AHFA summit to explore future of U.S. furniture manufacturing
Speakers include Steve Taylor, Eric Lail
Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 13, 2009
HIGH POINT - Does U.S. manufacturing have a future? Steve Taylor, director of business outreach for Mississippi State University's College of Business, thinks so. But he insists it must be "small, smart and agile" to survive.
Taylor, who also directs MSU's Technology Resource Institute, will be among the speakers at the American Home Furnishings Alliance's annual Manufacturing Summit, set for June 5 at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C.
Also on the one-day agenda are Jerry Epperson of Mann, Armistead and Epperson; Art Raymond of A.G. Raymond & Co.; Veronica Londono of American Leather; Eric Lail of Total Insight; and a panel of retailers, including Keith Koenig of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,-based City Furniture and Marc Schewel of Lynchburg, Va.-based Schewel Furniture.
Industry analyst Epperson's presentation will set the stage for summit attendees to explore issues affecting the future of domestic furniture manufacturing, the AHFA said. Raymond, a manufacturing consultant, will challenge executives to imagine "The Furniture Factory of the Future."
Londono, who oversees operations at upholstery manufacturer American Leather, will address the real-world challenges of domestic manufacturing. Her company promises customers a quality product in less than four weeks.
Lail's firm, Total Insight of Hickory, N.C., helps clients build sustainable workplace communities using Lean Enterprise methods. Lail's presentation, "Tough Times Require Value Stream Solutions," will offer examples of companies that have improved productivity, reduced lead times and increased inventory turns, while also reducing accidents and quality complaints.
Koenig and Schewel will share insights on how they make their buying decisions when choosing between products produced domestically and those made overseas.
The Summit will be preceded by the Suppliers Division Annual Golf Tournament at Grandover beginning at noon Thursday, June 4, followed by a cocktail reception and awards ceremony at 6 p.m.
Registration for the Summit is $500 per person ($99 for AHFA member company executives), which includes the June 4 reception and breakfast and lunch on June 5. An online registration form is available at www.ahfa.us under EVENTS.
Hotel reservations should be made directly with the Grandover by calling (800) 472-6301 or (336) 294-1800), or online at www.grandover.com.
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