Join In No. 33

In this edition of Join In, we look at why Lead Member for Windows Cliff Thrumble is investing in certification, we call for entries to the Wood Awards 2011, and we look at the progress of the BWF's new marketing agency thus far.  We also have our regular helpline slots focussing on CE Marking and Factory Production Control, and checking your wood machinery. 

Don't forget that the next edition of Join In will be the day of the Royal Wedding. We have issued guidance about paying your staff for this extra bank holiday (make sure you've logged in to view).  Members' Day is just 34 days away. Make sure you've booked your place for this unmissable event on 19th May in Loughborough. 

Regards,  Richard Lambert Chief Executive

Wearing A Badge Will Save Your Business

Cliff Thrumble, Lead Member for Windows

In the good old days you just told your client how long you have been making windows and you know what you are doing, and they were happy.

My company, Boyland Joinery, is 50 years old this year (happy birthday to us), but that half a century of experience doesn’t matter anymore – we now have to prove it.

The larger house builders and housing associations want to see certification on our quality management systems (ISO 9001), environmental management systems (ISO 14001) and for our timber windows (BSI Kitemark). Furthermore, just about all new sites are asking for Secured by Design, not just for casement windows but for sliding sash windows, and doorsets (both single leaves and pairs).

If that was not bad enough, even Mr & Mrs Smith know what they are talking about, “Is the timber FSC and is the window energy rated?”

Basically for us to operate we need badges and a lot of them – and if we need them I’m quite sure you will too. Even if you currently trade without certification, very soon most customers will demand it, and more importantly, you competitors will have it. As a customer, who would you choose?

I’m sure you have invested in computers, new machines or staff, but if you don’t invest in getting the badges and certification to provide assurances, all the other investment you have made will be worthless.

Many of you are probably daunted by the process or lack the time to research certification, spending hours talking to test houses and various other bodies about costs and how to do it on your own. This is unnecessary – do what I did and use the BWF to do the legwork.

Only at the end of the phone, the BWF has the technical services in place to get you through certification. As they have the industry contacts, you will invariably find it cheaper, and most certainly easier.

Once you have the badges, then you can join schemes such as the Wood Window Alliance, which is a very powerful voice in the industry. Using its marketing information and clout, can really make you stand out.

For your business to survive you need to invest in badges and you need to start now. Ring the BWF today.

The BWF has a range of certifications and accreditations that allow members to stand out form the crowd. Visit our website to explore the certifications available and look at our Total Support Services pages. 

BWF Members’ Day Workshop E: “Getting the Certifications Your Clients Are Looking For” will explore the range of badges and certifications available to you. Make sure you book a place at the event in Loughborough on 19th May at www.bwf.org.uk/membersday. Members' Day is sponsored by Vetrotech and CITB-ConstructionSkills 

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Call For Craftsmanship Entries In The Wood Awards 2011

Lucy Kamall, Character Communication Ltd on behalf of the Wood Awards 2011

“You don’t get craftsmen like in the old days”. That, or something very similar is heard all too often when modern workmen are being discussed. Whilst there are inevitably examples of bad craftsmanship available to support this opening statement, it must be argued that there are indeed many craftsmen who are capable of working to the highest standards. It is these high standards which are recognised and celebrated by the Wood Awards.

A challenge that the Wood Awards judging panel faces every year is how to compare the craftsmanship in very different projects; how does that involved in fitting out the auditorium in King’s Place compare with that required for Freya’s Cabin? The answer, of course, is that it doesn’t. The important thing is to decide whether the craftsmanship is appropriate for the project and that it is as good as it could be.

The judges have said that the impression they get from some of the joinery they see every year is that the craftsman not only loved his work but had been given the time and opportunity to do it to the best of their ability. One of their early experiences was with BWF Member Company E A Higginson’s ‘Flame Feature Staircase’, an effortlessly simple and elegant solution, executed with such attention to detail that it set the bar for quality not only in joinery but also design and was a testament to the teamwork between all the companies involved.

Whatever the requirements of a particular project, one essential component of craftsmanship is a high level of skill. This is likely to be attained by individuals only after a considerable time spent honing the techniques learnt early in their careers and by gaining new skills along the way, and inevitably supported by organisations such as the BWF; a long-standing and essential supporter of the Awards.

Craftsmanship is as strong as ever, and this is evident in many of the projects often shortlisted by the judges in the Wood Awards, but it needs to be nurtured in order to be seen and appreciated.  And to get the very best results it must go hand in hand with the high standard of detailing that will make a project stand out head and shoulders above the rest. 

Any company involved in the construction of a project – large or small – completed since early 2010 can, with the permission of the building owner, enter the Wood Awards. There is no entry fee and projects can be submitted at www.woodawards.com using the easy online form. The Wood Awards is calling for entries which demonstrate true craftsmanship so make sure your projects are in before the Call for Entries close on 27th May.

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Improving Member Experience and Providing Business Support

Helen Boulton, PR Consultant, Liz Male Consulting Ltd

It’s been a busy few months for us as the newly appointed BWF Marketing contingent.  Our brief for this year is to focus on improving your experiences of membership and making sure you get the best possible business support from the BWF.

