For Release
November 16, 2007
Vancouver, British Columbia — The Government of
Canada today announced an investment of $126,000 toward FPInnovations
to expand the Woodmark Quality Certification Program. This quality management
program is the first of its kind and will trademark and promote British
Columbia’s value-added wood products abroad.
Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country, made the announcement
on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s
Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister
of Western Economic Diversification.
“Our Government is standing up for Canada’s traditional industries,”
said MP Cannan. “This investment will help brand and promote Canada’s
top-quality value-added wood products and help businesses across British
Columbia reach the global marketplace.”
The Woodmark Quality Certification Program is designed to improve the
competitiveness of Canada’s kitchen cabinet and furniture manufacturing
industry by applying quality standards and best practices to their manufacturing
process. The certification process consists of developing a trademark
and evaluating a company's quality management systems against set standards.
Through this process, the excellence and reputation of Canadian wood products
will be promoted to the global marketplace.
“The major focus of the Woodmark Quality program is to bring best
practices and quality assurance techniques to businesses in the wood products
sector,” says Roland Baumeister, Manager of Value-Added Manufacturing,
FPInnovations. “When companies implement these techniques, they
can reduce their amount of rework, increase product quality and improve
productivity – all essential elements to survival in this extremely
competitive market.”
FPInnovations’ Woodmark Quality Certification Program will be delivered
by: establishing a trademark and logo; developing marketing materials
and a trade booth; and travelling to industry events to promote the Woodmark
program. The program is also supported by a further $51,500 from FP Innovations.
The value-added wood products sector includes millwork, furniture, flooring,
kitchen cabinets, housing components, component parts such as stairs,
windows, doors, and wood pellets. These products are referred to as value-added
because the unfinished wood is transformed into a product that sells for
a high value.
Forintek is a division of FPInnovations, a not-for-profit research organization
involved in the wood products sector. Forintek was originally established
as Canada’s Wood Products Institute by the Government of Canada
in 1913, but was privatized as a not-for-profit research partnership in
1979. In April 2007, Forintek merged with FERIC and Paprican to become
the largest research organization focused solely on wood products research
and development.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government
of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations
and communities to promote the development and diversification of the
economy of Western Canada.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Howes
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-1318
Cel: (604)-505-6616
Mr. Roland Baumeister
Manager – Secondary Manufacturing
FPInnovations - Forintek Division
Tel: (604) 224-3221
Cel: (604) 880-2080
www.fpinnovations.ca
www.solutionsforwood.ca
