A carpet industry expert believes that manufacturers and service providers are differentiated by their people and their approach to selling their services.

MADISON, Wis. -- The floor covering industry "has almost exhausted the possibilities of differentiation between the products we make," according to a carpet industry expert.

G. (Gary) Wentworth Smith, co-inventor of the Foot Force Simulator, a machine that replicates foot forces as measured from walkers in gait studies and a close observer and 40-year participant in the industry, believes that manufacturers and service providers are differentiated by their people. "How employees feel about the products and services that they are presenting and selling," Smith said.

"The future lies in educating and helping managers and supervisors learn how to enable their workforce to grow, take ownership, utilize opportunities, and be both happier and more productive," Smith noted.

Smith is founder of the Simuwear Corp., Columbus, Wis. The company manufactures the Foot Force Simulator and Simusoil, a patented oil/dust test medium. Simuwear Corp. conducts testing using the Foot Force Simulator.

He also is co-inventor of the Foot Force Simulator, a machine that replicates foot forces as measured from walkers in gait studies. The technology, developed by Smith for quantitative performance testing of floor covering assemblies, primarily carpets, includes precision laboratory soil conditioning carpet to measure soil recovery by conventional cleaning techniques.

For more information, contact Smith at gws@carpetxpert.com; call (608) 221-4684; or visit the company at www.carpetxpert.com.