Global Fastener News

September 28, 1994 FIN – The National Fastener Distributors Association is considering expanding to an “all-inclusive” industry organization which could bring distributors, manufacturers, importers and support services under one umbrella.
“We want to take this association to a higher level of technology, training and services,” NFDA president Ed McIlhon of Iowa Industrial Products announced to the 230 conferees at the Fall Meeting in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. “We are going to be a distributor leadership organization. We consider that our mission. The concept would make a stronger organization.”
The goal would be “to advance the interests of the fastener industry by promoting all aspects of fastener distribution, manufacture, importation and related support activities.”
Association activities would include education and training; quality; legislation and government affairs; product research, standards and market development; social interaction; technical support; compilation and dissemination of industry data.
The organization could be divided into separate divisions for distributors, manufacturers, importers, and support service. The national version might meet annually as a whole group with the divisions meeting before or after the full association.
The proposed “National Fastener Association” could also remain distributor-dominated and just broaden categories of affiliate memberships. Other ways of expanding include allowing several categories such as heat treating, steel, quality control, etc. to become associate members.
The potential for an industry-wide association could include its own trade show, NFDA vice president Jim Snider of Snider Bolt & Screw noted.
Snider, slated to be the next NFDA president, said the 215-member NFDA needs to grow in order to add important services such as a technical staff to be “on call if a member has a question.”
Snider said the expansion idea was triggered by the Arthur Anderson study which predicted there will be 20% fewer distributors by the year 2000.
“If we lose 20% of our members, what is it going to cost to be in NFDA?,” Snider asked. “Looking at the economics of that got us to take a look at this.”
Another question was how NFDA can best be a leader in the industry, Snider said.
NFDA immediate past president Bill Creecy of Sales Systems, Ltd. said “the board is very brave this morning to approach this” and termed the proposal,”the biggest revolution I’ve seen.”
“It is time for a change,” Creecy said. “Look how distribution is changing.” ©1994/2015 Fastener Industry News.
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