decorative and functional hardware, and flooring.

Crowds of people about to enter the show.

Among the morning's highlights were the opening presentation by NFL Hall of Famer and TV sports analyst Terry Bradshaw,  the popular DesignBites short segments, and the kickoff of year two of the This Old House Generation Next campaign, to help raise money to benefit the Skilled Labor Fund, which is an industry-wide effort to address the shortage of skilled labor entering the residential construction market.

“Raising awareness of the building trades as a rewarding career path and mentoring a new generation of tradespeople has been an extremely gratifying experience this year,” said Norm Abram, This Old House master carpenter. “I’m looking forward to continuing our effort to reinvigorate interest in our industry among young people and closing the skilled jobs gap.”

“Closing the skilled labor gap is critical to the future health of our industry,” said NKBA vice president of industry relations Suzie Williford. “Without an army of skilled tradesmen and women, all construction projects will take much longer and cost much more. Design & Construction Week is the perfect place to bring attention to the career opportunities in a growing industry for well-paying trade professions, and avoiding the burden of college debt. The NKBA is proud to support Generation Next and be a part of such an important cause.”

“Addressing our industry’s labor shortages is the number one issue for NAHB members,” said NAHB CEO Jerry Howard. “Joining forces with our trade partner organizations on this shared initiative allows us to direct even more focus on reaching all sectors of the industry and work together to build the future workforce of the residential construction industry.”

Stay tuned to twitter.com/WoodworkingBiz for up-to-date information about the show.

VAUDREUIL-DORION, Quebec -- Canadian Cabinet Vision reseller Planit Canada Inc. recently moved into its newly constructed head office near the island of Montreal. 

The new location will make room for new hires, with additional workspaces for future hires, and has a special emphasis placed on creative spaces and a collaboration-friendly layout.

Increased floor space was needed to accommodate the addition of a vice president of operations (Stephanie Meunier), a new trilingual technical support specialist (Juan Sanchez), and an additional bookkeeper (Ewa McCartney).

The focal point of the large open main room is the kitchen, which doubles as a casual meeting place. Featuring a polished concrete floor, 16-foot long bar-height dining table, charcoal-grey cabinets and a black writeable wall with a large-screen TV, the room is contemporary and playful.  The 30-foot high ceilings and large windows create a bright and airy space, finished with pale grey walls and an apple green accent wall next to the staircase. 

The mezzanine, home of the sales team, accommodates 6 workstations with acoustic privacy, with some workstations reserved for visiting outside staff.  Separated by apple green acoustic panels, the lounge houses a second, long writeable wall, hi-end bean bag-style chairs, low modular couches, and moveable laptop tables.

Planit Canada Inc. distributes software products to various types of woodshops and casegoods manufacturers throughout Canada. See www.verosoftware.com.

Orlando -- Homeowners who recently completed or are planning a kitchen remodel are obsessed with decluttering and putting things away, according to the newly released 2018 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report.

The annual kitchen trends survey conducted on Houzz.com -- a leading platform for home remodeling and design – gauges the motivations and preferences of homeowners who had completed or were planning a kitchen renovation for 2017-2018.  Liza Hausman, Houzz vice president of industry marketing and community, presented highlights of the findings during KBIS - the largest kitchen and bath industry show held January 9-11 in Orlando, FL.

Hausman said the 2018 survey results uncovered several new insights from the previous year’s survey, including responses that indicate homeowners renovating their kitchens are passionate about storing, organizing and de-cluttering.  Seventy-five percent of survey participants were admittedly “obsessed” with decluttering kitchen counters; 65%,  with putting things away; and 49%, with recycling. 

In line with these priorities, many respondents plan to include built-in storage components in their kitchen projects including cookie sheet/tray, deep-drawer, small appliance organizers and drawers.  More specifically, the Houzz report indicates that pullout waste or recycling cabinets, utensil organizers and wine and/or bar cabinets are notably more popular with renovating homeowners than the previous year.

