Bound for Vegas

Dec. 1, 2005
RAISING THE STAKES. That's the theme for the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas January 31-February 4.

RAISING THE STAKES.

That's the theme for the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas January 31-February 4.

“We're raising safety,” assistant director Michelle Brown said. “We have a lot of workshops that deal with new legislation. The bar's being raised a bit higher in terms of safety.”

Workshops include: Wheel Separation Update, Worker's Compensation, Lean Management, Adhesives-Bonding Technologies, Customer Service, HR-Employee Handbook Review, Paint Processes, and NATM Model User's Manual.

The week begins January 31 with registration and an Early Bird Reception. The following day features the golf tournament, trade show setup, a board meeting, new member reception, and President's reception.

Thursday features a General Session, the annual membership meeting, keynote speaker Jim Craig, and the trade show. Friday and Saturday are anchored by the workshops.

Changes for this convention include:

  • The venue is being switched from the Orleans to the Las Vegas Hilton. This will allow the NATM to offer 250 booth spaces instead of 165.

  • The Nuts & Bolts session, which usually is held after lunch on Saturday, will be combined with the luncheon in the same room and will end at 2 pm, instead of 5 pm.

  • The trade show has been extended each day by an hour. Hours for Thursday are 1-6 pm instead of 1-5, and 8 am-noon instead of 9 am-noon.

Workshops

Wheel Separation Update:

“Wheels on Trailers:

Elements of Assembly Process Control”

Presenters:

Jack Klepinger, Wells Cargo
Ted Schorn, Enkei

A brief introduction to the wheel-off issue will be provided, along with the work of Trailer Safety Industry Coalition (TSIC) to date. Focus will be on the New Recommended Practice: “Process Controls for the Assembly of Wheels on Trailers,” with applications for manufacturers and dealerships.

In response to an increase in warranty claims for wheel-separation accidents on a variety of trailers, leaders of the industry and its trade groups formed the TSIC in 2004. The TSIC, formed by the NATM, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), has conducted the industry's own investigation into wheel-attachment technology and wheel-separation issues affecting trailers under 26,000 pounds GVWR and has interacted proactively with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The formation of TSIC sent a strong signal to NHTSA that the industry is interested in tackling any issues before they get too complex.

The industry groups are hoping that by coming together as one voice, they can achieve the same kind of success as the Surge Brake Coalition, which includes NATM, NMMA, American Rental Association (ARA), Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and various surge-brake manufacturers, end users, and trailer manufacturers.

The Surge Brake Coalition, co-chaired by Klepinger, submitted a petition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on February 28, 2001, asking for a review of the 1993 ruling against surge brakes and making a case that the wording should be changed to allow surge brakes for use on certain sizes of trailers and towing-vehicle combinations. Finally, on September 14, 2004, FMCSA decided to allow the use of surge brakes on trailers operated in interstate commerce, provided certain conditions are satisfied.

Customer Service:

“World Class Customer Service”

Presenter:

Jep Enck, Enck Resources

Enck will cover key customer service principles:

  • Begin at the beginning: Employees who care about excellent service are people who care about their work. Hire the right people and you will have fewer customer complaints. Make customer service questions a part of your interview process.

  • Train well: Excellent customer service comes from excellent employees. If staff are not trained at the start to identify what service is and how to provide it, it's not their fault.

  • Happiness begets happiness: Is your workplace a happy place? Do you feel confident in your colleagues' skills and commitment? When people work well together, they usually provide high-quality service.

  • Believe in your product: Nothing works better than the belief that what you do for your customers is the best. Pride and confidence in your product keep excellence on track.

  • Employees are the first customer: How management treats its staff is essential to how the customer is treated by the employee. Employees who feel valued and respected pass the good feeling on.

  • Never ever quit: The quest for excellent customer service has no finish line. There are virtually thousands of ways customers can be dazzled. Just put your feet in their shoes, and go.

  • What gets measured gets done: Quality is quantifiable. Find ways to measure what excellent service looks like, sounds like, smells like, and tastes like. How many times does the phone ring before it's answered? How fast does the paperwork get back?

