Directors Message - Pushing Our Industry to Greater Heights

The powder coating industry has been very busy this year. While business has been brisk, it hasn’t been without its challenges. One of the most prominent challenges for our businesses today is that of retaining and attracting a skilled workforce. In many cases, this issue is forcing top management to reevaluate to ensure their cultures and benefits are inviting. Attracting a qualified and motivated workforce is going to require more reflection and analysis by senior leadership than ever before.

Leadership will need to evaluate workplace satisfaction and can start by considering some of the following:

• Address micromanagement concerns.
• Generate more flexible work hours where possible.
• Address toxic environments, require a respectful atmosphere.
• Learn employees’ strengths, carefully align roles and responsibilities accordingly.
• Provide the training and tools necessary for employees to succeed.
• Provide opportunities for career advancement.
• Set goals, then motivate, reward, and share achievements.
• Seek input from employees; give them a voice.
• Exhibit a sense of pride in the business and the upkeep of the facility.

It is important to remember that addressing challenges builds greater strength and resilience. This specific challenge will bring about better workplaces for the future. While developing a strong corporate culture can be challenging, not doing so will be very detrimental to success in today’s business climate.

We hope that you enjoy this 2019 Buyers Guide issue. Each year our November/December issue is our Buyers Guide. It is the one that you will want to keep on hand throughout the year as a resource when issues and new opportunities arise.

Our first feature in this Buyers Guide issue highlights PCI Certification. Several PCI Certified companies speak to their reasoning for pursuing certification and how it has impacted their businesses. It’s a great read for powder applicators. If you are an industry supplier, I encourage you to read this article and then recommend certification to your high-performing powder applicators. We want to bring awareness to quality in our industry and the certification program is a very prominent avenue for this effort.

In this issue’s Technology Interchange, Kevin Biller reveals some recent advancements in powder application equipment. From gun design and gun movers to color change and reclaim systems, I am sure you can find an innovation that is helpful for your operations. Stay tuned as powder application equipment continues to evolve with future advances.

As we close in on the end of another year, let’s all take a fresh look at opportunities for improvement. I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions but let’s make a plan together and stick to it. We’ll all be better for it.

Commit to join or re-join PCI for 2019. Work with us to impact our industry with a quality message so the entire industry can continue moving forward and growing with our outstanding finishing technology.

Trena Benson, Executive Director
859-525-9988
trena@powdercoating.org