Northway Industries Blog
2/22/12
Transparency in Health Care
I am a big fan of low cost or no cost solutions. In my opinion the national health care crisis could be solved with good old fashion competition. We are being told by smart people in charge that we need to become better consumers. I agree.
We can become better consumers by being better informed. The problem is that the cards are stacked against the consumer and information is being distorted by health care systems. As an example, have you ever called a hospital to get a quote on a procedure? Those that have many times get one of two answers..."why should you care, don't you have insurance" or "it's impossible to accurately quote a procedure".
The simple solution would be to require every hospital that receives public funds to publish what they would charge for a group of standard procedures, say 25 to 50 procedures as defined by health care professionals. The prices should include what they would charge each of the top four health plans in their territory as well as what they would charge someone without insurance.
The consumer could then make better choices based on all factors including cost. Transparency in Health care will enable us all to become better consumers.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Transparency in Health Care
I am a big fan of low cost or no cost solutions. In my opinion the national health care crisis could be solved with good old fashion competition. We are being told by smart people in charge that we need to become better consumers. I agree.
We can become better consumers by being better informed. The problem is that the cards are stacked against the consumer and information is being distorted by health care systems. As an example, have you ever called a hospital to get a quote on a procedure? Those that have many times get one of two answers..."why should you care, don't you have insurance" or "it's impossible to accurately quote a procedure".
The simple solution would be to require every hospital that receives public funds to publish what they would charge for a group of standard procedures, say 25 to 50 procedures as defined by health care professionals. The prices should include what they would charge each of the top four health plans in their territory as well as what they would charge someone without insurance.
The consumer could then make better choices based on all factors including cost. Transparency in Health care will enable us all to become better consumers.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
2/1/12
Advance Manufacturing
It is encouraging to see that there is a greater appreciation for what manufacturing means to a strong economy. News reports, political speeches and even ads on TV drive home the value of domestic made goods. Can it be that the “service economy” has run its course?
As manufacturers we must keep the momentum going. This is done through the continual study of our craft. Reduce waste, improve quality and become even more customer focused. Our customers expect variety, options, choices and instant response. Mass customization addressed the need for custom products at mass production prices. However, today’s consumers are finding even greater options through WEB configurators and virtual designs. The link between the virtual world and seamless manufacturing processes is an emerging technology for us wood guys.
We are proud to say that we remain students of LEAN and still embrace continuous quality improvement. Today we are also becoming students of Advanced Manufacturing;learning how CAD, CAM, Automation, Robotics and the use of sustainable resources are enhanced by Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)and even High Performance Computing (HPC). Topics previously reserved for engineers in aerospace, automotive, nano science and the like. But through the help of our universities, software developers and individualized training networks companies currently use simulation and other modeling programs to improve production flow while others use 3D to reduce or eliminate prototyping time and expense. Just think of the possibilities.
Keep an eye out for more on this topic and please, let me know your thoughts.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Advance Manufacturing
It is encouraging to see that there is a greater appreciation for what manufacturing means to a strong economy. News reports, political speeches and even ads on TV drive home the value of domestic made goods. Can it be that the “service economy” has run its course?
As manufacturers we must keep the momentum going. This is done through the continual study of our craft. Reduce waste, improve quality and become even more customer focused. Our customers expect variety, options, choices and instant response. Mass customization addressed the need for custom products at mass production prices. However, today’s consumers are finding even greater options through WEB configurators and virtual designs. The link between the virtual world and seamless manufacturing processes is an emerging technology for us wood guys.
We are proud to say that we remain students of LEAN and still embrace continuous quality improvement. Today we are also becoming students of Advanced Manufacturing;learning how CAD, CAM, Automation, Robotics and the use of sustainable resources are enhanced by Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)and even High Performance Computing (HPC). Topics previously reserved for engineers in aerospace, automotive, nano science and the like. But through the help of our universities, software developers and individualized training networks companies currently use simulation and other modeling programs to improve production flow while others use 3D to reduce or eliminate prototyping time and expense. Just think of the possibilities.
Keep an eye out for more on this topic and please, let me know your thoughts.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
1/24/12
Wishing you Success in 2012
The dust has settled on 2011 and we are well underway in 2012. I can’t believe that in a few days we will be starting the last month of our first fiscal quarter. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for the business afforded us last year. We greatly appreciate being part of your strategic plans and look forward to offering continued service this year.
