This is a time where manufacturers need to be more competitive than ever.  The pressures from a global supply chain, cheaper labour, transportation costs, the price of oil, the price of raw materials, and the need to get product out the door (to name a few) has affected all manufacturers in Canada.  Everyone researches and uses tools such as lean manufacturing, quality circles, six Sigma and other continuos improvement initiatives to try and drive down the costs of manufacturing.  That being said, more and more Canadian manufacturers are realizing the benefits that come from networking with other organizations in and outside their sector of manufacturing.  Forward thinking organizations are realizing that it is easier to benchmark other organizations to look for solutions rather than try and solve issues in their facility by starting from scratch.

Consortium's in Durham Region, GTA, North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie saw record attendance at their monthly strategic interest group meetings on a monthly basis.  Topics at these events ranged from health and safety, continuous improvement, total productive maintenance, labour law, supply chain management, best practices, Kaizen events, innovation in the workplace and human resources to name a few.  Special thanks to those organizations that hosted the strategic interest group meetings in 2010.

There are many ways Excellence in Manufacturing can help manufacturers in Canada... at the request of manufacturers, Excellence in Manufacturing has started many initiatives that can help those manufacturers become more competitive.  We have seen more and more organizations take advantage of EMC initiatives such as: SRED, Safety Group, Benefits, THRC online training programs, THRC Harvard Supervisor Certification, Food Sector Initiative, Member Needs Help, Learning Center, Energy Group and the all new Purchasing Co-Op to name a few.

As an inquisitive person, I find it absolutely fascinating and exciting every time I go to a facility to see what they make and how they make it.  No matter what you make, or what you produce, or what you manufacture, it never ceases to amaze me how similar some of these organizations and processes are when it comes to manufacturing.  Chances are if you have a problem, there is some organization out there that has already solved that problem... the forward thinkers that attend these SIG events are the ones that bring home real-life solutions to real-life manufacturing problems.  I don't think there is one person that has attended a strategic interest group meeting that has not left with a few ideas on how to improve their organization.

From manufacturing jet aircraft, parts and components, firearms, automotive parts, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and almost everything in between, there was an opportunity for excellence in manufacturing members to get out and see how it was manufactured, observed the processes involved in manufacturing, received a plant tour of the facility and talk to people involved in running those facilities.  What a great opportunity to bring home best practices.

I would like to thank all those that hosted an event last year, and I am very excited for those that are going to host in 2011.  As we develop our schedule for 2011, please feel free to contact me and let me know if your organization has a best practice it would like to share with others... after all, this is the foundation of what excellence in manufacturing is all about... manufacturers sharing success stories with other manufacturers.

 

I would like to say special thanks to the good folks that hosted events in 2010:

Sault Ste. Marie:

• Soo Foundry
• Rector Machine Works
• Filtrec
• Flakeboard
• City of Sault Ste. Marie
• Sault Ste. Marie economic Development Corporation

Sudbury:

• Rainbow Concrete
• Softub
• City Welding
• B&D Manufacturing
• Novenco
• City of Sudbury

North Bay:

• PGI Fabrene
• J&J Machine Works
• Atlas Copco
• Good Year
• North Bay machining
• City of North Bay

GTA:

• Canadian Linen and Uniform Services
• Crystal fountains
• York University
• Darcor Casters
• Lynch Group
• MDS Analytical
• Multichair
• Professional Hair Care Products
• City of Toronto
• City of Vaughan

Durham Region:

• Buskro
• Gerdau Ameristeel
• McNairn Packaging
• Messier Dowty
• Nelson Industrial
• Patheon
• Savage Arms
• Woodbridge foam
• City of Oshawa
• Durham Region Economic Development Community

 Thanks again for all your help and support in 2010.  I would also like to welcome all the new members from 2010, to many to list!

 I wish you and your families all the best of health and wealth over the holiday season and into the year 2011.