The Center, first and foremost, provides industry with ready access to a staff of technical support personnel with expertise in areas related to the wood products industry. The mission of the AHC evolves as the wood products industry in West Virginia continues to prosper and as emerging problems and issues require new solutions. The AHC operates an ongoing program of seminars and workshops on a variety of topics. Customized training is available to meet specific needs of individual clients or organizations.
Assistance also is provided in identifying and acquiring outside funding for specific training.
The AHC provides technical assistance to companies and organizations in a variety of forms and on a variety of topics. Technical areas addressed have included process and product evaluation, product development, technical and economic feasibility studies, wood residue utilization, business management, computerization, and general literature searches. This is accomplished in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and through manipulation of the forest industry database maintained by the Center. The AHC gives individual assistance to companies on compliance with OSHA, EPA, and DOT regulations. Center personnel can conduct an audit of a company's regulatory programs and prepare a plan for moving toward compliance.