Question: We post jobs and include the minimum requirements for applying for vacant positions. Based on the job description and when applicable, we also ask for proof of training or coursework. This information is derived from the job description. In the past, the screeners were more liberal and screened in unqualified applicants who either did not meet the minimum requirements and/or did not attach the appropriate documentation. Moving forward, the employer has aligned and posted the jobs accordingly. Is the employer obligated to screen in previous applicants who were screened in from the past?
 
Response: From an employment law standpoint and barring industry-specific qualification obligations, or implication under affirmative action and/or government contract compliance issues, we are not aware of any federal or state law that governs this particular issue. Most employers enjoy the discretion to determine qualifications and eligibility criteria for positions in their organizations. Employers are also typically free to establish lawful recruitment and hiring techniques and protocols designed to ensure that they are able to hire individuals who meet them (and ideally, are the most qualified for the position).
 
You indicate that the employer posts minimum requirements for applying for vacant positions and while proof of training or coursework or other qualification is ordinarily required, it appears that prior "screeners were more liberal and screened in unqualified applicants who either did not meet the minimum requirements and/or did not attach the appropriate documentation." The employer now seeks to correct this moving forward, such that individuals seeking employment in the future are subject to the more stringent requirement to show proof of their qualifications. The employer is certainly within its rights to make this adjustment.
 
Whether the employer must revisit prior applicants who were subject to the more lenient screening procedures is, again absent industry-specific or other regulatory requirements, generally up to the employer to do determine. If it does so, it may be that some individuals who were subject to the more lax screeners and became employees may lose their jobs on account of their lack of qualification -- is the employer prepared for this consequence? If these individuals are have not become employees yet, we are not aware of any obligation on the part of the employer to retain them in the hiring process if they do not meet minimum qualifications. On the other hand, if individuals who passed through the hiring process on account of the "more liberal" screeners are "grandfathered" in and allowed to continue with the recruitment process or remain employed (if they were already hired), there may be resentment among those who are or were held to the higher standards, and other issues associated with the fact that one or more people who did not meet minimum job qualifications became (and remained) employed.
 
This response assumes that the employment relationships in question are at will (i.e., not governed by an employment contract) and that there are no industry-specific regulatory requirements governing employee qualification (i.e., if the employer is a school district, for example, there may be specific hiring requirements for teachers that the employer cannot overlook). Based on these assumptions, the employer has discretion to decide whether to "grandfather" in the existing applicants (or employees) or to disqualify them from further consideration or employment.
 
The employer may also wish to consider whether the "more liberal" screeners would benefit from further training to ensure that they are consistent in their approaches and do not again "screen in unqualified applicants who either did not meet the minimum requirements and/or did not attach the appropriate documentation." If in doing so these screeners did not meet their own job obligations and/or violated employer policy, disciplinary action may also be appropriate, depending upon the applicable facts and circumstances.
 
Want to learn more about how to handle issues like this?  Click here to listen to our Podcast about hiring practices.
 
© 2014 Advisors Law Group, All Rights Reserved
To learn more about the Federated Employment Practices Network®, contact your local Federated Marketing Representative, or visit www.federatedinsurance.com.
 

 

​The 2017 AWFS®Fair will feature a new showcase highlighting Industry 4.0 and the technology that will heavily influence the future of manufacturing including: Artificial Intelligence; Augmented and Virtual Reality; Robotics; 3D Printing; Cloud Computing; Internet of Things (IOT) and Internet of Services (IOS).

The 4.0 showcase, will be located on the show floor near the Visionary New Product Award showcases.  In addition, exhibitors participating in the Showcase will also be highlighted in the AWFS®Fair website, the official show directory and have designated markers for Industry 4.0 products in their booths. 

According to Rob Howell, Trade Manager at SCM Group North America and AWFS Trade Show Chair, “We really wanted to highlight Industry 4.0 and the technology that has had an impact on manufacturing for several years now, and let our attendees know how they can take advantage of this technology today, as well as what they can expect in the future.”

Also new for 2017, Industry 4.0 educational sessions will be featured as part of the College of Woodworking Knowledge® (CWWK®) which will address specific 4.0 topics, including:

• The current state of Industry 4.0, what it means to you and your business; upcoming trends;
• Data management and transitioning to "single source" data to increase efficiency throughout the manufacturing operation;
• The Smart Factory, featuring software integration, real-time reporting and self-tuning;
• Predictive maintenance and service orientation, an open forum style panel discussion addressing this technology, its current and future implications and how it can benefit businesses and common troubleshooting issues;
• A step-by-step process for implementing Industry 4.0 in your business;
• 3D printing for woodworkers

 
Full descriptions of seminars and CWWK® registration will be available in mid-April at AWFSFair.org. Exhibitors wishing to participate in the Showcase may do so by submitting their product(s) at http://awfsfair.org/industry4-0/  by May 26, 2017. 
 
