For nearly three decades, Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA) staff and Board members looked forward to connecting with attendees, exhibitors and speakers at its annual wire harness conference, but given escalating concerns with COVID-19 infection rates, event organizers have cancelled the 2021 WHMA 28th Annual Wire Harness Conference and are hosting the first WHMA Virtual Event on February 17th from 1pm – 3pm CST.
“Though our 2021 conference will no longer take place in the way we intended, we remain committed to the wire harness community and are planning a virtual event on February 17th, complete with speakers who will present on wire harness industry economics, new technologies and more,” said David Bergman, WHMA executive director.
One of our presenters is Shawn Dubravac, Ph.D., CFA, IPC Chief Economist. Shawn Dubravac is an acclaimed global futurist and trendcaster and author of the New York Times Best Seller Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate. Mr. DuBravac will be presenting an Economic Update that provides a snapshot of data on the economy, industrial production, capacity utilization, and industry employment.
Another presenter is Dave Hernandez, Vice President of Education at IPC. Mr. Hernandez is an impressive, dynamic senior leader of deep educational systems. He will be presenting on the new WHO (Wire Harness Assembly for Operators) program that his team has developed to teach the skills for a Wire and Harness Operator position. By the end of this online course, you will be able to identify and use the key tools, materials, and processes that wire harness operators need to reliably assemble quality harnesses. The course includes several evidence-based components and practices that will help you actively engage, retain, and use this valuable information in your own organization. The WHO program is currently in Beta testing and has a tentative release date of March 2021.
Rick Bromm, WHMA chair, “Though not a replacement for the annual conference that so many have come to rely on for their education and business needs, we hope the virtual event will still provide an opportunity for attendees to learn, grow, share, and discover new approaches to the many aspects of our dynamic industry. For those who desire an in-person event, WHMA/IPC are partnering with the Wisconsin Center to produce the 2021 Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Workshops, conference and exhibition are planned for May 11-13.”
WHMA Annual Conference dates for 2022 are still being finalized but event location and venue remains unchanged and will take place at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Ariz. Please sign up for the February 17th Virtual Event on the WHMA website, visit www.whma.org.
This article is published in the Jan/Feb 2021 issue of WCTI.