Despite the naysayers in the media, many manufacturing plants (large and small) have been running flat out this year, changing processes, improving their structural systems to become more efficient, buying & installing new equipment, hiring new employees, expanding and training, training, training!

The government funding resources that were instituted to help manufacturers through the recession were definitely welcomed and used to advantage in this area.

2011 Topics Reflected Member Challenges & Many Opportunities

Eastern Ontario has six official Consortia plus a growing (and enthusiastic) group of members and Community Partners in the Hawkesbury/Prescott/Russell region. This year sixteen new members were added to our Consortia families and actually stretched our boundaries to include Lindsay (Mariposa Dairy) on the west and Deep River (Atomic Energy Canada Ltd.) on the north.

Despite the fact that we have not yet officially opened the Regional Capital Consortium (Ottawa) we have had several new members in Ottawa join EMC - hooked up to the Ottawa Valley Consortium for the time being. These members include Toromont Cat (Kanata), Armtec (Gloucester) and the Royal Canadian Mint (Ottawa). As per last year, the topics that Eastern Ontario Consortia SIGs tackled this year still reflect challenges that have been on our plate for many years - especially since we always have a few new companies joining us each year. Culture change and engaging employees still top the list as the most common topic in all Consortia across our region. Speaking of culture change, the Eastern Ontario "guru" of culture change - our good friend Doug Harper, Blommer Chocolate, Campbellford gave a terrific workshop again this September on a subject called "Purposeful Engagement". It was all about developing accountability within our buildings. Be sure to check out Doug's blog if you would like to learn more.

Members tackled numerous topics & theme-related SIGs this year. Below are a few examples:

• The Finance & Controllers in the Ottawa Valley started to get together (3x per year) to discuss GAAP Principles, Lean, and Job Costing Systems.
• Hawkesbury hosted the first SIG presentation in French this year. The Turn Around Interview with Geordie Raine & Maxime Labbe was a big hit with the Supervisors that attended to learn this very useful coaching technique.
• In Eastern Ontario we continued to work VERY closely with Bren de Leeuw (EMC's Food Sector Manager) and Yves LaVictoire (OMAFRA) to bring special events to both ends of the region. We introduced "Supply Chain Management" to a large crowd in Trenton last spring and followed that with "Lean and the Supply Chain" at Parmalat in Winchester this fall.
• We had a very unique opportunity this fall in Kingston. A start-up plant (Global Exhaust Systems), who joined EMC even before their lines were running, consented to host to let members see what is going on in their plant during the pre-production stage. Toni and Robert are using Jim Farmer's (IPG) services through the EMC 360°EHS Program to complete all of their Pre-starts Safety Reviews. We look forward to watching this team "grow and prosper".
• Continuous Improvement/Lean SIGs popped up in nearly all plants. Topics included Idea management (Bernie Sander - hosted by Times Fiber, Renfrew & Invista Maitland; The Gemba Walk (Eaton, Perth); Lean in the Office (KI Pembroke); Engaging Employees in Continuous Improvement (Bill Petch, VSS hosted by 3M, Brockville); Developing a Collaborative Work Environment (George Raine, Montana HR hosted by Arnprior Aerospace) and more.
• Maintenance member gathered from all corners of Eastern Ontario (and one from Quebec) at the Greenfield Ethanol plant in Johnstown to hear an excellent presentation from Gary Wolfe re: their work to institute a "World Class Maintenance" system in their building. We were all treated to a plant tour and learned all about the production of Ethanol. This group asked to meet again in 2012.
• A Lean Consortium was established in the Brockville area. EMC partnered with IRAP and six plants to promote lean practices and training in these plants. It was very successful and all six plants have asked that it continue (stay tuned for news on this endeavour).
• Brockville also welcomed and supported the first Eastern Ontario iMiN website - iMiN Brockville. The tools on this website are available for all manufacturers. Be sure to check it out and register. www.iminonline.ca

Looking Forward - 2012
Topics Generated by Members to Date:

Over the years, all six+ Consortia have adapted a few "core" sessions that have really worked well for them and that members ask that we repeat each year.

1. Community Partners Updates - these include MEDT, IRAP, CFDC, Economic Development, OMAFRA, training boards, local Employment Services, NSERC, and Colleges, etc. The relationship we have built with our Community Partners in each region has really helped both sides to become more knowledgeable about each other's programs/challenges and to be able to hook members up quickly with the resources that they need.
2. Legal Updates - Hicks Morley (Ottawa & Kingston offices) have been extremely accommodating and have met with each Consortium this year for an Employment Standards/Case Law & OHSA Update - very helpful and appreciated.
3. Joint sessions between our SIGs and EMC WSIB Safety Group in June with our Ministry Partners - Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Environment & WSIB have become the norm. These sessions have been invaluable for two-way relationship building and communication.

Other up and coming topics:

• Supervisor SIGs will continue. We pulled back on these a bit in 2011 but we did cover some key topics that supervisors had asked to bring to the table.
• Financial Controllers in the Ottawa Valley will be getting together to discuss issues facing their field - tax challenges & absorption of overhead.
• The Regional maintenance SIG will meet - topic chosen is "Maintenance Metrics"
• SR&ED Processes
• Immigration Partnerships
• Energy Sustainability
• 360 EHS Programs
• CI/Lean
• Logistics, transportation, border issues, etc.
• Purchasing Challenges

Some suggestions for members to effectively use the Strategic Interest Group Event Opportunities:

• Build the SIG dates into your yearly schedules
• Support the group by attending or designate others - bring supervisors, lead hands, JHSC members or production employees for a terrific development opportunity.
• Host an event and prepare a short presentation on your company to share with attendees.
• Share a Best Practice and don't let that word scare you. A Best Practice is never perfect - it is always in change and continuous improvement mode.
• When hosting take advantage of the expertise/other set of eyes in the room to ask for feedback after a plant tour.

Thank you to all member plants that hosted an SIG this year, gave a presentation, attended the SIGs and shared information and plant tours with each other. I know I have missed mentioning so many in this short report. I appreciate all of your efforts. I look forward to working with all of you in the coming year!

From our house to yours have a Wonderful Holiday Season. Spend time with friends and families. Relax. Refresh. I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Best regards,

Gay