The top functional priorities for homeowners renovating their kitchens continue to be related to making storage and organization of the kitchen easier.

"Storage continues to be a top priority," said Hausman, “Kitchen storage photos are probably the most popular images on Houzz…if you search photos by popularity, the first photos you will see are walk-in pantries that are beautifully organized.”

In addition, the report finds that 82% of renovating homeowners will upgrade kitchen cabinets with 74% selecting custom or semi-custom cabinetry.  Raised panel door styles continues to decline in popularity, with more renovating kitchen homeowners interested in shaker-, farmhouse-style cabinet doors.

Countertops, appliances and cabinets are identified as the top three categories in which respondents would “splurge” during a kitchen renovation. 

Majority of the homeowners who are renovating live in the suburbs (59%) and are also 55 years of age or older.

Average spend among survey respondents on a major kitchen renovation (defined as renovation of a space larger than 200 sq. ft. that  includes replacing cabinets and appliances minimally) is $42,000.  Average spend on a minor kitchen renovation is $25,800.

The complete 2018 Kitchen Trends report can be found at Houzz.com.

A Houzz representative will also keynote at the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference and Expo March 27-29 at the Pasadena Convention Center. www.cabinetsandclosetsexpo.com

ST. PAUL, Minn.  – Northern Contours, Inc. has expanded into Canada, acquiring Nubold Inc., a London, Ontario, cabinet door manufacturer.

Nubold holds a similar skill set to Northern Contours, specializing in manufacturing 3D Laminate (thermofoil) and five-piece doors and operating the Renuit cabinet refacing service sold through Home Depot Canada. Seeking a larger platform for Nubold to accelerate the future growth of their company, founders Craig and Brian Jones determined that Northern Contours was the right company to approach with the acquisition proposal.

According to Craig Jones, “Northern Contours is one of only a handful of companies that understand what we do and who we could depend on to maintain our relationships and grow Nubold.”

Northern Contours is a manufacturer of cabinet doors and components for kitchen and bath, home organization, commercial office, and refacing markets. The acquisition of Nubold brings Northern Contours’ North American manufacturing facility total to six. This is the first located in Canada.

With the Nubold opportunity, Northern Contours saw compatible product lines, market channels, and the company’s location as strong incentives for the acquisition.

“It was clear from the onset that Nubold was a very good fit for Northern Contours,” said Lary Skow, president and CEO of Northern Contours. “Nubold’s capabilities are in line with our own manufacturing expertise, and the location also solves logistical and exchange rate challenges when it comes to servicing Canada, a growing market for us.”

As Nubold is integrated into Northern Contours, Skow said that its workforce will be retained: “Our initial plan is to get up to speed on all facets of Nubold, continue business as usual, and then expand capabilities once we get our footing. We’re happy to have Craig & Brian with us and are excited to welcome all of the Nubold team members to the Northern Contours family.”

See http://www.northerncontours.com
 

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Ben Chapman said he could talk about his company all day.  The president of two-year-old CABTEQ Solutions has a lot to say when it comes to his business, partnerships, core values and his employees. Established in the spring of 2016 in Rock Hill, S.C., the company is a commercial cabinet dynamo that offers design, manufacturing and installation services and serves a variety of commercial markets, including the dental and medical markets.

CABTEQ president, Ben Chapman

CABTEQ Solutions began as a strategic partner with Pelton & Crane, one of the world’s leading dental equipment manufacturers. Chapman started at Pelton & Crane in 1994 assembling various dental equipment products including cabinets.  “I was 18 and they put me through college.  After college, I joined the operations / procurement team and eventually became the Director of Procurement,” he said.

The opportunity for the creation of CABTEQ arose when Pelton & Crane approached Chapman to launch a dedicated cabinet manufacturing facility.  He decided to set it up in his hometown of Rock Hill.  “It was an honor to continue being a part of the Pelton and Crane story. We focused on creating a first-class cabinet shop, and are now set up to compete for years to come” said Chapman.  

