Phoenix—NAHAD–The Assn. for Hose & Accessories Distribution is leading the charge to develop best practices for the hose industry. At the group's recent annual meeting, an update on its Hose Assembly Guidelines project took center stage, as NAHAD officials emphasized the need to refine the document into a user-friendly resource for manufacturers, distributors and end users.

NAHAD's Hose Assembly Guidelines are a set of recommended practices for fabricating metal, industrial, hydraulic, PTFE and composite hose assemblies. In development for more than 10 years, the Guidelines became available for use in April 2000 as a 376-page Web-based document.

Members of NAHAD's Standards Committee, the group charged with revising the H.A.G., praised the valuable information provided in the document, but said it is difficult to use. Among the problems are that it is too big, needs constant updating, is not coordinated with NAHAD's training programs, and has not been used to create an advantage for NAHAD members in the marketplace.

They hope to change all that.

"[The H.A.G. document] is rich, it's a jewel, but the problem is, not enough of you are using it," Standards Committee chairman Sam Foti, Jr., told attendees at the four-day meeting, held at Sheraton's Wild Horse Pass Resort, April 24–28. Foti is president of Hose Master, Inc., a metal hose manufacturer based in Euclid, Ohio.

Foti outlined his committee's goal to update and refine the program, emphasizing that the H.A.G. can impact the entire industry. The hope is for the H.A.G. to become a recognized symbol of quality, with end users seeking NAHAD-approved distributors when utilizing hose assemblies.

"We have a responsibility to make our industry better," Foti said. "Please join us."

NAHAD's Standards Committee was established last year. Its goal is to: develop new training/reference manuals and Web documents for each of the guidelines; create a new Web site for documenting market applications and best practices; develop training programs related to the guidelines; create a member "listing" program in which companies agree to comply with a set of criteria regarding the guidelines; market the Standards Committee products and the NAHAD "listed" members to the end-user community; and establish a system of volunteers for ongoing maintenance of all the products.

To date, the committee has established five task groups charged with developing the manuals and Web documents for each H.A.G. product group; set up the criteria for the NAHAD listing program; and created a marketing strategy for the new H.A.G. The committee plans to have the H.A.G. products complete by next April, so that marketing to the end-user community can begin.

"What we accomplished was unbelievable," Foti said, referring to the original H.A.G., and adding that success was due largely to the involvement of manufacturers and distributors in the development process. Now, it's time to expand that scope, he said.

"We need to market to the end-user community," Foti explained. "This is a work in progress…And frankly, we need [your] help."

NAHAD's outgoing president Mike Armbruster and executive director Joe Thompson praised the work of the Standards Committee, which included Dan Ahuero of GHX, Inc.; Joe Lark of Monroe Rubber & Plastic Supply Co.; and Steve Gray of Lewis-Goetz & Co. Thompson said the committee spent countless hours on the project, meeting several times during the year to hammer out the details of the program.

Also during the annual meeting, Armbruster passed the gavel to Thomas von Hillebrandt of Industrial Rubber & Mechanics, San Juan, Puerto Rico, who will preside over NAHAD during its 20^th anniversary year. In his address to members, von Hillebrandt praised the work of NAHAD's staff, board members and committee members, saying they are passionate about the association and the industry.

Von Hillebrandt thanked attendees for the "distinct honor and privilege" of serving as NAHAD's president, and announced that his theme for the upcoming year is "going from good to great," based on the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. He told attendees that it's time to make NAHAD a great practical influence on the industry, not just a "convention" association.

"This is already a great organization," he said, "but we can do more."

He pointed to the Hose Assembly Guidelines and Executive Forum program as examples of NAHAD benefits that go beyond the annual convention. Under the Executive Forum program, non-competing distributors form executive-level groups that meet regularly to discuss common business concerns.

Von Hillebrandt also recognized NAHAD's founding members, thanking them for their work to get NAHAD started in the early '80s.

"[You had] an excellent vision 20 years ago…We honor you and we are thankful to you," he said.

Von Hillebrandt closed by saying he looks forward to the challenges of the coming year, and inviting members to attend next year's annual meeting in Miami at Loew's Miami Beach hotel, April 2–6, 2005.