Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
The wood products industry is stronger today than it was a year ago, according to Allyn Ford.
The president and chief executive officer of Roseburg Forest Products addressed the state of the industry at Monday's Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce Noon Forum. He described the last 12 months as exciting and unique.
Record prices, production and demand, created by low interest rates that caused a boom in housing and construction made it happen, he said.
"This has been the perfect storm," Ford said.
It's also been a continuing storm, surprisingly. Ford said he expected interest rates to rise by the start of 2005 and housing demand to drop. The hit hasn't been there like expected, he said, and long-term mortgage rates have held steady.
RFP is running at capacity in all its mills, Ford said, and extended shifts have been added in recent years. As a result, Ford said, wood products workers "probably got all the overtime they want."
At the same time, that work force continues to change. It might only take one person to run $80 million worth of equipment and products today, he said.
The stereotype of a large man pulling green chain is long gone.
"Increasingly, we're talking about computer techs," he said. "It's become extremely technical and extremely complicated."
The same can be said for finding those workers. Ford called it a struggle to fill open positions with qualified workers. He said standards are continually rising, especially with technology making innovations obsolete within three years.
Standards need to rise for local mills to compete in a global marketplace.
"We're competing with China. We're competing with Brazil. We're competing with Chile. We're competing with people paying a dollar a day," he said.
This has required a change in management concepts as well as an "upgrade" of employees. Ford said workers have been up to the task.
He said hourly wage workers are embracing the idea of taking on more responsibility in the company and industry. Working eight hours and going home just doesn't happen anymore.
"We're asking you to be more focused. We're asking you to be more committed. We're asking you to step out," he said about the employees.
The last 2 1/2 years have been strong and stable in the industry, Ford said, and he anticipates that will continue through much of 2005.
While timber has been replaced by high technology as the state's top industry, wood products is still a vital contributor to Oregon's economy, he said. It's a perception that some people don't have.
Just because the industry is old, Ford said, doesn't mean it's dying. It's sustainable, he says.
Douglas Timber Operators Executive Director Bob Ragon introduced Ford and noted Oregon is still at the top in providing most of the country's wood products.
Ford agreed and said it's proof that the industry isn't a "dinosaur."
It's important to discuss that point, especially since debate about the industry has been so polarized in recent years. There is a way, he said, to find jobs while also protecting the environment, but there has to be communication outside the courts.
"You can't sell forestry in a 30-second sound bite," he said.
* You can reach reporter Paul Craig at 957-4211 or by e-mail at pcraig@newsreview.info.
The president and chief executive officer of Roseburg Forest Products addressed the state of the industry at Monday's Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce Noon Forum. He described the last 12 months as exciting and unique.
Record prices, production and demand, created by low interest rates that caused a boom in housing and construction made it happen, he said.
"This has been the perfect storm," Ford said.
It's also been a continuing storm, surprisingly. Ford said he expected interest rates to rise by the start of 2005 and housing demand to drop. The hit hasn't been there like expected, he said, and long-term mortgage rates have held steady.
RFP is running at capacity in all its mills, Ford said, and extended shifts have been added in recent years. As a result, Ford said, wood products workers "probably got all the overtime they want."
At the same time, that work force continues to change. It might only take one person to run $80 million worth of equipment and products today, he said.
The stereotype of a large man pulling green chain is long gone.
"Increasingly, we're talking about computer techs," he said. "It's become extremely technical and extremely complicated."
The same can be said for finding those workers. Ford called it a struggle to fill open positions with qualified workers. He said standards are continually rising, especially with technology making innovations obsolete within three years.
Standards need to rise for local mills to compete in a global marketplace.
"We're competing with China. We're competing with Brazil. We're competing with Chile. We're competing with people paying a dollar a day," he said.
This has required a change in management concepts as well as an "upgrade" of employees. Ford said workers have been up to the task.
He said hourly wage workers are embracing the idea of taking on more responsibility in the company and industry. Working eight hours and going home just doesn't happen anymore.
"We're asking you to be more focused. We're asking you to be more committed. We're asking you to step out," he said about the employees.
The last 2 1/2 years have been strong and stable in the industry, Ford said, and he anticipates that will continue through much of 2005.
While timber has been replaced by high technology as the state's top industry, wood products is still a vital contributor to Oregon's economy, he said. It's a perception that some people don't have.
Just because the industry is old, Ford said, doesn't mean it's dying. It's sustainable, he says.
Douglas Timber Operators Executive Director Bob Ragon introduced Ford and noted Oregon is still at the top in providing most of the country's wood products.
Ford agreed and said it's proof that the industry isn't a "dinosaur."
It's important to discuss that point, especially since debate about the industry has been so polarized in recent years. There is a way, he said, to find jobs while also protecting the environment, but there has to be communication outside the courts.
"You can't sell forestry in a 30-second sound bite," he said.
* You can reach reporter Paul Craig at 957-4211 or by e-mail at pcraig@newsreview.info.