The company was jump-started with a $3 million investment, including $250,00 from the State of South Carolina. CABTEQ occupies an 80,000-sq. ft. building in Rock Hill that was once a printing facility.  The building had sat empty for several years.

The company’s commercial cabinet work is still about 60% dental with the remainder in medical, veterinarian, restaurant, hotel, and office. 

In addition to commercial cabinets, CABTEQ also does “a little bit of everything,” according to Chapman. “We are particularly proud of our line of benches, booths, and decorative millwork.  We also offer a cut-to-size division for a variety of other companies.”  CABTEQ does everything from plywood strips to doors and drawers for multiple customers who want to take advantage of their ability to offer a vast color match offerings with the fusion edge tape.

CABTEQ employs three installation teams (all CABTEQ employees,) for its projects across the country.  This allows us to own the projects from beginning to end and assure our customers are satisfied with our product.  We are committed to our product and stand behind them with our generous warranty.

The company’s capabilities are facilitated by its arsenal of high tech panel processing equipment including two Weeke Vantech Concept 3 CNC machining centers, a Weeke ABD 060-28 CNC drilling and dowel inserting machine, Homag panel saws, and a Homag 2492-6-six coil edgebander that features airTec technology that delivers a “Zero Edge.”

The airTec system is a reactivation unit that uses compressed, heated air to activate the adhesive layer. With this technology, air is propelled through a nozzle as the edgebanding material passes through the magazine, fusing the material to the panel edge.

According to Chapman, the edgebander has been a real game changer as it offers a seamless edge that is not only aesthetically beautiful but well-suited for the commercial market.   The seamless edge works well in medical and commercial because it does not allow the ingress of harsh chemicals that are often used to clean those cabinets.  The machines were provided by Stiles Machinery.

Core values

“Our driving philosophy from day one has been ‘Employees First,’” said Chapman. “We keep this in mind in every decision we make. Our core values are Commitment, Teamwork and Service.  The continual focus on these three values assures our customers have the highest quality product in the marketplace”

The company’s website expands on these values:

Commitment -- We are committed to providing clients with custom, innovative, and unmatched options for cabinetry. We are dedicated to bringing jobs to completion while making the entire process as enjoyable and as smooth as possible.

Teamwork -- We are a team; working together is the backbone of who we are. We are here to make sure every client and employee is valued and respected, through helping and supporting each other. Our hope is this standard of teamwork flow outside of our walls and into the community.

Service -- The heart of CABTEQ is rooted in service. We serve not only our clients, but our community by providing a positive, economic and growing environment. We are blessed to share our success with our neighbors through charitable outreach.

Quality -- Our mission is to continually create products that we are proud to say we produce.  We work with our clients from beginning to end, giving them results of the highest quality and satisfaction.

Chapman said he was fortunate to have a lot of great people who came to work at CABTEQ.    “It’s the employees who make us what we are.  We understand the importance of every role and everyone in our company. Our expectation is a workplace built on respect and true gratefulness for each other”

Chapman also spoke highly of his strategic partnership with Wurth Wood Group, which provide the CABTEQ with hardware, raw materials and laminates.  “They have been a strategic partner since Day One when I showed them the empty building.  Having the support of Wurth was critical for our company and they have been a great resource for us.  Our relationship is a true partnership and we understand how important they are to our success.”

Today the company employs more than 80 people and has the capacity to produce up to 32 cabinets per day.  Chapman said he expects sales to exceed $12 million in 2018. “We have had an unbelievable start to 2018 and are excited about the continued growth of our team and the strong relationship with our customers” he said.

Plant tour February 14

Charlotte Wood Pro Expo attendees will get a firsthand look at commercial cabinet manufacturer, CABTEQ Solutions if they participate in the Feb. 14 conference program. CABTEQ Solutions is located in Rock Hill, S.C., where it offers design, manufacturing and installation services and serves a variety of commercial markets, including the dental and overall medical markets.  The tour is sponsored by Wurth Wood Group.