In response to last year’s demand, we have added 30% capacity to our commercial casework cells through new equipment and process changes. Additionally, a new nested based router will be here in April which will be put to good use in Work Cell #3. We remain focused on making our manufacturing process even more flexible and responsive to our customer’s needs.
This is the time of year for accelerated training. In the plant, cross training on machine operations and system flow is taking place throughout January and February. Our staff is continuing the study of our LEAN office which includes advanced communications through Web based systems. As students of LEAN manufacturing we realize that the learning process never ends.
We look forward to working with you this year and thank you for the confidence and relationships that you shared with us in 2011.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Wishing you Success in 2012
The dust has settled on 2011 and we are well underway in 2012. I can’t believe that in a few days we will be starting the last month of our first fiscal quarter. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for the business afforded us last year. We greatly appreciate being part of your strategic plans and look forward to offering continued service this year.
In response to last year’s demand, we have added 30% capacity to our commercial casework cells through new equipment and process changes. Additionally, a new nested based router will be here in April which will be put to good use in Work Cell #3. We remain focused on making our manufacturing process even more flexible and responsive to our customer’s needs.
This is the time of year for accelerated training. In the plant, cross training on machine operations and system flow is taking place throughout January and February. Our staff is continuing the study of our LEAN office which includes advanced communications through Web based systems. As students of LEAN manufacturing we realize that the learning process never ends.
We look forward to working with you this year and thank you for the confidence and relationships that you shared with us in 2011.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
5/17/11
Health Care and Economic Development
It’s that time of the year again at Northway for our health care renewal and open enrollment. Once again, as for many previous years, Northway and our employees are faced with double digit increases. These increases are very difficult to cover given restricted global market prices and the current economy.
But why are health care prices increasing so drastically? It all boils down to costs of services. Rates are based on a simple function called “experience” and not the complicated formulas meant to confuse and distract you at renewal time.
Many employers find themselves at the mercy of regional providers, leaving them with little or no options. Competition is almost nonexistent, especially in rural America. We’re at their mercy because the more they charge for services, the more our rates go up. It’s a vicious cycle with no end in sight.
Health care providers must recognize that they directly impact local employment and economic development. It’s a fact that seems to go unnoticed or even ignored. We, as consumers, need to become more vigilant by questioning every bill and looking at all the options. Certainly, left unchecked, our economic recovery will take even longer.
Please let me know your thoughts and what you are doing to combat rising health care cost.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Health Care and Economic Development
It’s that time of the year again at Northway for our health care renewal and open enrollment. Once again, as for many previous years, Northway and our employees are faced with double digit increases. These increases are very difficult to cover given restricted global market prices and the current economy.
But why are health care prices increasing so drastically? It all boils down to costs of services. Rates are based on a simple function called “experience” and not the complicated formulas meant to confuse and distract you at renewal time.
Many employers find themselves at the mercy of regional providers, leaving them with little or no options. Competition is almost nonexistent, especially in rural America. We’re at their mercy because the more they charge for services, the more our rates go up. It’s a vicious cycle with no end in sight.
Health care providers must recognize that they directly impact local employment and economic development. It’s a fact that seems to go unnoticed or even ignored. We, as consumers, need to become more vigilant by questioning every bill and looking at all the options. Certainly, left unchecked, our economic recovery will take even longer.
Please let me know your thoughts and what you are doing to combat rising health care cost.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
2/8/11
Innovation
Well, it has been a little too long since my last post and a lot has happened. We are off and running on the 2011 Fiscal year. All I can say is: so far, so good. Our customers are progressively getting busier. New projects, albeit many of them to the government, are popping up each day. Everyone that I talk to remains cautiously optimistic and hopeful for a better year in 2011.
I am encouraged by all the companies that are repositioning themselves in their markets by becoming more innovative with their products, services and processes. We have never been busier working on IT and process integrations. Together we find ways to make it easier for our customers to do business with us and for us to be more efficient. It is a blending of the order process that eliminates bottlenecks and reduces the waste and errors associated with the ordering process.
Innovation, process improvement and new product development are all essential components to survival and growth in the new economy. Economic develop agencies all across the country are focused on ways to assist in these efforts. This assistance may be in the form of Open Innovation, Market Analysis, R&D Support and Supply Chain Networking.
