Learn how our operation works from start to finish! Learn how each department impacts our business in our monthly “Sawmill Spotlight”! This month, we’d like to introduce you to the dry end manager role. Read below to hear from Grangeville’s Dry End Manager, Mike Wilsey, as well his supervisor, Eric Smith.
Mike and his dog and wife.
“I have worked with Mike since I started at IFG in 2018. At the time I had no experience in the lumber industry and I relied heavily on all the supervisors and managers to help teach me what I needed to know. Mike was always a great resource due to his nearly four decades of experience in the industry and in the planermill. It is becoming more and more rare to come across individuals in the workforce who have stayed in the same industry, let alone with the same company for pretty much their entire career. That puts Mike in an elite group with few equals that have the level of knowledge and experience that can only be gained by working on the same equipment for nearly four decades.
Mike has a passion for ensuring we produce quality lumber and meet our customers needs. We hope to keep Mike around a bit longer before retirement to ensure we can glean as much knowledge from him as possible before he makes the decision to hang up his hard hat. Mike, the whole team at Grangeville appreciates your dedication and when you do make that decision to retire, you will be sorely missed. Thank you for everything you do and have done for IFG!!!”
─Eric Smith, Grangeville plant superintendent
As the Dry End Manager, I oversee the Boiler/kilns, planermill, and shipping departments. Grangeville sets the bar for top notch safety, quality, and production standards in the surfacing areas. As the Dry End Manager I coordinate with the QC manager, Green End Manager, maintenance manager, plant superintendent, and sales to maximize our goal attainment. I apply foresight to production scheduling, support department team building, and work on budget planning and balancing while maintaining necessary upgrades to stay on top in the industry.
First and foremost, I make sure we create an environment where employees will go home at the end of shift everyday safe. My teams ensure wood moisture quality standards are met and ensure rough lumber stock is planed to correct surfaced lumber specifications. I make sure we have the finished inventory shipped out in accordance with sales needs and the finished product meets our customers expectations. I also confidently represent our finished products that are received by our customers, and I confirm the needs of planer residual buyers are met.
I started at Shearer Lumber Products mill in Elk City in July 1984. I then transitioned to the mill here in Grangeville, which was Bennetts before becoming Idaho Forest Group. I started off my career in cleanup and eventually mastered all the machine centers in the planer. Later I became the dry chain lead, then swing shift supervisor. I applied for the day shift supervisor position when it became available and was chosen. Then in 2019, backed by vast experience and knowledge I became the Dry End Manager.
As a leader my favorite part of the job is being privileged enough to work for a great company that actually treats their employees right.
My biggest joy is spending time with my grandkids. I like bowling, golfing, side by side rides, and snowmobiling. Enjoy the long trips with the wife and dogs in our plush camper.
Click HERE for tips on how to pursue a career as a Dry End Manager.
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