Replies

1. 
   RickL | Jan 11, 2005 04:33pm | #1

   There are no such books but there are paid consultants in such matter if you search the trade journals such as Wood and Wood Products or visit pro site of http://www.woodweb.com. I would go and visit the larger mills  to get a perspective. I remember when I started working in a place that made a similar jump and they put their sanding department next to their finishing department. Made sense on paper but what a mess in reality. Sometimes you need an objective observer to clarify the situation. Paying an expert may sound expensive but can save thousands in the long run.

   Personally I favor taking the nickel tour of larger shops to get a feel for the operation. I would subscribe to the free" trade journals such as Wood and Wood Products, Furniture and Design Manufacturing, Cabinetmaker. etc.  These mags often feature articles on larger shop set ups and such material flow and handling. http://www.iswonline.com is another pro site. Subscriptions can be obtained at both sites listed. I've been reading them for 35 years and for the money you can't find a better magazine. No better way to keep informed on the latest innovations, tools and techniques for the larger production shops. I probabably get at least a dozen free trade journals a month.

   After seeing all the problems in shop growth I'm a firm believer that the small shop should look to the larger shop for a furure goal in case it should decide to expand in that manner. Learning from others mistakes is a far cheaper way to go in the long run.

   This one might offer some help. Never read it but I did find it on the woodweb booklist.

   A Planning Guide for Small and Medium Size Wood Products Companies: The Keys to Success
   J. Howe and S. Bratkovich. 1995. Available from Steve Bratkovich, State & Private Forestry, USDA Forest Service, 1992 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108

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   Edited 1/11/2005 9:21 am ET by rick3ddd

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   Edited 1/11/2005 9:32 am ET by rick3ddd

   
   

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   Edited 1/11/2005 11:19 am ET by rick3ddd

1. 
   steveN3 | Jan 11, 2005 09:12pm | #4

   Thanks for the info. We do get all those periodicals and I do find them useful. I have been triing to get the guys in the front office to hire a consultant for a year now. You know what they say. Maybe hearing it from other people like you will lean them in the right direction.

1. 
   RickL | Jan 11, 2005 10:01pm | #5

   You could contact other similar shops and perhaps work out some kind of info exchange thing. I know some folks guard their techniques but we have a mutual exchange of work referrals with a few other shops and frequently exchange  info as well. You can learn a lot just by walking through some shops in how they arrange things and they might not even have the best set up because their needs may have changed over time.

2. 
   Dave45 | Jan 11, 2005 05:13pm | #2

   I vote with Rick on this one.  I can think of dozens of factors that should be considered and I'm not even an expert - lol

   This would be a classic case of "Plan your work, and work your plan".

3. 
   woodensplinter | Jan 11, 2005 05:56pm | #3

   I'll throw my opinion in with Rick.

   In a previous life I worked for a mining company.  Even though we had the in-house expertise, we toured a lot to give us a better understanding of what others had gone through.  In the end, we still relied heavily on consultants, who were experts in their field.  They had more objectivity and the TIME to spend on a given project.  We used our experience and information gathered on tours, combined with the consultant, to come up with a final design.

   Remember, its cheaper to do it once.

4. 
   LostSouth | Jan 12, 2005 06:19am | #6

   I just left the consulting business.  I don't do the kind of work that you are looking for but worked with a few folks who did.  If you are having a difficult time getting management to signoff on a consultant I would suggest that you get a proposal.  Any consultant worth their weight will give you a propsal that will provide you a value proposition which justifies their surface.  Some may even provide you with a solid business case.

   I have my concerns about the consulting business, but the reality is that a good consultant can deliver value far beyond the fees.