Domestic Manufacturing and our Industry will benefit if we all take full advantage of the resources available, including good old fashion collaboration.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Innovation
Well, it has been a little too long since my last post and a lot has happened. We are off and running on the 2011 Fiscal year. All I can say is: so far, so good. Our customers are progressively getting busier. New projects, albeit many of them to the government, are popping up each day. Everyone that I talk to remains cautiously optimistic and hopeful for a better year in 2011.
I am encouraged by all the companies that are repositioning themselves in their markets by becoming more innovative with their products, services and processes. We have never been busier working on IT and process integrations. Together we find ways to make it easier for our customers to do business with us and for us to be more efficient. It is a blending of the order process that eliminates bottlenecks and reduces the waste and errors associated with the ordering process.
Innovation, process improvement and new product development are all essential components to survival and growth in the new economy. Economic develop agencies all across the country are focused on ways to assist in these efforts. This assistance may be in the form of Open Innovation, Market Analysis, R&D Support and Supply Chain Networking.
Domestic Manufacturing and our Industry will benefit if we all take full advantage of the resources available, including good old fashion collaboration.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
12/9/10
Energy Saving Success
The response to our blogs has been very encouraging and has prompted some enjoyable conversations. I want to thank those of you that have sent in your comments and ideas.
One that I wanted to share comes from John Kurtz, Production Planning,Catawissa Wood and Components, Inc.
John notes that they participate in a program from Enernoc to reduce electric costs through peak period shut down.
John writes: "They paid us over $8,000 for a five month period just for participating in the demand response program. This amounted to us shutting down one afternoon for a couple of hours and they pay based on how much energy you can make available. If you are interested I think it is a worth while program. If you’re already enrolled or have something similar you’re ahead of the curve." http://www.enernoc.com
Here at Northway, we have considered similar programs in the past and are now re-evaluating a program for 2011.
Thank you John for your response. This is a great example of how companies are creatively finding ways to reduce operating expenses and improve efficiencies.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Energy Saving Success
The response to our blogs has been very encouraging and has prompted some enjoyable conversations. I want to thank those of you that have sent in your comments and ideas.
One that I wanted to share comes from John Kurtz, Production Planning,Catawissa Wood and Components, Inc.
John notes that they participate in a program from Enernoc to reduce electric costs through peak period shut down.
John writes: "They paid us over $8,000 for a five month period just for participating in the demand response program. This amounted to us shutting down one afternoon for a couple of hours and they pay based on how much energy you can make available. If you are interested I think it is a worth while program. If you’re already enrolled or have something similar you’re ahead of the curve." http://www.enernoc.com
Here at Northway, we have considered similar programs in the past and are now re-evaluating a program for 2011.
Thank you John for your response. This is a great example of how companies are creatively finding ways to reduce operating expenses and improve efficiencies.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
11/1/10
Prompt Pay Legislation
An epidemic is eroding our Nation’s manufacturing base, it’s the practice of financing public and private construction projects with subcontractor money.
Slow pay throughout the construction process plagues companies, large and small. It’s sad to see that good companies with decades of tradition have closed their doors because of slow pay.
In talking with many of our customers, we hear the challenges associated with contract billing practices and share their frustrations brought about by construction management inefficiencies and gamesmanship. The burden of cash flowing commercial projects has been displaced throughout the supply chain while the companies and institutions at the top seem to contribute little to the process.
My suggestion is a prompt pay legislation that would require substantial payment within 45 days to subcontractor levels throughout the supply chain and a 10 day dispute resolution period for documentation or process issues.
Let’s require the banks that have received Billions in bailout money to promptly cash flow commercial projects so that the supply chain can be properly capitalized and our manufacturers can get back to the business of innovation, process improvement and providing jobs.
I encourage all material vendors and subcontractors to take the time to write your representatives in Washington and let them know how destructive contract payment practices are to our nation and to speak out on this issue at every opportunity.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Prompt Pay Legislation
An epidemic is eroding our Nation’s manufacturing base, it’s the practice of financing public and private construction projects with subcontractor money.
Slow pay throughout the construction process plagues companies, large and small. It’s sad to see that good companies with decades of tradition have closed their doors because of slow pay.
In talking with many of our customers, we hear the challenges associated with contract billing practices and share their frustrations brought about by construction management inefficiencies and gamesmanship. The burden of cash flowing commercial projects has been displaced throughout the supply chain while the companies and institutions at the top seem to contribute little to the process.