CHARLOTTE -- The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) announced they will host a regional event on February 13, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although dubbed "regional", these types of events typically draw attendees from across the country as well as Canada. This one-day educational event features tours of local manufacturing shops as well as a demonstration and educational seminars at Biesse. Registration is $55, which also includes access to the Wood Pro Expo (WPE) on February 15-16 at the Charlotte Convention Center. There is an additional fee for the WPE conference program on February 14. The event is graciously sponsored by Knapp Connectors, Knapp Connectors designs and manufactures connecting systems that are non-visible, self-tightening, and easily snapped together backed by 30 years of industry expertise and high-quality German engineering.

The Cabinet Makers Association was incorporated in 1998 by a group of custom cabinet makers who thought the small to mid-size shop needed to network and help each other grow profitably. Currently, CMA membership is made up primarily of 20 or fewer employee operations, with the vast majority of those being 1-5 person shops. For more information, visit www.cabinetmakers.org. 

Rick Thaler knows firsthand how one business path can diverge into another.

The president of OGB Architectural Millwork, Thaler has been in the woodworking business for almost 40 years. "I started as a hippie carpenter with a 450-square-foot shop making custom furniture and kitchen cabinets and evolved, through trial and error, into a business that does entirely commercial cabinet work and architectural woodworking, with 85 employees, a 30,000-square-foot plant and $10 million in annual revenue," he said.

Thaler's transition from kitchen cabinetry to commercial cabinetry and architectural millwork will be the basis for his discussion: "Expanding from Residential to Commercial Markets," to take place Tuesday, March 27, during the Cabinets & Closets Conference in Pasadena, California.

"I will use my experiences in making these changes to illustrate the risks and rewards of the transition, and give residential cabinetmakers an idea of what to look forward to if they want to grow into the commercial world," Thaler said. Part of the Cabinet Track, the seminar also will answer the following questions: Why make the change? How to acquire commercial business? How to estimate commercial woodwork and cabinets? What are the pitfalls to avoid? How to get paid? And lastly, how to develop and use technology and automation in your business?

OGB Architectural Millwork

Under Thaler's leadership, the award-winning OGB has grown in size and scope, with a project portfolio including: banks, casinos, religious organizations, government and corporate offices, health care facilities, hospitality, museums, restaurants and retail firms. The company is a member of the Architectural Woodwork Institute as well as the Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) and has been profiled in a number of trade magazines.

In recognition of his achievements, as well as his service to the industry, Thaler was named a Wood Industry Market Leader in 2016.

The day-long Cabinets & Closets Conference precedes the Cabinets & Closets Expo, which takes place March 28 and 29 at the Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, California. The conference includes two other tracks: one on closets business management, and another on lean production management. The Cabinet Track is developed in partnership with the CMA.

Attendees who register for any track are free to move among the conference sessions. With a highly topical opening keynote on "The Business Case for Diversity" by Whitney Pyle, vice president and COO of Advanced Cabinet Systems, the Cabinet Track conference includes five business and productivity sessions, followed by a plant tour to Semihandmade, maker of high-end replacement doors for IKEA cabinets.

For more information or to register for the Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo, visit cabinetsandclosetsexpo.com.

Recommendations for where to start include:

What distinguishes a successful design from a flop? Recognized designers Laurie Haefele of Haefele Design and Knikki Grantham, Belwith Products, share their insight into what's hot and what's not and other cabinetry and hardware design trends.

The two will be presenting as part of the Cabinets Track at the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference, March 27 in Pasadena, California. The day-long Cabinets & Closets Conference precedes the Cabinets & Closets Expo, which takes place March 28 and 29 at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Laurie Haefele

Utilizing her background in architecture, Haefele has specialized in innovative kitchen and bath design since 1997. In 2002 she founded the award-winning Haefele Design, based in Southern California. An associate member of AIA, ASID, and NKBA, Haefele has also been recognized as one of the world's top designers by Robb Report Luxury Home Magazine and her work has appeared in several episodes of HGTV's Kitchen Trends and in numerous industry publications.

