Jerry Cook Editor, MPP jcook@clbmedia.ca

CME program aimed at improving competitiveness of Ontario firms

The global financial meltdown coupled with mounting competitive challenges are changing the landscape of the global market, but a joint initiative recently launched by the Ontario government and the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is designed to enhance the competitiveness and productivity of small and medium-sized companies in Ontario and enable them to better take advantage of the new opportunities that will be available in the future.

The initiative, called the SMART program, was created by the CME and has been funded with a $25 million investment from the Ontario government. The SMART program will help small and medium-sized manufacturers in Ontario increase their competitiveness in the new global economy.

According to the CME, the SMART program will provide up to 50% of eligible program costs, to a maximum of $50,000 per project, for Ontario small and medium-sized Ontario firms that want to improve their competitiveness, productivity, and ability to innovate. “CME’s SMART program will equip Ontario manufacturers with the tools needed to compete and win in the new economy,” said CME President, Jayson Myers, in announcing the initiative. “We are pleased that the McGuinty Government has taken a lead role in helping hundreds of small and mid-sized manufacturers invest in their future.”

The SMART program focuses on three key areas that will be critical for Ontario manufacturers to get ahead: lean manufacturing and process improvements, information and communications technology, and energy efficiency.

“The SMART Program is designed to put ideas into action,” added CME’s SMART Program Executive Director Pete Mateja. “CME will provide hundreds of Ontario small and medium-sized enterprises ready to start productivity-improving projects with up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $50,000 per project.”

At a minimum, the CME says that the primary focus of a project must be on improving the operational efficiency of the firm. According to the CME, ideally, the project will not just improve (the firm’s) efficiency incrementally, but will transform the way it does business and make the company substantially more competitive.

Some of the types of productivity improving projects that would by eligible under the SMART program include lean manufacturing, lean design, quality improvement, energy efficiency, IT best practices, and environmental impact reduction.

CME will work in collaboration with a number of key organizations including: the Ontario Centres of Excellence; the Information and Technology Association of Canada, NRC-IRAP, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services as well as various municipal economic development organizations across the province. For further information about the SMART program visit www.cme-smart.ca

Thomas Skinner holds Demo Day at NAIT

The Haas Demo Day recently held by Thomas Skinner & Son at NAIT featured 36 Haas Machines.

Thomas Skinner & Son Ltd., Richmond, BC recently held a Haas Demo Day for the first time at the new Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (NAIT) Sandvik Coromant Centre for Machinist Technology’s HTEC showroom in Edmonton, AB.

“I believe that quality education is vital to the continued success of our metalworking industry,” says Paul Krainer, president of Thomas Skinner & Son. “NAIT’s HTEC offers students exceptional training, providing the metalworking industry with the quality employees so desperately needed.”

The Demo Day featured 36 Haas CNC machines. One highlight of the Demo Day was the machining of a functional part during the event. The part, a miniature Haas van, was machined on three different machines: an SL-20 CNC turning centre, VF-2 VMC with trunnion, and an EC-400 HMC.

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Elliott-Matsuura announces management appointments

The impending retirement of President Michael Carr at the end of 2008 has touched off several management changes at Elliott-Matsuura Canada Inc., Oakville, ON.

Matsuura Machinery Corp., Fukui, Japan has announced that effective January 1, 2009, Frank Haydar has been appointed president of Elliott-Matsuura Canada (Haydar has been with Elliott since 1981 and his previous position was senior vice president, finance and administration); Vince D’Alessio has been appointed executive vice-president (D’Alessio has been with the firm since 1986 and his previous position was vice president, sales and marketing); Frank Bolieiro has been appointed vice president, sales and marketing (Bolieiro has been with Elliott since 1997 and his previous position was manager, metrology group); Pamela Kingston has been appointed controller (Kingston has been with Elliott since 1987 and her previous position was senior accountant); and Rob Johnston has been appointed manager, metrology group (Johnston has been with Elliott since 2005 and his previous position was senior application engineer).

After 35 years with Elliott-Matsuura, including 27 years as president, Carr will retire effective December 31. Carr will then become Elliott-Matsuura’s chairman emeritus.

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National Buyer/Seller Forum critical for accessing oil sands opportunities

The 2009 National Buyer/Seller Forum, the foremost event for procurement opportunities in Alberta’s oil sands, will take place February 10-12, 2009 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, AB.

The forum is Canada’s premier supply chain development conference for Alberta’s heavy oil and oil sands sectors. The event gives manufacturers from across Canada a chance to learn about the opportunities that are available in Alberta’s oil sands for manufacturing, maintenance, and repair projects.

The event includes presentations from Alberta’s buyers of supplies and services to the heavy oil & oil sands industry, sharing insights on how to access their procurement systems; an expanded Business Development Showcase that provides opportunities to connect with the industry’s leading buyers and sellers; one-on-one meetings with buyers from Alberta’s heavy oil and oil sands industry; networking opportunities with firms in oil sands and related industries; and more.

For further information visit www.nationalbuyersellerforum.ca. To register for the 2009 National Buyer/Seller Forum contact Cheryl Renzenbrink at (780) 909-4006 or email cheryl@pivotalevents.ca.

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November 2008 Digital Edition

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Canadian Machine Tool Distributors Association - A resource for Canadian machine tool distributors.
www.cmtda.com

Canadian Tooling & Machining Association - Information resource for the Canadian tooling & machining industry.
www.ctma.com

Canadian Welding Bureau - Information resource for the Canadian welding industry.
www.cwbgroup.org