  • Ask and ye shall receive: Organizations that ask for their customers' opinions about service learn more than those that don't. Don't assume you're doing a good job.

  • Reward excellence: When you hear about an excellent example of service, go directly to the individual or team that made it happen and let them know how much you appreciate it. Remember, what gets rewarded gets repeated.

  • Competition breeds mediocrity: Excellent service is generally the result of many people working together. Systems that place colleagues in competition stifle the overall sense of teamwork that has been associated with maintaining satisfied customers.

Enck is known for his dynamic, engaging style, with presentations that are remembered for their content — a blend of carefully chosen theory, useful facts, illustrative stories, and practical how-to's. (One newspaper described him as a cross between a Harvard business professor and a stand-up comic.) Listeners are always entertained yet walk away with a remarkable new wealth of information and skills.

Enck holds an M.S. in human resources from Colorado State University and has over 20 years' management and speaking experience.

Lean Management:

“Tiptoeing Through the Minefield: Lean and Six Sigma for Mid-Sized Companies”

Presenter:

Dale Billet, director of consulting, RSM McGladrey Inc

Many implementations of Lean and Six Sigma at mid-sized companies fail to achieve expected results. This presentation will describe how a mid-sized company with limited resources can successfully combine Lean and Six Sigma to dramatically improve processes. The major factors that determine success and the pitfalls that must be avoided will be identified. Real-world examples of how mid-sized companies are using these tools will be presented.

Following this presentation, participants will be able to: identify the factors that are key for success and the pitfalls to avoid in using Lean and Six Sigma tools in a mid-sized company; evaluate how their company can successfully plan and implement process improvement using Lean and Six Sigma tools; and discuss the specific approaches and benefits received from real world examples of mid-size companies utilizing Lean and Six Sigma.

Billet has 16 years consulting experience (specializing in serving mid-sized companies) and 17 years' operational experience with a variety of manufacturers and distributors. He has considerable experience in assisting mid-sized manufacturing companies in the transportation industry to improve processes through the use of Lean and Six Sigma tools. He has a B. S. in business management and an MBA from Indiana University.

Adhesive-Bonding Technologies:

“Basics of Adhesion for Trailer Manufacturers”

Presenters:

Randy Koza, technical service specialist for 3M

Mark Berman, application development specialist for 3M

Tim Clemens, advanced product development specialist for 3M

The focus will be on what trailer manufacturers should know about adhesives and how they can better use adhesives.

The basics of adhesion will be discussed: Common industry technologies, sealants/acrylic foam/structural adhesives; why adhesives work; the value of different adhesives; how evaluations are performed; how they differ from mechanical fasteners; their advantages and disadvantages.

A case study will be provided. Application will be offered for panel bonding for a smooth-sided trailer.

Koza has more than 31 years of experience at 3M in product development of advanced ceramic materials, application engineering for tape dispensing and applying equipment, and technical service for 3M VHB acrylic foam tapes. Berman has more than 30 years of experience in the development, manufacturing, and application of a variety of 3M technologies. Clemens has more than 14 years of experience in product and process development, manufacturing, and technical service support of 3M products for aerospace, electronics, and industrial markets.

Paint Processes:

Presenter:

Greg Stemley

This workshop will deal with: understanding customer expectations, cosmetic standards, salt spray/humidity, welded areas, warranty claims, types of substrates, cold roll steel, hot roll steel, aluminum preparation, sanding, media blast, solvent wash, acid wash, autophoretic pretreatment process, cleaning/degreasing, conversion coating, iron/sealer, zinc/sealer, topcoat process, spray to waste powder, quick color change for powder, waste treatment, repair process, media resources, paint and powder, metal finishing, and powder coating.

Worker's Compensation and HR-Employee Handbook Review:

Presenter:

Mark Travis, Wimberly Lawson

Keynote Speaker

Jim Craig
Thursday, 9:45-11:15 am.

Craig, 45, is a market service consultant and senior vice president of business development for Keystone Incentives in Easton, Massachusetts.

