I would like to take this opportunity to thank the good folks at Canadian Linen and Uniform Services for hosting a very special event: Increasing Manufacturing Competitiveness in a down Economy.  Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium [EMC] presented this special business briefing for area manufacturers together with the Economic Development Offices across Richmond Hill, Vaughan, The City of Toronto and fellow EMC members.  Special guest speakers, Al Diggins and Chad Metcalf (two very dynamic speakers) talked to the group about how to increase manufacturing competitiveness in tough economic times. 

Al Diggins talked about how successful organizations are taking advantage of programs that are available to help them out…such as:

• Public MEDT lean Training
• Member needs help
• Networking opportunities
• SRED tax credit programs
• Food Sector networking initiative
• Free online courses
• Energy savings programs
• World class training: lean, human capital, health and safety
• Online health and safety training
• Safety Groups Program

Chad Metcalf talked about how organizations are using continuous improvement tools to eliminate unnecessary costs.  He also talked about the power of lean manufacturing.  Other points that were discussed:

• Culture Change in upper and lower management.
• Ways of Identifying waste in your organizations.
• Strategies on eliminating that waste in your organization
• Utilizing underutilized personnel
• Maximizing the talent in your organizations
• Lean strategies such as Value Stream Mapping
• How to develop culture in your organization
• How to set realistic goals for your organizations
• How to identify problems in your organization
• How to tackle problems in your organization

After the speakers, Canadian Linen and Uniform Services provided a shop floor tour of their facility.  This facility is exceptionally clean and everyone was impressed with the work that the good folks at Canadian Linen and Uniform Services have done at this plant.

Thanks again to Anthony Coulter, the General Manager at Canadian Linen and Uniform Services for hosting this excellent event, and thanks to all who ventured out in the weather to attend.

Cheers and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Kevin