Over the past decade, North American plywood has not paid consistent attention to delivering quality panels, and that has hurt plywood's competitive position. Basically, customers are tired of hearing that timber base changes dictate more face plugs or bigger core knots. They are used to seeing continual quality improvements from other industries, and expect plywood to deliver the same. This means that grading and certification agencies must also stand fast, resisting pressure to minimize grade parameters, while helping the industry become more efficient at certification. To succeed, the plywood industry will also need large doses of technology to reduce labor costs.
Plywood is one of the most labor intensive of all primary wood products.
Other industries have learned to apply technology to retain high quality while significantly reducing labor costs. Plywood must work with its key equipment vendors to identify and adapt these technologies to our products and processes. And we must work with our employees to embrace these changes as necessary for long-term viability. Finally, plywood needs better marketing. We are fast moving beyond the realm of commodity trading activity, into more direct contact with sophisticated users.