You might know him as one of the heroes on the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that stunningly won the gold medal.

During two incredible weeks in February 1980, 20 college kids headed to Lake Placid, New York, to be coached by Herb Brooks, one of the great motivators and taskmasters. During those two weeks, they gave a discouraged America — unnerved by the plight of 52 hostages held by Iran — a renewed sense of pride.

One of the indelible images of the euphoric celebration after they defeated Finland to capture the gold medal was that of goalie Craig draped in the Stars and Stripes, searching the crowd for his father.

Walt Disney adapted the story of the “Miracle on Ice” into a feature-length film, Miracle, which was released in February 2004 and stars Kurt Russell as Brooks and Eddie Cahill as Craig.

After the Olympics, Craig went on to play several seasons in the NHL with the Atlanta Flames, Boston Bruins, and Minnesota North Stars. He is a member of the United States Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

Craig resides in North Easton, Massachusetts, with his wife and two children.

Golf

The tournament is set for Wednesday at 9 am with a shotgun start at Angel Park Golf Club, which features 36 holes of championship golf designed by Arnold Palmer, the Cloud Nine Short Course, and the world's original natural grass Putting Course. Both the Cloud Nine and putting course are lighted for evening enjoyment.

Angel Park has been named Best Golf Course in Las Vegas in the “Best of Las Vegas” Las Vegas Review Journal Readers Poll (11 out of the past 12 years) and “Favorite Golf Course” in Las Vegas by visiting golfers (as nominated by What's On Magazine Visitor Choice Awards).

Awards will be presented for first, second and third place, longest drive, longest putt, and closest to the pin. The format is a four-person scramble.

Callaway X-16 irons are available to rent for $40 per set.

Space for an additional 85 exhibitors this year

Company Booth # 3M 123, 125 5/A Baker/Safeview Systems 214 A.L. Hansen Mfg Co 361 Active Technology 227 Al-Ko Kober Corp 137, 139 Allied Tube & Conduit 222, 224, Aluminum Line Product Company 219 American Bank Note Company 347 American Trailer Parts 115 Amerimax Building Products 229 Atwood Mobile Products 211, 213, 215 Axis Products Inc 538 BASF Corporation 322 Bauer Products 232 BB & T — Pruden Insurance Services Inc 433 Bearden Innovations 432 Bearing Buddy Inc 417 Best Fender Products/Champagne Metals 543, 545, 644, 642 Blaylock Trailer Products 226 Bunkaps by Harley Corp 522 Buyers Products Company 300, 302 C.E. Smith Company Inc 525 C.R. Brophy Machine Works Inc 625 Carlisle Industrial Brake 337 Carlisle Tire & Wheel 339, 438, Cast Products Inc 355, 357 Cequent Commerical 314, 316, 318 Clancey Hardware & Hinge 351 Command Electronics 233 Crysteel Manufacturing Inc 216 Curt Mfg 234 Custer Products Ltd 401 Dexter Axle 338, 336 DuPont Company 523, 622, Dutton-Lainson Company 223 Eastern Metal Supply 724, 726 Eaz-Lift Spring Corp 728 Elixir Industries 135, 133 Endura Mfg Co Ltd 504 Engineered Components Company 202 EXLTUBE 512 Fiber-Tech Industries Inc 437 Flitz International Ltd 200 Force Electronics 228 Freedom Axle Inc 310 Gate Flexor Inc 734 GE Commercial Dist. Finance 742 Geocel Corporation 419 Global Advantage 400 Globe Specialty Co 443, 542 Greenball Corp 127, 129, 131, Grote Industries 209 H.E. Parmer Co Inc 516, 518 Hayes Lemmerz International 349 HE&M Saw 230 Hehr Interntional 426 Hickory Springs Mfg Co / JSI Corp 658, 660 HiSpec Wheel & Tire 326 Holland 1916 235 The Holland Group 107, 105 Hopkins Manufacturing Corp 445 HWH Corporation 645 Imperial Stamping Corp 554 Integrity Products.us 101 International Extrusions 323 ITW Bee Leitzke 327 JR Products 624 KampCo Steel Products Inc 317, 319, 416, 418 Kenny & Gyl Company 500 Kodiak Trailer Components 225 L & H Threaded Rods Corp 436 Laclede Chain Mfg Co 460 Lippert Components Inc 506, 508 Lucky ‘B’ Manufacturing Inc 623, 722 M & B Supply Inc 324 M-3 & Associates 359 Marmon/Keystone Corporation 461 Maxi-Seal Harness Systems 331 Metalwest LLC 442 Mishawaka Sheet Metal Inc 510 Mize & Company 328 Nordec Inc 212 North West Rubber 524 Nudo Products Inc 444 Obe Co Inc 434 Optronics Inc 111, 113 Orrco International 236 P.M.C.S. Inc 738 Pacific Cargo Control 353 Pacific Rim International, LLC 502 Paktron Products 332 PDG Associates Inc 325 Peterson Manufacturing 333, 335 Philips Products 237, 239 Phillips Industries 435 Phoenix Stamping Group, LLC 748 Plastics By Design Inc 514 Powerbrace Corporation 643 PPG Industries 423, 425 Premier Lights, LLC 424 QDS/Henschen 413 Quality Trailer Products 218 Redneck Trailer Supplies 117, 119 Rigidized Metals Corporation 329 Robin Industries Inc 744 Ryadon Inc 750 Scorpion Protective Coatings 537, 539, 636, 638 Seal Rite Inc 736 Service Plus Distributors (SPD) 730 Shelby Industries 760 Sierra Products Inc 530 Statewide Aluminum 238 Superdrive 639 Textron Financial Corp 447 Tie Down Engineering Inc 422 Timbren Industries Inc 415 Tredit Tire & Wheel Company Inc 439 Trimax/Wyers Products Group 217 Ultra-Fab Products 627 Unified Marine Inc 544, 546 US Wheel Corp 231 USA Harness Inc 201 Vacation Vehicle Mfg 109 Valspar Corporation 343, 345 Whitesell Fasteners 334