About AWFS
Fair brings together the entire home and commercial furnishings industry, including manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, lumber, construction materials and other suppliers to the furniture, cabinet ® in Las Vegas, has become a critical hub for international commerce in the woodworking industry. The AWFSWednesday - Saturday, July 19-22, 2017Fair, scheduled for ®The full-scale international AWFSmanufacturers and custom woodworkers. For more information on the AWFS®Fair, please visit: AWFSFair.org.

​Biesse Group would like to thank everyone who joined us for the Spring Inside Event held in our 23,000 square foot state-of-the-art showroom in Charlotte, NC on March 23rd and 24th.   During the two-day event, we hosted more than 200 manufacturers from across the United States and Canada and reached a new record in signed orders totaling close to $6 Million. 
 
We demonstrated a wide range of 4.0-ready machines, systems and software, ideal for any business seeking to gain a competitive edge by optimizing design and production processes, showing 4.0 solutions that are the perfect fit for large and small companies alike looking to gain a competitive edge.  In addition, attendees had the opportunity to work with 25 partner companies, including tooling, software, banding, finance, plus much more, networking, exchanging ideas and learning more about hot topics in the industry.
 
“Biesse’s continued commitment to invest in research and development has allowed us to develop innovative technology designed to deliver 4.0 solutions to all shops regardless of size,” said Federico Broccoli, Biesse America and Canada President/CEO.  “The entire Biesse Group team was honored to host so many manufacturers at the Inside Event to demonstrate this technology.”
 
If you were not able to join us, please contact us at marketing@biesseamerica.com to schedule a tour or visit our website www.biesse.com to see the full schedule of upcoming events and tradeshows.

Stiles Machinery Inc. is pleased to announce the success of this year’s first in a series of Stiles Manufacturing Solutions Seminars. The ever-popular event, which took place in March at the Stiles Machinery showroom and finishing lab in High Point, North Carolina, attracted manufacturers of all sizes looking for solutions in technology and techniques to improve, grow and optimize their current processes in panel processing and solid wood manufacturing. Selling out three weeks early, this was the first of three Stiles Manufacturing Solutions Seminars planned for 2017.

Woodworkers throughout North America, including Mexico and Canada, attended the seminar on March 15 & 16, taking part in educational sessions, live machinery demonstrations and networking events designed towards helping manufacturers stay competitive and profitable.

Experts took attendees through a multitude of live work cell demonstrations showcasing fully automated technologies for European cabinet construction including intelligent material handling, robotic saws, high-tech edgebanding, vertical drilling and dowel insertion applications, and flexible CNC applications to maximize your production. Solid wood technologies concentrated on door and face-frame construction applications including rip and crosscut lines, moulding, and yield optimization on parts that were then part of a variety of sanding applications including brush and orbital sanding techniques and finishing technologies exhibiting spray and roll coat processes including robotic arms for consistent quality.

Topics including Industry 4.0, tooling for machine longevity and trends in kitchen cabinets provided attendees valuable information and thought-provoking ideas and using a data-driven manufacturing approach for successful market strategies. This was the first in a series of three Manufacturing Solutions Seminars that Stiles will host this year, with the next event scheduled for early June.

For additional information, please contact Christina Elsenbroek, Marketing Coordinator, Stiles Machinery, at
616.698.7500 or celsenbroek@stilesmachinery.com.
​
About Stiles Machinery Inc.
For over 50 years, Stiles has been helping manufacturers succeed. As the largest supplier of quality machinery,
Stiles provides a Total Production Solutions approach by also offering equipment integration, financial services,
education, service and parts. By having a wealth of solutions whether defined as people, products or services,
Stiles merges the best thinking and the best ideas into a solution that works best for their customers.
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Stiles has regional offices in High Point, North Carolina; Bristol,
Pennsylvania; Coppell, Texas; and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Stiles is a proud member of the HOMAG
Group, a global leader in the production of industrial machines for the manufacturing.
Visit Stiles at www.stilesmachinery.com.

Stiles Machinery, Inc. is pleased to announce that starting in May 2017, six world-renowned machinery brands will unite under the most respected name in woodworking machinery. The technology you’ve come love under the BRANDT, BUTFERING, FRIZ, HOLZMA, HOMAG AUTOMATION, and WEEKE brands will come together under one name: HOMAG.

The trusted HOMAG name will now proudly be attached to the industry’s most innovative panel saws, a wider range of CNC machining centers, a complete line of edgebanders, high-performance profile wrappers, efficiency-increasing automation technology, and powerful wide belt sanders.

This new united strategy combines the development teams into one united unit, enabling HOMAG to bring new, innovating solutions to the market much faster. The synergy created will allow the world’s leading machinery manufacturer to push invention and improvements better than ever before.

Stiles Machinery is proud to support HOMAG in this new approach. As the trusted partner of thousands of manufacturers across North America, Stiles will continue to provide best-in-class equipment and software, consulting, education, service and support that will empower our customers to get the most value from their investments.

