Professional_Knowledge_and_Abilities

Professional Knowledge and Abilities Woodwork Institute, formerly recognized as the Woodwork Institute of California (WIC), was established in 1951 by a group of firms to promote the use of Architectural Millwork products in California. Their early research determined that the main reason for the limited wood products in the marketplace was the lack of industry standards and quality control. They published the Manual of Millwork (MM) in 1953 that set the industry standards for materials, construction and fabrication techniques, installation, and finishing of architectural millwork. Shortly after the MM was introduced they started the Certified Compliance Program (CCP) that focused on the quality control of wood products and required five full-time "Directors of Architectural Services" (inspectors) (Woodworking Institute, 2011).. Today 80% of commercial projects in California require the compliance to the Manual of Millwork and almost 50% of those require the Certified Compliance. By 2001 the Woodwork Institute established the Monitored Compliance Program (MCP) that monitors a project's progress from start to certification at completion and which also works in conjunction with the Manual of Millwork. In 2007 the Woodwork Institute joined forces with the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) and the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers of Canada (AWMAC) to start a Joint Standards Committee (JSC) to make a joint woodworking standard for North America. These guild lines ensure that fabricated wood products and the installations comply with all specifications of the designer's and the Architectural Woodwork Standards. These standards promote sound, quality wood products for the consumer which helps ensure the future of the woodworking industry. Some of the things they do to help educate those who wish pursue a career in woodworking, is curriculum development with school administrators and financial aid in the form of a scholarship with the intent of promoting education within the industry. "The Woodwork Institute has programs intended to promote education in the trade of architectural millwork by helping educators and school administrators develop an effective curriculum, and by providing financial aid to students of the trade through the C.E. Bernhauer, Jr. Scholarship Foundation" (Woodworking Institute, 2011). The Woodworking Institute has an initiative to continue enforcing guild lines and standards on the woodworking industry to ensure that consumers, designers, and architects receive a quality product consistently. It is organizations like this that help improve manufacturing techniques that enable industries to grow and become more efficient in the process that in turns betters our economy.