My suggestion is a prompt pay legislation that would require substantial payment within 45 days to subcontractor levels throughout the supply chain and a 10 day dispute resolution period for documentation or process issues.
Let’s require the banks that have received Billions in bailout money to promptly cash flow commercial projects so that the supply chain can be properly capitalized and our manufacturers can get back to the business of innovation, process improvement and providing jobs.
I encourage all material vendors and subcontractors to take the time to write your representatives in Washington and let them know how destructive contract payment practices are to our nation and to speak out on this issue at every opportunity.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
10/18/10
Advanced Manufacturing Results
In my 9/27/10 blog I discussed the importance of strategic planning as the key to success. As business owners and leaders we typically focus our efforts on Operational Effectiveness rather than planning for the future. In developing your strategic plan for the next three to five years, what is it that tops your list?
Here are some of the highlights of the Advanced Manufacturing focus group survey: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_manufacturing )
1) The uncertainty of future health care costs weighs heavily on hiring decisions.
2) The productivity of PA manufacturers continues to increase while revenues are trending below national averages, suggesting that manufacturers are cutting prices to get work.
3) Successful manufacturers in today’s economy have differentiated themselves through innovation and new product development.
4) The funding for this R&D is coming from cash flow and owners equity, not bank financing.
5) Keeping the employees of the organization informed and involved in key decisions is a common practice among the benchmark group.
6) Manufacturing companies are crediting LEAN manufacturing practices as the key to their survival and success.
7) Successful manufacturers have positioned themselves in niche markets and have minimized their commodity sales.
The most important message that this survey brings to light is that manufacturing remains a very important part of our economy and without manufacturing, our economy fails to exist. Let’s all work to bring back manufacturing to our States and local communities. We will all benefit when we do.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Advanced Manufacturing Results
In my 9/27/10 blog I discussed the importance of strategic planning as the key to success. As business owners and leaders we typically focus our efforts on Operational Effectiveness rather than planning for the future. In developing your strategic plan for the next three to five years, what is it that tops your list?
Here are some of the highlights of the Advanced Manufacturing focus group survey: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_manufacturing )
1) The uncertainty of future health care costs weighs heavily on hiring decisions.
2) The productivity of PA manufacturers continues to increase while revenues are trending below national averages, suggesting that manufacturers are cutting prices to get work.
3) Successful manufacturers in today’s economy have differentiated themselves through innovation and new product development.
4) The funding for this R&D is coming from cash flow and owners equity, not bank financing.
5) Keeping the employees of the organization informed and involved in key decisions is a common practice among the benchmark group.
6) Manufacturing companies are crediting LEAN manufacturing practices as the key to their survival and success.
7) Successful manufacturers have positioned themselves in niche markets and have minimized their commodity sales.
The most important message that this survey brings to light is that manufacturing remains a very important part of our economy and without manufacturing, our economy fails to exist. Let’s all work to bring back manufacturing to our States and local communities. We will all benefit when we do.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
9/30/10
Energy Initiatives
We have taken many steps in the last several years to reduce energy usage both in electricity and heating fuel. We have three waste wood furnaces that burn most of our wood waste and saw dust. We heat our entire manufacturing plant, warehouse and shipping area with our wood waste. We also return the heat from air compressors and vacuum pumps into the building during heating season. This has reduced our fuel oil cost to $0 and saved $45,000 to $50,000 per year in landfill cost.
Electricity
We implemented a system in our plant at every shift change to make sure all unneeded lights, machines, and air is shut off. This generated a savings of approximately $1,000 per month.
In August of 2008 we installed an Eco-Gate system http://www.ecogate.com on three of our dust collection systems. The three systems combined require 375 HP when operating at full capacity. This system closes gates on any machine that is not generating saw dust and reduces the fan motor speed reducing the amount of electricity needed to operate the system. The electricity saved in the first year of usage was 1,167,600 KWH. This reduced our electricity cost by $65,000. This system should reduce our electricity cost by around $95,000 in 2010. The increased savings is due to electricity deregulation in Pa. The savings is higher due to the increased cost per KWH of electricity used.
Our electricity usage in 2010 is up 20% from last year. This is due to a slight increase in sales, new automation equipment installed that requires more compressed air, and new machinery added.
