Interfor, one of the largest lumber manufacturing companies in North America, transforms logs into high-quality lumber used in construction and other industries. With operations spanning British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, the U.S. South, and eastern Canada, the company faces unique workforce challenges due to its geographically diverse and primarily trades-based workforce. This dynamic landscape made it essential for Interfor to adopt an adaptable and comprehensive learning and talent management solution.
To meet these challenges, Interfor turned to Cornerstone, utilizing its robust suite of tools for learning, performance, and recruiting. The partnership has enabled Interfor to streamline workforce development, enhance internal mobility, and foster a culture of continuous learning.
Enhancing Internal Mobility
One of Interfor’s core goals is to promote internal talent and foster career growth among its workforce. Through Cornerstone’s Career Development Plans, salaried employees collaborate with supervisors to set annual goals aligned with business objectives and personal development ambitions. According to Kiana Fraser, a key member of Interfor’s Learning and Development team, this process has been instrumental in identifying and nurturing talent.
“We recently added a feature within our development plans where employees can indicate relocation preferences,” said Fraser. “This helps us build talent pools and improve succession planning by knowing who is open to moving for career advancement. It’s been a game-changer in ensuring we can fill roles internally.”
Interfor’s commitment to employee development extends to leadership training. The company’s in-house LEADX program, designed to prepare skilled tradespeople for supervisory roles, has succeeding greatly.
“One participant told us that the program made them realize Interfor was the company for them,” Fraser shared. “They appreciated the opportunity to grow and valued the resources available through Cornerstone.”
“The support we received was exceptional. The team was proactive, set up multiple calls, and genuinely listened to our feedback.”
Kiana Fraser, Talent Specialist, Interfor
Overcoming the Challenges of a Trades-Based Workforce
Interfor’s workforce, primarily composed of tradespeople working in sawmills and forestry, presents unique challenges in adopting digital learning solutions. Many employees work in remote locations with limited access to Wi-Fi or cellular data access. Despite these hurdles, Fraser highlighted the effectiveness of Cornerstone’s customizable training assignments.
“Being able to send custom emails in multiple languages—French and English—is crucial for our Canadian workforce,” she said. “The reminders and supervisor notifications ensure that training requirements are met, even when employees aren’t regularly behind a computer.”
While mobile capabilities remain an area for improvement due to connectivity issues in remote locations, Fraser acknowledged the potential benefits of offline learning options. “If we could fully utilize offline capabilities, it would be a massive benefit for bringing training directly into the mills,” she noted.
Seamless Integration and Data-Driven Insights
Following the acquisition of another timber company, Interfor faced the challenge of migrating employees from a legacy learning management system (LMS) to Cornerstone Learning. Despite an initial learning curve, Fraser noted that the transition proved to be a significant improvement.
“Having all our data in one place has been fantastic,” she said. “We can easily track learning activities, acknowledge compliance, and generate reports for annual audits. This level of visibility was previously difficult to achieve.”
The reporting features of Cornerstone have been particularly beneficial. Fraser recalled a time when she was tasked with compiling data for an annual report just a few months into her role. “I was worried about pulling all that information,” she admitted. “But Cornerstone’s reporting tools made it straightforward and accurate, which was a huge relief.”
"What makes Cornerstone a great platform for us is that it covers the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment into onboarding, then through development opportunities, tracking growth, and even supporting internal promotions.”
Kiana Fraser, Talent Specialist, Interfor
Driving Workforce Agility and Safety
Safety remains a top priority for Interfor, and Cornerstone plays a pivotal role in supporting this mission. Operating heavy-duty machinery in sawmills and forestry environments presents inherent risks, making it essential to maintain rigorous safety standards and continuously educate employees on best practices. Cornerstone’s learning platform enables Interfor to rapidly deploy targeted safety training and refreshers in response to incidents or operational changes, fostering a proactive safety culture.
“Whenever there’s a major safety event, we use Cornerstone to push out training and reminders,” said Fraser. “It’s crucial for keeping our workforce safe and maintaining high operational standards.”
Beyond incident-driven training, Interfor leverages Cornerstone to provide ongoing safety education, helping employees stay current on compliance requirements and best practices. The platform’s reporting capabilities allow site supervisors to track training completion rates and identify gaps in safety knowledge.
Fraser emphasized the importance of delivering timely and accessible training to workers in remote locations. “Because many of our sites lack reliable internet access, being able to set up training and provide supervisors with the tools to monitor compliance has been invaluable. Supervisors can pull reports and address training needs directly without always needing our team’s involvement.”
This agile approach to workforce safety has not only improved compliance but also reinforced a culture of accountability and continuous learning. Interfor’s ability to adapt swiftly to changing safety requirements underscores its commitment to employee well-being and operational excellence. The platform enables the rapid deployment of safety training and refreshers in response to incidents.
The Path Forward
As Interfor continues to grow and innovate, its partnership with Cornerstone remains a pivotal part of its workforce strategy. The company’s focus on internal mobility, leadership development, and safety underscores its commitment to fostering a resilient and skilled workforce.
Reflecting on her experience with Cornerstone, Fraser said, “It’s all about employee development. From recruitment to career growth, Cornerstone supports every stage of our employee lifecycle. It’s a platform that truly helps us nurture talent and drive success.”
