DC Velocity - October 2009

thoughtleaders
and it expects that same type of
responsiveness from an association
in terms of the products and servic-
es we provide. It is a very realistic
group to work with. That is one of
the nice things about WERC and our
membership and the profession we
serve.
QHow do you stay on top of industry trends and your
members’ changing information
needs? Do you have a formal process
for that?
AWe have several ways of gather- ing that information. We do it
through member surveys. We do it
The Best Just Got Better.
Ryson just raised
the bar of vertical
conveying.
through talking with members. We do it
through direction from our board of
directors regarding trends they are seeing.
We also use research that may be present-
ed to us by the educators in our field.
We’re also making some changes in the
way we present information to members.
When we do research, our publications
are more targeted than in the past. The
days of the 500-page book are over. We’re
now focusing more on the practical,
quick-read type of approach.

The question we ask ourselves when developing products and resources as well as our conference sessions is, What is the takeaway from this particular item? You’ll find something to take away from each of our offerings, whether it’s a conference session, a facility tour, or an online course. For example, with a conference session, it might be the top five things to look for when choosing a system, or the top three things to avoid when implementing a system.

High Capacity Spirals The

new Ryson
High Capacity
Spirals are in
response to
our customers
need to go higher and
handle more weight. The
new spirals handle double the
capacity of our regular spirals
and ship in one piece.

Multiple Entry Spirals The
Multiple Entry Spirals allow loads to
enter the spirals from several different
elevations. A new high speed induction
conveyor provides controlled spiral entry.

Dual Spirals The new Ryson Dual Track Spirals are
the ultimate in space savings. Two tracks operate within one
spiral structure. Each spiral has a separate drive and operates
independently. Both tracks can go up or down and can be reversible.

Quality and service come first at Ryson and we are the number one spiral manufacturer in the USA. For application assistance or more information, call or visit the industry leader at www.ryson.com.

300 Newsome Drive • Yorktown,VA 23692

Phone: (757) 898-1530 • Fax: (757) 898-1580

VERTICAL CONVEYING SOLUTIONS

QIf you were asked to identify the one industry trend or development that has the greatest potential to benefit the profession going forward, what would it be? ADistribution and transportation are closely tied in the supply chain. The transportation infrastructure in the United States is a major opportunity for warehousing, distribution, and logistics in general. As there seems to be a focus in Washington on roads, bridges, and rail, there is the opportunity for cost savings and quicker transit, adding more flexibility to the supply chain.

QWhat advice would you offer to young people looking to pursue a
career in the logistics profession?

ALearn as much about the profession as they can. The best way to do that, I think, is to identify a network of people who can help them learn. That network could be through WERC—either at the local chapter level or the national level. Or it could be through other industry associations. There are certainly other great industry associations out there.