“The Stiles name and brand promise remain the same as we continue to provide total production solutions that help our customers succeed,” says Chris Dolbow, Director of Marketing for Stiles. “Backed by the global scale of HOMAG, our promise to customers is unchanged.”

Stiles customers can expect to see the new lines of HOMAG machinery starting at AWFS 2017, where Stiles will once again invite attendees to Experience Stiles through hands-on demonstrations of leading technology and support services.

For additional information, please contact Christina Elsenroek, Stiles Machinery, at 616.698.7500 or
celsenbroek@stilesmachinery.com.
​
About Stiles Machinery Inc.
For more than 50 years, Stiles has been helping manufacturers succeed. As the largest supplier of quality
machinery, Stiles provides a Total Production Solutions approach by also offering equipment integration, financial
services, education, service and parts. By having a wealth of solutions whether defined as people, products or
services, Stiles merges the best thinking and the best ideas into a solution that works best for their customers.
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Stiles has regional offices in High Point, North Carolina; Bristol, PA;
Coppell, Texas; and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Stiles is a proud member of the HOMAG Group, a global
leader in the production of industrial machines for manufacturing.
Visit Stiles at www.stilesmachinery.com.

Over the past few years the requests for a weathered barn wood "look" have grown and don't seem to be slowing down. We are happy to announce that we've added Rotary Mill Mark Distressing as an option to our catalog. This new distressing method has the look of rough circular sawn lumber that is often seen in reclaimed barn wood.

Rotary Mill Mark distressing is available on Cabinet Doors, Drawer Fronts, Face Frames, Panels and more. This distressing method is applied prior to assembly to ensure no two pieces are the same, making the finished product truly one-of-a-kind. Please contact our customer support team at CustomerSupport@WalzCraft.com or 1-800-237-1326 for more information.
​
WalzCraft manufactures custom cabinet doors, drawer fronts, dovetail drawer boxes, cabinet components and millwork for custom cabinetmakers and cabinet refacers throughout the United States and Canada. Founded in 1982, WalzCraft has built a reputation for producing a High-quality product, at a competitive price, with a short delivery cycle, while offering a vast array of options from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located at 2600 Hemstock Street in La Crosse, WI.  http://walzcraft.com

​Cabinet Vision, the design-for-manufacturing solution by Vero Software, recently recognized its top-performing customer service representatives for achieving multiple goals that ensure exceptional service for Cabinet Vision users.
 
“We appreciate our customers and employees who ensure that they receive the best service we can provide,” said Mark Kirkland, Cabinet Vision customer service manager. “We strive to deliver the best service in the business, and the performance of outstanding customer service representatives is a reflection of our effort.”
 
Cabinet Vision customer service representatives honored for their accomplishments are now in the brand’s “Million Dollar Club,” as they achieved million-dollar sales for their respective territories in 2017.
 
Those representatives include top performer Chris Price, Karla Garner-Adams, Zach Cantrell, Bob Glass, Jim Heritage, David Perkins, Tom Reed, Pat Smith, and Scott Wilson.
 
Cabinet Vision is the most widely used design-for-manufacturing software capable of custom cabinet and room design, photo renderings, material optimization, bidding and costing, and cutlists and bill of materials. Combined with the S2M Center, it can automatically create machine ready G-Code for CNC flat table routers, point-to-point machines, panel saws, drill and dowel machines, chop saws and other specialized CNC machinery.
 
 About Cabinet Vision
Part of the Vero Software Group, Cabinet Vision is a unique solution for manufacturers in the woodworking industry. Its products help enable any furniture or cabinet manufacturer to fully automate and integrate its design through improved manufacturing processes and greater efficiency. In addition to producing significant time savings, Cabinet Vision eliminates costly mistakes and increases productivity.
 
About Vero Software
Headquartered in England, Vero Software designs, develops, and supplies CAD/CAM/CAE software radically enhancing the efficiency of design and manufacturing processes, providing its customers with exceptional value through high productivity gains and significantly reducing time to market.
 
The company’s world-renowned brands include Alphacam, Cabinet Vision, Edgecam, Machining STRATEGIST, PEPS, Radan, SMIRT, Surfcam, WorkNC and VISI, along with the production control MRP system Javelin. Despite the diversity of application, these solutions have one thing in common: they all address the rising challenges of achieving manufacturing efficiencies and bring huge value to the operations in which they are deployed.
 
Vero has direct offices in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, USA, Brazil, Netherlands, China, South Korea, Spain and India supplying products to more than 45 countries through its wholly owned subsidiaries and reseller network.
 
Vero is part of Hexagon (Nordic exchange: HEXA B), a leading global provider of information technologies that drive quality and productivity across geospatial and industrial enterprise applications.
 
For more information, please visit www.verosoftware.com.