Conference summarising the training project 'Enhancing the competitiveness of the wood industry companies'

The participants of the conference were: entrepreneurs who run business in wood and furniture industries, representatives  of local government units, entrepreneurs' and employers'  organisations, development organisations, subcontractors involved in project realisation

Under media patronage of 
Gazeta Drzewna Polski Holz-Zentralblatt

The  aim of the conference was to present results of project, paying special attention to presentation of examples of good  practices, concerning management system in micro, small and medium enterprises  as well as cooperation with big companies. "The guide of good practices, management systems in Micro Small Medium Enterprise of wood industry"  was presented. It contained  particular kind of information  and didactic materials, which presented knowledge and practical aspects  in scope of management of micro, small and medium companies of wood  and furniture industry. It has considerable meaning as the effect of the project, because of the fact that it presents management methods which are  desirable  in Polish conditions  and worth recommendation. It was  to  emerge from its participants the leaders of good practices

There were 122 participants of the conference, and the programme encompassed:

•  a paper entitled: „Wood market in Poland - trends and challenges",  given by  Asst. Prof. Ewa Ratajczak, DSc Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs,
• a presentation by Jolanta Jackowiak, Manager of the Project, Vice-President of the Board  of F5 Konsulting Sp z o.o. concerning project results entitled "Enhancing  the competitiveness of the  wood industry companies",
• information given by   Artur Olszewski, Deputy Director of European Funds Department  F5 Konsulting Sp z o.o.  about possibilities of supporting  the development of the wood and furniture  companies  from European funds resources in 2007-2013,
• lecture by Beata Matczak, Coordinator of the Project, Consultant of European Funds F5 Department Konsulting Sp z o.o., presenting  the guide of  good practises,
• Diploma for  Leaders of  good practices handed by Artur Marczewski, PhD, Vice- President of Polish Agency for Enterprise Development. A speech  concerning  support for  human resources  development,
• presentation by Mariusz Lipkowski, the owner of consultation and training group FALCO entitled: "Improvement of  management  skills concerning human resources in wood and furniture industry- advantages"

Also  press conference  took place, during which representatives of conference organisers were responding  to  journalists questions

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Training project entitled "Enhancing  the competitiveness of the  wood industry companies" was realised in 2005-2007 by order of Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, co-financed by the European Union within  European Social Fund, implemented  in the frame of Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resource Development  - Action 2.3. „Development of human resources in modern economy", scheme b) Promotion of system solutions in the scope of adaptive capability development and the  knowledge based economy".

The consortium's  goal concerning trainings for wood sector was to be done by:

• F5 Konsulting Sp. z o.o. (Consortium Leader),
• Wood Technology Institute,
• Foundation for the Development of Local Democracy,

with participation  of priced lecturers, knowing specificity of wood sector and also micro small and medium enterprises

PARTICIPANTS  OF THE PROJECT
Participants of the project  were wood and furniture  companies  from Poland:

• main target group encompassed  micro, small and medium companies,
• target group of beneficiaries were enlarged  by the companies cooperating  directly with wood and furniture sector (pulp and paper industry, forestry, trade and service companies etc.).

The participants structure:: 
54%  - small and medium companies, 
41%  - micro companies, 
5%  - large companies.

TRAININGS
The most interesting  for entrepreneurs were training subjects  connected with Quality Management System, sales techniques, basic knowledge about negotiations, introduction of rules of team cooperation and communication, analysis of the changes in  company's legal environment, widely understood communication in the company, and  also cost account,  management and organisation of working time. In addition  employers from wood sector were willing to invest in deepening  knowledge and enhancing qualifications of new employees in scope of cutting  trees  and production of wood raw material, servicing frame sawing machines, internal combustion saw or motor-driven trucks, and also classification of lumber and wood drying.

The advantage of  used   training system for entrepreneurs from wood sector  was  the fact that in large extent   trainings were "closed" (means that they were  carried out for special orders from particular companies, also in company's headquarters). Thanks to that solution, many workers had been trained within disciplines that were identified as necessary  for development of particular company.

The Programme included 3  components:

• Component I - trainings aiming to improvement widely understood  company management system 
  - 442 trainings (48,30%)
• Component II - trainings acquainting management of micro, small, and medium enterprises with requirements and expectations of corporations as far as it  concerns  cooperation with potential subcontractors 
  - 187 trainings (20,44%)  
• Component III -Vocational training concerning wood and its processing techniques 
  - 286 trainings (31,26%) 

From June  2006 to November  2007 the consortium trained about  13 thd. participants  from over  750 wood and furniture Polish companies, during  almost  1600 training  days

THE GUIDE OF GOOD  PRACTISES
Important effect of project realisation was issuing "The guide of good  practises" in scope of management systems in micro, small and medium enterprises sector of wood industry. Starting point of its realisation was  the benchmarking idea, which relied on  creative "following" good patterns and adaptation of  solutions already  checked in practice. 
The aim  of realisation was diffusion of knowledge about "good practises" thanks to which the increase of competitiveness, for the  whole wood sector and particular producers   on domestic and international market, will be possible.

Leaders of  Good Practices were emerged within the project,   (those were companies which showed that  systems  they apply are effective and worth following)

The Leaders of Good Practises:

• Fabryka Mebli - Dariusz Mikołajczyk
• Przedsiębiorstwo PHU Kania
• Suwalskie PPH WITAL Kolenkiewicz, Uździło Sp. j.
• Tartak i Zakład Stolarski Janina i Wacław Witkowscy Sp. j.
• Usługowo-Produkcyjny Zakład Stolarski CHATA Wakuła Tadeusz
• DREWPOL Sp. z o. o.
• Warsztat Stolarski Gról Łucjan
• Zakład Stolarstwa Ogólnego KON-STOL S.c.
• Zakład Stolarski Włodzimierz i Jerzy Głubisz S.c.
• Zakład Tartaczno-Stolarski Maria Wełna

OTHER RESULTS OF THE PROJECT:

• increasing employees qualifications, what is the basis for enhancing the competitiveness
• possibility of  direct cooperation  between small, medium and big companies
• participation in trainings  of workers: who were not very  willing to take part in, and whose   access to knowledge was limited
• trainings also took place in the  country-sides

CRUCIAL SUCCESS FACTORS:

• identifying training needs of the beneficiary
• cooperation with institutions and units who act  in wood and furniture sector
• activities concentrated on achieving defined goals
• orientation on beneficiary
• positive cooperation with Polish Agency for Enterprise Development
• effective project  organisation and management processes
• building atmosphere promoting  creativeness and  innovativeness
• adjusting organisational structure and procedures to targets and specificity of the project
• detailed operational schedule of activities
• ongoing quality control
• risk and  changes management
• building project image
• dynamic promotional activities, aimed on recruitment - directed sales
• training programmes  adjusted to beneficiaries needs