Our next project will be to replace all our metal halide light fixtures with new T-5 or T-8 florescent fixtures.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Energy Initiatives
We have taken many steps in the last several years to reduce energy usage both in electricity and heating fuel. We have three waste wood furnaces that burn most of our wood waste and saw dust. We heat our entire manufacturing plant, warehouse and shipping area with our wood waste. We also return the heat from air compressors and vacuum pumps into the building during heating season. This has reduced our fuel oil cost to $0 and saved $45,000 to $50,000 per year in landfill cost.
Electricity
We implemented a system in our plant at every shift change to make sure all unneeded lights, machines, and air is shut off. This generated a savings of approximately $1,000 per month.
In August of 2008 we installed an Eco-Gate system http://www.ecogate.com on three of our dust collection systems. The three systems combined require 375 HP when operating at full capacity. This system closes gates on any machine that is not generating saw dust and reduces the fan motor speed reducing the amount of electricity needed to operate the system. The electricity saved in the first year of usage was 1,167,600 KWH. This reduced our electricity cost by $65,000. This system should reduce our electricity cost by around $95,000 in 2010. The increased savings is due to electricity deregulation in Pa. The savings is higher due to the increased cost per KWH of electricity used.
Our electricity usage in 2010 is up 20% from last year. This is due to a slight increase in sales, new automation equipment installed that requires more compressed air, and new machinery added.
Our next project will be to replace all our metal halide light fixtures with new T-5 or T-8 florescent fixtures.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Bob Portzline VP Special Projects
9/27/10
Advanced Manufacturing
Occasionally, I have the opportunity to clear my head of the daily routine and deadline madness to focus on the big picture. Ironically, it is usually a deadline that forces me to take a look at things from the 30,000 foot perspective.
Tomorrow I have the honor to participate in a regional focus group to discuss “The Future of Advanced Manufacturing in Pennsylvania”. The timing of this meeting is both good and bad. Good, because it will help me to get started on the annual year-end report and long range strategic plan for 2011. Bad, because our plant is busy, our commitments are challenging and my to-do-list is four pages long.
So, how would you answer these questions while working down today’s list?
1) What keeps you awake at night?
2) What are your opportunities?
3) What do you do right that others don’t?
4) What do world-class companies need to do to succeed?
5) What are your competitive advantages?
As manufacturers, it’s important that we take the time to think through questions such as these because it will be a strong manufacturing base that sparks our nation’s recovery. I believe that we are more than a nation of consumers and we need to get back to the business of making things. Benchmarking best practices and peer networking opportunities are an essential part of developing good business strategies. I encourage everyone to take full advantage of these events.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Advanced Manufacturing
Occasionally, I have the opportunity to clear my head of the daily routine and deadline madness to focus on the big picture. Ironically, it is usually a deadline that forces me to take a look at things from the 30,000 foot perspective.
Tomorrow I have the honor to participate in a regional focus group to discuss “The Future of Advanced Manufacturing in Pennsylvania”. The timing of this meeting is both good and bad. Good, because it will help me to get started on the annual year-end report and long range strategic plan for 2011. Bad, because our plant is busy, our commitments are challenging and my to-do-list is four pages long.
So, how would you answer these questions while working down today’s list?
1) What keeps you awake at night?
2) What are your opportunities?
3) What do you do right that others don’t?
4) What do world-class companies need to do to succeed?
5) What are your competitive advantages?
As manufacturers, it’s important that we take the time to think through questions such as these because it will be a strong manufacturing base that sparks our nation’s recovery. I believe that we are more than a nation of consumers and we need to get back to the business of making things. Benchmarking best practices and peer networking opportunities are an essential part of developing good business strategies. I encourage everyone to take full advantage of these events.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
9/14/10
Automation at Northway
Northway Industries, Inc. participated in The Solutions Alliance seminar at the 2010 IWF hosted by Dakota Automation. You can view the report at http://www.thesolutionsalliance.com
Our project included two automated gantry systems that manage the flow of materials to and from our press lines. The purpose of this system was to extend “Kitting” and “Pull” to the very beginning of our process.
I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our production teams in making this system a huge success and I thank Dakota Automation for the way in which they integrated so seamlessly with our systems and staff.
Our goals were to achieve 24 hour throughput and to improve inventory control by implementing a single point of relief. In doing so, we would improve our response to customer demand through accurate scheduling and tracking of materials. Additional benefits include increased capacity at the work centers that receive materials in the orientation and order that they need and through greater visibility of work in progress via materials in queue.