“About 95 percent of my work is from referral," she has stated. "I believe in delivering what my clients want, and working until they are happy with the results.”

Among the topics she'll cover in the presentation are: selling standard versus highly sophisticated designs; material and color selection; color blocking and striping; trendy and hidden features; lighting options; and other moving parts to the design process.

Knikki Grantham

Joining her in the presentation, Grantham has more than 20 years experience in the furniture and design industry, including sales, marketing and product design and development, and attained an Associate ASID as well as other accreditations. 

As the Trends Manager for Belwith Products, Grantham is well versed in the topic of design, particularly with regards to hardware. Among the items covered in her presentation are the Maximinalist vs. Minimalist influences, "larger, exaggerated with more design, more bling and more originality," and the "Vagabond" look of combining antiquities with modern design, sort of like "a worldly traveler with an eye for the original." Grantham will also look ahead for 2019 and the Art Deco influence already in notice.

"I am a student of furniture design so the leap to hardware was not very far to go," Grantham said.  While finding inspiration in apparel, furniture and other designs, she noted previously, "You really want to identify the trend, but also ask, ‘How is it going to resonate to your area?’”
 
“Your timing is such that you’re going to launch when the trend is really hitting at the right time. That’s what our customers look for,” Grantham said. “We really want to hit at the same time, so that when the customer’s got that trend and that style in their mindset, that they can really find what they’re looking for, fairly simply.”

To find out the latest cabinetry and hardware trends, be sure to attend the Cabinets Track at the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo. In addition to "The Future of Cabinet & Hardware Design," topics in the track include: "What to Charge" (FDMC's pricing survey); "Expanding from Residential to Commercial Markets;""Are You Ready for Industry 4.0;" and the roundtable discussion "What's Your Problem" by the Cabinet Makers Associaiton.

In addition to Cabinets, there are two other tracks: one on closets business management, and another on lean production management. Attendees who register for any track are free to move among the conference sessions. The conference also offers a highly topical opening keynote on "The Business Case for Diversity" by Whitney Pyle, vice president and COO of Advanced Cabinet Systems, as well as a plant tour to Semihandmade, maker of high-end replacement doors for IKEA cabinets.

For more information or to register for the event, visit CabinetsAndClosetsExpo.com.

SASKATOON, SK - Superior Cabinets has been named the first manufacturer in Saskatchewan to achieve Lean Certification, as presented by the Canadian Manufacturing & Exporters (CME). The kitchen cabinet manufacturer began its Lean journey in 2012 as part of a complete business transformation focused on restructuring the company back to productivity and profitability.

The CME's Lean audit of the 55,000-square-foot production facility was conducted on Jan. 30. "The CME conducts internal audits of companies all over Saskatchewan and I would rank Superior Cabinets as a world-class facility," said Darryl Minty, CME divisional vice president. "They would easily rank in top 10 percent for 5S implementation in North America and Europe."

Pictured (L-R): Michael Kachur, Continuous Improvement manager of Superior Cabinets and Darryl Minty, divisional vice president of Canadian Manufacturing & Exporters.

"We are extremely proud of this accomplishment and this recognition is a reflection of the hard work and dedication our team members have invested into transforming our company into a Lean organization," said Michael Kachur, Continuous Improvement manager of Superior Cabinets.

As part of its Lean journey, Superior Cabinets said it has integrated a Continuous Improvement mindset throughout the company. It also conducts an average of 800 Quick Kaizens per year across the entire organization, resulting in improvements to productivity, customer experience or a financial payback. Along with 12 employees trained on Cycle Time Reduction (CTR), the company also boasts more than 230 employees with Six Sigma Belts: 210 white, 10 yellow, 10 green and 2 black.

