ffiffi4 innovationbfings to the marketplace

II/HILE the lumber industry's rich V V history is something that the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturer's Association sees great merit in preserving, it alsq values exploring ways to propel the industry into tomorrow.

Most recently, NeLMA has taken note of how innovative technology can be applied to everyday activities. By advancing the technology of its own resources and services, NgLMA is making strides to offer even deeper levels of convenience and value on behalf of its membership.

For many, witnessing how NnLMA actively incorporates innovation into the industry will soon be as easy as looking at an iPhone. With over one billion iPhone apps downloaded and roughly 65.000 applications in existence, NpLMA is well aware of the growing attraction to the iPhone among its target audience. Responding to increased interest and use, NgLMA introduces two new iPhone applications early this fall.

, The first iPhone application will be ". American Lumber Standard Commitavailable for the public to download' ,:. tee, NnLMA was the first to provide directly (free of charge) from the App .them online. Now they'll be even Store to their iPhones. The applica- more easily accessible through the tiob's purpose is to make NeLMA's ', 'iPhone. moqt popular and referenced publica- , ',,, Eastern White Pine Grade Photo tionti readily available for easy access. :,.dj /s - The materials help architects, Simfly put, the convenience of carry- isners and builders understand and ify the right grade for the right ion. At everv stase of the con-

The ion process, quick access to this lnc ation will come in very handy, iPhone especially while on site.

.Pa Eastern White Pine Brochure - A new platform showcasing the 23 standard patterns of eastern white pine on all aspects of designing and specifying EWP products for siding, paneling and other interior products.

. Standard Grading Rules for Northeastern Lumber - As one of seven lumber rules writing agencies in the U.S. & Canada accredited by the

The Architectural Series of White Pine Monographs - The revitalized monographs bring all the beauty, uses and reliable resources of eastern white pine to today's leading experts and industry consumers. With each revitalized issue readily available, the stories behind the projects are shared on a whole new level.

The focus around the first iPhone app is to offer a diverse assortment of material as well as end-use photos that are both applicable in the field and for enjoyment after a hard day's work. Delivering fresh content on a recuning basis, this app will always offer a new perspective.

The second iPhone app-proprietary for NELMA's internal operations-will significantly increase the efficiency and speed of the organization's wood packaging inspections. Through its IPPC ISPM l5 certification inspection services, NeLMA works directly with facilities that produce wood packaging materials such as boxes, crates, skids and pallets destined for use in exporting goods to countries that have implemented the International Standard for Wood Packaging.

The iPhone apps will aid NnLMA inspectors in their monthly evaluations of several types of operations:

. Wood Packaging Material ManuJacturing Facilities'. Facilities that use Heat Treated (HT) lumber to construct WPM. The lumber must be stamped with a certified HT mark, conveying that the heat treatment process reached the appropriate time and temperature requirements.

Heat Treated Lumber Remanufucturing'. An operation that buys "HT"stamped lumber to then remanufacture it into components to be sold to a wood packaging facility that produces WPM.

. Heat Treatment Facilities: Operations that heat-treat lumber or the finished wood packaging item via a hotbox, oven, or conventional dry kiln. This scenario requires the facility to apply either the HT stamp to lum- ber, or the IPPC stamp to WPM.

The NILMA inspector will use the iPhone to select the appropriate evaluation form for that specific type of operation. From there, the proprietary app does most of the driving. The inspector is led through a customized checklist. which even includes an interactive inventory list of that facility's HT lumber, along with the ability to take pictures, provide comments, and upload them directly to the app.

The result is not only more thorough documentation of the inspection, but this progressive iPhone app also streamlines the reporting process. A system that used to take piles of paper and hours of data-entry has now been completely streamlined with the use of technology.

Once an inspector completes the evaluation, submitting it to NELMA headquarters is as simple as touching a button. From there, it is automatically filed into NsLMA's central database. creating a PDF of the inspection report which is then immediately emailed or faxed to the facility for their records.

With these two exciting projects. NELMA is making an active link between the lumber industry's innovative past with its promising future.