As we approach our one year anniversary of the project completion, I am pleased to report that the benefits have been beyond our original expectations. We could not have performed as well as we did during the recent seasonal peak in demand without these systems in place. As challenging as it is to respond to the short lead times that our industry has become to expect, our systems and people proved the worth of this project.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Automation at Northway
Northway Industries, Inc. participated in The Solutions Alliance seminar at the 2010 IWF hosted by Dakota Automation. You can view the report at http://www.thesolutionsalliance.com
Our project included two automated gantry systems that manage the flow of materials to and from our press lines. The purpose of this system was to extend “Kitting” and “Pull” to the very beginning of our process.
I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our production teams in making this system a huge success and I thank Dakota Automation for the way in which they integrated so seamlessly with our systems and staff.
Our goals were to achieve 24 hour throughput and to improve inventory control by implementing a single point of relief. In doing so, we would improve our response to customer demand through accurate scheduling and tracking of materials. Additional benefits include increased capacity at the work centers that receive materials in the orientation and order that they need and through greater visibility of work in progress via materials in queue.
As we approach our one year anniversary of the project completion, I am pleased to report that the benefits have been beyond our original expectations. We could not have performed as well as we did during the recent seasonal peak in demand without these systems in place. As challenging as it is to respond to the short lead times that our industry has become to expect, our systems and people proved the worth of this project.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
9/13/10
IWF Atlanta 2010
The 2010 IWF show… a show like no other that I have experienced. Yes the attendance was light
and for once, one could see all the exhibits in just a few days. But what was really so different?
I observed that people were looking for more than just the next level of equipment or the next
new design trend. Their focus seemed to be on the bigger picture. Companies are looking beyond
technology and are re-evaluating strategic relationships. To a greater degree than ever before, we are
faced with the fact that we can’t go it alone. Exhibitors look to each other for insight and attendees
were seeking solutions not just products.
On one hand it was interesting to see that business today looks like something right out of the future …
iPads, iPods, You-Tube, Facebook, webcasts, virtual manufacturing and virtual trade shows. We all want
to get the next great device so that we are in the game. On the other hand, it occurs to me that as we
ride the technology wave people are realizing that good business remains same.
In a sense, it’s back to basics… back to a time when the good old fashion face to face carried the day
and personal integrity was the only contract needed. Whether you call it networking or partnering,
we all need this interaction to stay in the game. It is this interaction between people that sets the
direction for what’s next. We learn from others and are inspired by others. The 2010 show brought us
all together and for it, the industry benefits.
I look forward to seeing you all at the next event.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
IWF Atlanta 2010
The 2010 IWF show… a show like no other that I have experienced. Yes the attendance was light
and for once, one could see all the exhibits in just a few days. But what was really so different?
I observed that people were looking for more than just the next level of equipment or the next
new design trend. Their focus seemed to be on the bigger picture. Companies are looking beyond
technology and are re-evaluating strategic relationships. To a greater degree than ever before, we are
faced with the fact that we can’t go it alone. Exhibitors look to each other for insight and attendees
were seeking solutions not just products.
On one hand it was interesting to see that business today looks like something right out of the future …
iPads, iPods, You-Tube, Facebook, webcasts, virtual manufacturing and virtual trade shows. We all want
to get the next great device so that we are in the game. On the other hand, it occurs to me that as we
ride the technology wave people are realizing that good business remains same.
In a sense, it’s back to basics… back to a time when the good old fashion face to face carried the day
and personal integrity was the only contract needed. Whether you call it networking or partnering,
we all need this interaction to stay in the game. It is this interaction between people that sets the
direction for what’s next. We learn from others and are inspired by others. The 2010 show brought us
all together and for it, the industry benefits.
I look forward to seeing you all at the next event.
Email us your comments or share your successes. I look forward to hearing from you. blog@northwayind.com
Poster: Donald O'Hora CEO
434 Paxtonville Road, P.O. Box 277
Middleburg, PA 17842
(570) 837-1564 / Fax (570) 837-1575
sales@northwayind.com
Middleburg, PA 17842
(570) 837-1564 / Fax (570) 837-1575
sales@northwayind.com
Copyright 2003-2012 Northway Industries, Inc.
All rights reserved
All rights reserved