John Wells, president of Interface Americas and chairman of the board of directors of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has announced board approval for a new organizational structure for CRI, the carpet industry's primary trade association. CRI represents the manufacturers of 95 percent of the carpet made in the United States, their suppliers and aligned industries.

According to Wells, the changes, which will take effect September 1, 2011, will increase CRI's effectiveness and allow for greater efficiency in addressing issues facing the carpet industry. One key component of the restructuring is the streamlining of CRI's committees. The new plan eliminates committees and issue management teams in favor of multi-functional panels assigned to address each of three main categories: product performance and standards, deselection, and extended producer responsibility and issues involving the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). Each panel, which will comprise representatives from member manufacturers with marketing, technical and government relations expertise, will be charged with identifying critical issues facing the carpet industry. When necessary, panel members may vote to form short-term task groups that will deal with target issues quickly and effectively and then disband.

The board also approved the formation of the Strategic Issues Leadership Council, a high-level executive group charged with liaising between the panels and CRI's board of directors and policy committee. SILC members will be tasked with communicating with their respective board members on the multiple issues facing the carpet industry and finding the talent needed within the industry to develop the necessary solutions.

"We undertook the reorganization with the expectation that the carpet industry would continue to devote time and resources to dealing effectively with critical issues, and to ensure that our trade association use those resources as efficiently as possible," Mr. Wells said.

"Without question, the new organizational structure will make CRI a more focused and effective organization," said CRI President Werner Braun. He added that membership lists for the SILC and panels are currently being populated.