A statement from Superior Cabinets said it will continue to empower its teams to drive Lean and 5S initiatives throughout the entire organization including its manufacturing facility, corporate headquarters and four corporate stores. The term "5S" describes the workplace organization process for reducing waste, loosely translated as: sort, set in order/straighten, shine (clean workspace), standardize and sustain.

Founded in 1980, Superior Cabinets is one of Western Canada's leading manufacturers and suppliers of frameless cabinetry. The company sells its products through its retail stores in Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary and Edmonton, as well as a network of 75 dealers.

Superior Cabinets has been recognized numerous times in recent years. In 2014 the Business Development Bank of Canada named Superior Cabinets the winner of the first BDC Entrepreneurial Resiliency Award for its comeback efforts dating back to 2008. Superior Cabinets also was named 2015 Saskatchewan Manufacturer of the Year by the CME for its contributions to innovation, leadership, export, and manufacturing practices. The cabinetry firm has also earned Consumers Choice and People's Choice awards for its products.

Superior Cabinets has been included numerous times in Woodworking Network's WOOD 100: Strategies for Success, most recently in 2017. CEO Scott Hodson was also a featured speaker at the biennial 2017 WMS Conference & Expo.  Woodworking Network also provided a closeup look at the company's manufacturing operations in a 2015 article.

PASADENA, Calif. -  Is your woodworking shop ready for Industry 4.0?

Woodworking industry expert Georg Frey, takes the mystery out of Industry 4.0 and explains how the "Internet of Things" can advance wood products manufacturing. Frey, the president of Lignum Consulting, Inc., will address the subject in his presentation on Industry 4.0: Are you ready for the connected factory? The presentation is part of the Cabinets Track at the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference, March 27 in Pasadena, California. The day-long Cabinets & Closets Conference precedes the Cabinets & Closets Expo, which takes place March 28 and 29 at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Frey will discuss the origin and vision behind Industry 4.0, "the fusion of production, logistics and information technologies," along with the seven key elements necessary for a connected factory: Product, Technology, Strategy, Data Integration, Organization, Logistics, and Human Resources.

The company's proven method of analysis will provide attendees with a clear picture of the current status of their organization, including strengths and weaknesses, as they relate to the connected factory. Questions to consider include: "Is your company strategy aligned towards the connected factory?"; "Is your product offering in alignment with your market needs and capabilities?" and "Is your organizational model defined and can it be used to drive integrated processes?" As they create their company's profile and learn how to evaluate their business, attendees will also have an opportunity able to rate their company against those of other participants.

A well-known speaker on the topic, Frey said recently, "It is important for companies to get out of the habit of running a small shop like a traditional cabinet shop whereby the thought process is 'give Joe a sketch and he’ll work it out. Successful start-ups are more techie and do not necessarily come from a cabinetmaking background. But they understand e-commerce and integrated processes."

Frey has been working as a consultant for the wood and furniture industry since 1999 and has extensive experience in company development planning and implementation of lean manufacturing systems. He studied wood technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Rosenheim and completed an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker. Frey also holds the degree of an MBA (SDA Bocconi, Milan). He has served as president of North Carolina-based Lignum Consulting since 2015.

For more ways to optimize your wood products production, along with design trends and news, be sure to attend the Cabinets Track at the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo. In addition to "Are You Ready for Industry 4.0" topics in the track include: "What to Charge" (FDMC's pricing survey); "Expanding from Residential to Commercial Markets;""The Future of Cabinet & Hardware Design;" and the roundtable discussion "What's Your Problem" by the Cabinet Makers Association.

In addition to Cabinets, there are two other tracks: one on closets business management, and another on lean production management. Attendees who register for any track are free to move among the conference sessions. The conference also includes a highly topical opening keynote on "The Business Case for Diversity" by Whitney Pyle, vice president and COO of Advanced Cabinet Systems, as well as a plant tour to Semihandmade, maker of high-end replacement doors for IKEA cabinets.

For more information or to register for the event, visit CabinetsAndClosetsExpo.com.