NATM 2006 agenda

Tuesday — January 31, 20063-8 pm Registration 6-7:30 pm Early Bird Reception Wednesday — February 1, 20068 am Golf Tournament Angel Park 9 am Shotgun Start 3-6 pm Trade Show set-up (Security will be provided, badges required for admittance) 1-7 pm Registration 3-5 pm Board Meeting 6-7 pm New Member Reception 7-9 pm President's Reception Thursday — February 2, 20067 am-4 pm Registration 8-9 am Breakfast 9-11:15 am General Session 9-9:45 am Annual Membership Meeting — President's Annual Report
— Financial Report
— Compliance Update
— TSIC Update
— Benchmarking 9:45-11:15 am Keynote Speaker: Jim Craig 11:30-1 pm Golf Awards Luncheon 1-6 pm Trade Show 4:30-6 pm Reception Friday — February 3, 20068 am-5 pm Registration 8-Noon Trade Show (Breakfast in the Trade Show) 11:30-Noon Door Prizes (Grand Prize - $2,500 Vacation package)
(Regular members only — must be present to win)
Noon-1 pm Awards Luncheon 1:30-3 pm Workshops • Workers' Compensation
• Adhesives - Bonding Technologies
• Wheel Separation Update
• Customer Service 3-3:30 pm Break 3:30-5 pm Workshops (Same as above) Saturday — February 4, 20067:30-8:30 am Breakfast 8:30-10 am Workshops • HR - Employee Handbook Review
• Paint Processes
• NATM Model User's Manual
• Wheel Separation Update 10-10:30 am Break 10:30-Noon Workshops (Same as above) Noon-2 pm Luncheon / Nuts & Bolts 6 pm-9 pm Saturday Night Gala
About the Author

Rick Weber | Associate Editor

Rick Weber has been an associate editor for Trailer/Body Builders since February 2000. A national award-winning sportswriter, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Fort Myers News-Press following service with publications in California and Australia. He is a graduate of Penn State University.