Richard Lamberthas been busy penning away and is appearing in Glass & Glazing Products magazine shortly, giving invaluable advice to members and the industry on the upcoming changes to Part L and the introduction of compulsory CE marking. He is also due to appear in Housing Association and Building Maintenance Magazine next month discussing the new BWF Stair Scheme, so keep an eye out for this too.  There will also be a more personal profile of him in TTJ at the end of May as part of its Face-to-Face series.

We’re also busy finalising the finishing touches to the newly updated BWF Health and Safety guide. Due to be officially launched at Members’ Day next month, this is the first revision to the guide in five years, so be sure to keep an eye out for your free downloads and plan to update your records soon.

We have been asked to conduct a membership growth programme by the BWF, which kick-started last month with some initial research. We have spoken with lapsed members and non-members and have found that the overall perception of the BWF is very positive. The BWF is seen as valuable and insightful, but lapsed members aren’t able to prioritise budget for their memberships any more due to financial or business difficulties. This has helped us begin to uncover new ways for the BWF to help you as members, focusing on support through these troubled industry times. The BWF holds incredible business knowledge and industry expertise and we will be working hard to make sure that this is shared with you in practical, useful ways over the coming months.

The BWF will continue to sponsor the Wood Awards in 2011 and call for your entries and support. You are able to submit your projects through the Wood Awards website up until the 27th May, please visit www.woodawards.com for further information.

Meanwhile, we have been looking at ways to improve the BWF website for you. Our brief is to focus on developments which will drive more business to your door. Our work currently includes a much improved search function, to help increase your visibility to potential clients who might visit the website. We are also undertaking lots of Search Engine Optimisation to help drive new traffic to the website and expose your company profiles to an even wider, but more targeted audience. Liz Male and our team are looking forward to showing you some of the new website ideas at the upcoming Members’ Day in May.

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From The Technical Helpline: Why Will CE Marking And Factory Production Control Be Required, And How Will This Affect My Business?

Kevin Underwood, BWF Technical Manager

Under the Construction Products Regulation, when a manufacturer makes a declaration of the performance for CE marking, the level of performance stated will be determined under a varying scale of requirements for testing and auditing. These are known as ‘systems of assessment and verification of constancy of performance’ and they range on a spectrum from system 1+ (the most onerous) to level 4 (the least onerous).

For example, under the BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme, the certification of a fire door assembly is assessed by a process similar to system 1+ as it requires the manufacturer to have in place Factory Production Control (FPC), which is incorporated into a certified ISO 9001 system. CERTIFIRE (effectively taking the role of the notified body) undertake initial product testing, inspection of the manufacturing plant and FPC, continuing auditing of the FPC, and audit testing of samples. Within the BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme however, the manufacturer is not required to undertake their own in-house sample testing.

The responsibilities under these systems are split between the manufacturer and a notified body – an organisation that has been confirmed as capable of performing its duties of testing, assessment and auditing. These responsibilities and how they apply under the various systems is shown in the table below:

As can be seen in the table, all systems require the manufacturer to have in place FPC procedures.

The FPC procedures are intended to allow the manufacturer to maintain consistency in quality and to keep records of non-conforming products, processes or materials in order to make improvements.  There is not a fixed routine to follow as the FPC procedures need to be directly related to the manufacturing process which can vary from business to business.

A typical FPC procedure will require that:

• Testing, weighing and measuring equipment shall be calibrated and regularly inspected.
• Manufacturing equipment shall be inspected and maintained
• Specifications for incoming materials and components shall be documented and materials and components shall be inspected
• The manufacturing process shall be documented, identifying individuals responsible and checking procedures. Records shall be kept of checks, their results and corrective actions
• The manufacturer shall establish procedures for the inspection of parts within the manufacturing process and of finished items
• The manufacture shall have procedures for dealing with non-conforming products.

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From The General Helpline: When Should I Check My Woodworking Machinery?

Matthew Mahony, BWF Policy Executive

Readers of News Update, and members who regularly log-in to the BWF website, will be aware that the cost of workplace injuries involving woodworking equipment can be devastating in both financial and personal terms, as these two recent examples illustrate:

Article: Firm Fined After Worker's Thumb and Finger Sown Off In Joinery Workshop

Article: Joinery Firm Fined £15,000 After Circular Saw Accident

For the majority of woodworking machinery, there is a clear risk of injury if the equipment is not kept in good working order.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require equipment where necessary to be inspected. It is therefore recommended that all woodworking equipment be inspected at regular intervals.  The inspection interval is flexible and may vary from machine to machine, but, in order to avoid confusion and ensure that all machinery is kept in good working order, it may suit your workplace for inspections to be carried out on a weekly basis for all machines. LEV (including spray booths) must also be thoroughly examined and tested at least once every 14 months.

You may find it appropriate to tie your equipment inspections in with your maintenance regime.  A competent person should determine, for each piece of machinery, when it should be inspected and what should be inspected. It is also necessary to have a competent person carrying out the inspection.

An inspection will vary depending on the risk but will usually include the following:

• Tooling is correctly fitted and secured
• Guarding is correctly fitted and secured
• Guarding is in good order
• Safety systems are in place e.g. riving knife
• Equipment is clear of waste materials
• The right cutter is in place
• Cutters are in good condition
• Lubrication systems are in good order
• Operating systems are in good order
• Local Exhaust Ventilation is in good order.