GRANITE FABRICATOR

How green is the granite industry

2006-04-29T06:15:00.000-11:00

How environmentally green is granite for building! At first glance I said “very green”, there is an endless supply, and it last fore ever. Then I remembered flying over a paper bag plant that discharged waste water into Lake Michigan and killed everything around, recognizing the negative environmental impact and thinking “I wonder if at the grocery store I really should be asking for paper bags instead of plastic?” (This was before the idea of using cloth bags). The point is, there is much to consider when determining how different products effect the environment. The jury is preparing for deliberation. There is a unique opportunity to have input and assist the green movement as they prepare to evaluate the slab granite industry. Where the rubber meets the road is in public perception. There is an opportunity to spearhead industry wide policies that will encourage a positive perception of our industry and positively effect our cost of goods. We need to identify the green building organizations that will be most influential in determining our ranking amongst alternative products and assistance them in accumulating research data so an accurate determination can be made.

The factors and process to compare building materials are defined, numerous and complicated. The two most important are life cycle assessment and life cycle cost. What we need to recognize is how important accurate data will be in determine our positioning amongst laminates, or other cultured products. The leaders of the industries that compete with us for market share are well organized and have positioning themselves within the green movement to influence outcomes and determinations. Please understand, I am not suggesting anyone is doing anything inappropriate. What I am saying is we need an equivalent voice in the process and I am prepared to do what I can to ensure we have that voice. Formica Co. is busy telling how they are greener than you. This ranking is important. The reason for high positioning relative to our competition is for the coveted specification. This site is a perfect example of why we need to get our message out. (So you don’t have to cut and paste look under links green home guide). http://greatlakes.greenhomeguide.com/index.php/knowhow/entry/893/ If the client tells the architect that they want a green building you want natural stone to be at the top of the list for consideration.

As representatives of our industry it is our responsibility to be environmentally respectful and to communicate our socially responsible attitudes and efforts to our communities. An obvious example could be that you recover and recycle up to 100% of your water in the manufacturing process and explain to the media (or anyone who will listen) that Mother Earth News touts the benefits that only granite dust can provide for gardening soil and you’re looking for nursery’s to pick up your bagged granite dust. http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1988_November_December/Grow_Powder After you get a nursery picking up your dust you can suggest they look into buying a crusher and give them your waste slab material to pulverize into ornamental landscaping stone. As an industry we need to work with our suppliers and figure a way to reclaim our waste product and put it in our roads or gardens, not in our landfills. I have other ideas to put a smile on the face of environmentalist and will share them soon.

Another important fact is most countertops are not specified but are chosen, by a home owner or designers. In all the million dollar homes or the average homes I have worked in, I have only worked with only one architect. I want these decision makers to have a good perception of our business. These clients are very happy to hear about the positive green aspects of the products there choosing. If your sales staff understands and knows the facts about green products it will differentiate you from your competition.

We need to keep ourselves informed about new products and really be able to understand how the green industry is accepting them. Our web site is under development, we surely will have a green page.

Silica dust testing

2006-04-28T02:34:00.000-11:00

The question is not if, the question is when. Silica dust testing will be part of our business day, probably very soon. We need to stay informed and be proactive, it will be way less painful. The truth of the matter is if we are proactive there are many benefits. Our group will spear head a well orchestrated initiative to prepare its members to be in the lead on this issue.

With the onslaught of attorneys extorting money from our insurance companies in silicosis cases and a 1999 IOSH report indicating the dimensional stone industry has a 50% higher incident illness known as silicosis, OSHA will be testing your factory for dangerous levels of air born silica. Already OSHA’s Allentown, Pennsylvania office has implemented what they refer to as a local emphasis program (LEP) to inspect all dimensional stone fabricators and test air born silica levels.

As an elected delegate to the most recent White House Conference for Small Business I had a minor role in convincing OSHA of the benefits in helping business comply with regulations rather than hitting them over the head with a big stick. This idea is demonstrated in remarks of Joseph A. Dear, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, before the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee. “We will now measure our success as an agency by our success in making real safety and health improvements, such as identifying and abating hazards and reducing the number of injuries and illnesses in the workplace. As an example of how OSHA is focusing on results instead of red tape, OSHA no longer cites employers who have failed to put up the required OSHA poster, we simply give them a poster”. OSHA has a vested interest in assisting us in implementing procedures to verify our conformity and has demonstrated a willingness do so. By our direct involvement and a proactive initiative we will be able to influence the cost of testing and significantly reduce or eliminate the expense of fines associated with silica issues.

The proper initiative will demonstrate to our employees the value we place on there health and general welfare. If we where to prepare a press release to our community papers we would see a positive response on the community level. Other benefits will be a positive relationship with OSHA and a clear message to our insurers that we have an elevated social conscious and are prepared to be a proactive force in American Industry.

We will be contacting OSHA to facilitate conversation regarding a national program that will enable us to take the lead on the silica in the work place issue. Further information on controlling silica in the work place can be obtained at http://www.osha.gov/Silica/it69a.html

2006-04-26T04:26:00.000-11:00

Usually a new business is started because an entrepreneur recognizes a need for a better product. The demand for granite has exploded, and as with any exploding industry there is fantastic opportunity. As our industry matures we will need to be better business people. Where we put our effort will be the major factor as to how successful we will be.

All of us start a business for different reasons. The one thing we all have in common is the belief we can do it better, cheaper or faster. Our new granite fabricators association believes that we can do the same. We will reinvent the way an association works.

What has caused the remarkable growth in our industry? The obvious is to say "demand". Demand for granite has grown because more people can afford it. The price is dropping causing increased accessibility to consumers, what is driving this? The short answer is technology, the methods to process granite continue to improve, the result is a cheaper, better product that can be delivered faster. Our association will use technology to do the same.

We will develop methods to deliver a better product, cheaper and faster. Our members will have a clear advantage over fabricators that choose not to belong. We believe the business aspect of your operation will experience a similar technological boom that the processing side has experienced. CEO’s of major corporations are scrambling to become part of the most recent trend of blogging. Blogs are changing the way businesses talk to customers. You might be saying “what is a blog”. That is the point, the world of business is changing faster than we can imagine. We will explore new ideas and new technology, and then present to you the trends that will deliver the best return on effort (R.O.E.).

The granite fabrication industry will be the leader in the developing a new business model for the 21^st century and your fabricators association will be the vehicle used to deliver the tools needed to achieve it. Focus is the key. Investment experts all agree that one of the most important factors that affect rate of return is asset allocation mix. The Percentage of money you allocate in each type of investment is most important. The same is true with the allocation of our focus and efforts. We need to regularly evaluate and determine if our efforts and money are allocated properly. We will provide the tools that will help you to measure your efforts, so you adjust them for maximum return on effort. It all begins with belonging and being connected. We want to do what is best for the membership; we need to know what you are thinking. We will listen intently and will always do what is in your best interest Let’s have some open and transparent communication. Please comment! or email me rupas@yahoo.com