National Hardwood Magazine - July 2011

NHLA News
“The Last Word Is Quality”
My last word to the Hardwood lumber business is “quality.” The
Hardwood lumber business requires quality in many different ways,
and it is the one necessary ingredient to be successful. Hardwood
lumber products enter the marketplace with high expectations and a
premium price and suppliers must be committed to quality in a number
of different ways.
Quality in Product
Hardwood lumber issuccessful because it can provide a unique high
quality material to a demanding market. The importance of delivering
a properly manufactured product on an on-time basis is crucial. In
turn, failure to deliver that quality has been and will continue to be the
demise of the industry. Fortunately the Hardwood lumber industry
through NHLA has developed a voluntary system for assuring product
quality through the establishmentandtrainingof Hardwood lumber
grades.With more than 100 years of practice, the Hardwood lumber
grades are the surest way of delivering quality on a consistent
basis. Through the use of trained inspectors both buyers and sellers
will be able to share in the benefits of this unique program.
The industry also put into place safeguards to be sure that the lumber
inspection service will maintain its integrity that is crucial to success.
To date, more than 7,200 lumber inspectors have completed an
intense four month training process at the Inspector Training School
in Memphis, Tenn. This voluntary traininghasbeen expanded over
the years to include quality control of lumber production and handling
in addition to inspection training. Additionally, hundreds
of short courses held throughout the country and the world have
trained thousands of interested buyers and sellers, and production staff
on how to improve production techniques to ensure production of
lumber thatmeets high standards.
In addition, the industry decided when the rules where first put into
place that it needed to police itself.A staff of lumber inspectors is
employed located throughout North America, but with their
servicesavailable to the industry anywhere in the world. From the
beginning,there has been no government involvement in either the
development or enforcement of grading rules. Instead, NHLA
employs“national inspectors” who are specifically trained as the final
word in grading to monitor the industry’s compliance.
In short, it is the consistent and measurable production of quality
material that provides for the success of the Hardwood lumber busiby
MARK BARFORD, CAE
Executive Director
National Hardwood Lumber Assoc.
Memphis, Tenn.
ness. In addition though, there are two other
ways in which quality is crucial to be sure
theindustrysurvives anever changing marketplace
-quality of service and quality of character.
Quality of Service
The quality and level of service in the Hardwood lumber business
is just as important as quality of product. Delivering a product on
time, on grade, when and where it is expected is crucial in the “justin-time”
manufacturing world that is so common today. Although
Hardwood is unique from other commodities, often the primary distinction
among producers is the amount of service they provide to a
customer.
Quality of Character
Often the most important need for quality gets overlooked in the
Hardwood business when we forget about the importance of character.
The Hardwood lumber business is a very personal business
where we count on individuals and strong relationships to meet needs
and solve problems. Much business is done by phone and email with
people we know and trust. Many business deals are still completed
without a contract and by word alone.Quality of character is often the
most important element of success in this wonderful business, and the
true measure of who we are.
I have had the fortune of serving this industry for 36 years now, and
am looking forward to many more. I remain dedicated to teaching the
lesson of the importance of quality not only in our business but in life.
Qualityremains one of the unique ways that the Hardwood industry
will remain distinct and frankly successful, and would certainly be
my last word to the industry.
Thanks for listening.
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