Plant Focus Tour at Woody’s Premium Cabinetry

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Heavy rain and the drive didn’t stop BWA members from traveling out to Plant Focus Tour at Woody’s Premium Cabinetry in Strathroy on October 31^st. The BWA brought together members from a variety of wood manufacturing sectors including Millwork, Cabinetry, Component, Furniture, Crating, high volume and custom residential/commercial.

BWA Plant Focus Tour Groups are designed to focus on a challenge the hosting company is having and bring together the vast knowledge the combined group of manufacturers has – to provide solutions for the host. Additionally, members visiting the tour can learn from the host’s best practices and see alternative methods of production – yielding perspective and insight.

The event kicked off with an introduction from all members present and a synopsis of KAIZEN. Next, Dan Fentie, Owner of Woody’s gave a brief history of the business and its current challenge.

Following the tour, Executive Director Mike Baker facilitated the KAIZEN event with Dan by having members regrouped to discuss and evaluate shop throughput in the assembly dept that can benefit from improved methods and techniques.

Some themes discussed after the tour included:

Case construction
– Methods currently employed and alternatives
– Large potential for time savings
Ergonomics for assembling cases – scissor lifts
Doweling machines
Optimization of operator wait time/cycle time
Drawer slide potential time savings
Employee motivation –> building welfare
Skilled labour (sourcing) challenge

Woody’s Premium Cabinetry, for the 2^nd time in a row, was ranked fastest growing cabinet company in Canada by Growth 500.

As they continue to refine their production techniques Owner of Woody’s, Dan Fentie partnered with the BWA to host a plant tour and focus on continuous improvement.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the next plant tour. If you’re not a member, sign up today to the Bluewater Wood Alliance and get yourself a seat at the table. Together we’re strengthening Ontario’s wood manufacturing future.