Cabinet Shops are beginning to embrace technology that streamlines the customer experience all the way through manufacturing. Read on to learn more!
The Bluewater Wood Alliance cluster region is fully engaged, with members traveling from the far corners of Barrie and Stratford to converge on member learning events! The BWA cluster region is a 2 hr radius of the Hanover Walkerton area.
On April 30, 2014, Royal Oak Kitchens of Clifford, Ontario, hosted the recent BWA Plant Tour Focus Group. This event really focused on the presentation of best practices, including the customer experience, use of design technology, ERP, and manufacturing.
Glen Small, President of Royal Oak Kitchens, welcomed 16 BWA members from as far away as Barrie, Stratford and Mississauga to his business and started in his showroom. Glen and his staff demonstrated how they use Cabinet Vision Software with the customer in real time to help design their kitchen. Changes can be made on the fly for the customer with real time results that can help match their kitchen to their needs and budget. Having a big screen TV linked to their computer makes it easy for the customer to observe changes to the design of their kitchen.
Then the magic starts! The finished design in Cabinet Vision links directly to their ERP system which creates the cut lists that go straight out to the CNC, and inventory purchase orders to order necessary hardware and other components. In turn, the ERP also calculates labour and lead times, so the cost to the customer and actual cost of manufacturing are closely tracked.
This followed by a demonstration of Royal Oak’s CNC nesting machine where a full 5×9 sheet stock was fully cut for cupboards and set within 7 minutes. Very impressive!
Glen Small was very generous in sharing other best practices with his assembly area where he ergonomically designed the process, and the finishing area and equipment. This included a sound explanation of the business model.
Discussions ensued between members following the tour that extended well beyond the meeting and into the parking lot. This is the type of cluster activity that creates value for the visiting members and the hosts, as ideas are shared and cross-pollination of capabilities takes hold.
If you are a wood products manufacturer in South Western Ontario and would like to benefit from this type of activity, contact BWA Manager Mike Baker: manager@bluewaterwoodalliance.com
Glen Small of Royal Oak Kitchens shares his CNC work instructions with BWA members.
Glen Small of Royal Oak Kitchens shares his CNC work instructions with BWA members.
Glen Small demonstrates the use of Cabinet Vision and his ERP system to BWA members in his show room.
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