Since the opening of the permanent mill facility in Cochrane in 1974, Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) has become a ‘one-stop-shop’.
Centralized operations mean that the entire production process from raw timber to finished lumber takes place at SLS.
Arnold Fiselier is the operations manager at SLS, and product quality is his No. 1 concern on a day-to-day basis.
“I think where we stand out from our competitors is that our sawmill produces the majority of the products for our treating plant (specialty products),” he explained.
“We can then control the consistency of a high quality product being delivered into the marketplace. We also have dedicated quality control people that keep that consistency on track (using quality control systems) as well as trained people throughout the process to detect issues as the product moves down the process. I think we have developed a good reputation with our customers over the years and continue to be committed to quality products.”
For SLS founder, Chester Mjolsness, there was a satisfaction in “making a worthwhile product.”
And for his son, Barry, SLS president and sole owner since 1989, a solid foundation and a commitment to product quality go hand in hand.
“The people make the difference at SLS,” said Barry. “Our philosophy is to strive for excellence in everything we do. We have been very intentional about seeking out and finding the best people in the industry and that has been one of our biggest keys to success.”
