As usual, the event includes an exchange of those challenges and successes from participants. Some of the issues highlighted can be related to by most in the challenging role of the supervisor / lead hand. Those included;

• Continuously striving to meet customer demand
• The challenges of constant training
• Balancing the move to 'making what is sold' not 'selling what is made (inventory)'. This involves a change to smaller batches, creation of stress on employees and the focused need for managing up and down.
• Managing a slow, slack business environment and the natural slow in productivity that accompanies it.
• Silos - Maintenance vs. production.
• Keeping Employees challenged
• Creating a review process of past jobs in order to 'do better'.
• Managing cuts and changes

ü     Get and understand the reasons (facts)

ü     Communicate

ü     Be honest and up front (it is what it is)

• Strive for inclusive planning (up and down)

A very important point brought up in this session deserves special. That being;

In these challenging tough economic times, folks are asked to cut control and continuously improve. Why make an emergency effort in difficult times towards this way of thinking? Should we not be efficient and 'lean' all the time; in good times and bad?

Very perceptive and definitely food for thought!

Because this event is driven by the Owner / CEO group, and the goal is for participants to understand what they can achieve through this event, Terry Malley (Malley Industries) and Derek Roberts (Dairytown Products) offered themselves as a resource to the group for questions pertaining to 'Why are we here'.

• Skill development (exposure to different ways of doing things)
• Peer Networking (talking to people who understand and can relate)
• Sharing and brainstorming on common problems
• Site Visits / Tours / Benchmarking
• Professional development to enhance effectiveness.