HWD Acquisition, Inc., located in Medford, WI, is being honored at this year’s Northwest Wisconsin Business Development Conference. The company will receive the 2011 Business of the Year Award from the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (NWWIB, Inc.) The conference will be held May 11th-12th at the AmericInn Hotel and Conference Center in Ashland, WI. Each year, the NWWIB, Inc. hosts this conference and recognizes an outstanding business from the Northwest Wisconsin region. The businesses chosen for this award are valued as an employer of choice by their employees and community.

HWD Acquisition, Inc., a wood window manufacturer, employs over 300 workers from the Medford area. Known for their high-end custom wood window and patio door manufacturing, HWD Acquisition, Inc. produces products crafted by hand under the Hurd Windows and Doors brand. The company has an established working relationship with the Medford CEP, Inc. Office and Job Center. On the Job Training (OJT) Upgrade funds given to HWD Acquisitions, Inc. allowed for new employees to receive training and be placed into more advanced and higher paying jobs. Through the implementation of various projects and by applying different lean principles, HWD Acquisition, Inc. increased the overall plant productivity by 15% and has continued to make improvements in the way of life for all associates.

In 2010, HWD Acquisition, Inc. implemented 30 cost-saving projects between the manufacturing department and the office. One of the cost-saving projects was an enhanced order system, allowing for greater transparency from order inception to delivery and a means to introduce new products to market more quickly. The electronic system enhancement helps reduce the amount of errors in manufacturing, which in turn increased profitability and was implemented in preparation for the company’s current manufacturing electronic resource planning full integration. The system aids the company in working as one defined unit striving toward achieving one goal: customer satisfaction.

For more information on the Business of the Year Award, the nomination process, and the NWWIB, Inc., contact Mari Kay-Nabozny at 715-682-9141 or mkay@nwcep.org.