Western Wood Products Association (WWPA)
The Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) is an organization representing lumber manufacturers across twelve western states and Alaska. A key focus of the WWPA is maintaining uniform grading standards for lumber, which it does through its lumber grade inspection bureau. This ensures consistent quality across the industry by monitoring and training sawmills on grading practices. The association operates under the guidelines of the American Lumber Standard and collaborates with the American Lumber Standards Committee to write grading rules and issue grade stamps.
WWPA also plays a vital role in tracking industry performance and economic trends related to lumber, providing its members with valuable business information. The Economic Services Department of the WWPA compiles data from member sawmills to create price indices and forecasts, as well as a weekly survey known as the Barometer, which reflects market conditions. Additionally, the WWPA's Marketing Services Committee manages various marketing initiatives, including trade advertising, publication of literature, and organization of trade shows. Overall, the WWPA serves as a key resource for lumber manufacturers, supporting their growth and ensuring industry standards are upheld.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Western Wood Products Association (WWPA)
- DATE: Established 1964
The Western Wood Products Association is a U.S. trade group that provides services and monitors grading quality for sawmills in the western United States.
Background
The members of the Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) are lumber manufacturers in twelve western states and Alaska. One of the organization’s primary activities is maintaining a lumber grade inspection bureau to assure uniform grading standards in the industry. It also tracks industry performance and lumber-related economic trends and provides a variety of marketing services for its members.
Impact on Resource Use
Functioning under the auspices of the American Lumber Standard and monitored by the American Lumber Standards Committee, the WWPA writes lumber-grading rules and issues grade stamps for mills to use. Inspectors visit member sawmills on a monthly basis to monitor grading and provide training. Every few years, the group conducts a major quality assurance seminar for mill quality-control personnel. The WWPA’s Economic Services Department provides business information to members. Member sawmills give the WWPA weekly sales figures, from which it compiles price indices for the industry, issues forecasts twice a year, and publishes a weekly survey, the Barometer, covering about 150 western mills.
The association’s Marketing Services Committee oversees a variety of marketing programs, including a western lumber marketing program, an international program, and general market services. It does trade advertising, publishes trade and consumer literature (maintaining about one hundred titles), makes and distributes video presentations, and holds trade shows.