CIM Leadership Summit Stirs Discussion and Freshens Perspectives

Scott Harnett, owner of Sable Metal Fabrication, Markham, Ont., assisted keynote speaker Ted Mouradian, The 2% Factor, in illustrating a point during his presentation.

The 2nd annual CIM Leadership Summit, organized by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, CIM’s educational affiliate and leading association for the metal forming and fabricating industry, offered insights into advancing manufacturing in Canada, ideas to improve production, strategies to motivate and retain employees, and opportunities to network with like-minded metalworking and fabricating professionals. The event, held in mid-June in Niagara Falls, Ont., was co-sponsored by ISCAR and Sandvik Coromant.

Handling Specialty opened the doors to its Grimsby, Ont., plant and showcased how it fabricates engineeredto- order heavy industrial and large-scale truck lifting systems. Steve Guild, plant supervisor, guided the tour, explained production, and answered questions.

A tour and dinner at Inniskillin Winery and golf at Legends on the Niagara provided time for relaxation and networking.

Motivational, Educational Keynotes

Lively, interactive, motivational presentations opened each day. Discussion topics included strategies for company and personal growth from the inside out and how to prevent the 2 percent of negativity that inevitably occurs each day from encroaching on the remaining 98 percent and creating workplace conflict.

Jon Goldman, CEO of Brand Launcher, Baltimore, Md., and keynote speaker on day one, recommended that companies identify their “hungry fish,” also known as ideal customers, and develop a product or service by focusing on the needs of the customer rather than starting with the product and then finding the buyers.

Ted Mouradian, co-founder and president of The 2% Factor, St. Catharines, Ont., and keynote speaker on day two, shared his six-step Cooperative Action Model© credo, designed to resolve workplace conflict and bullying, by celebrating each individual and his differences, communicating and negotiating personal boundaries, and building relationships on trust and respect.

Improving Employee Culture and Retention

Three experts offered tips to ease workforce problems, from discontented employees to the skilled-worker shortage, during presentations and a group discussion.

Karin Lindner, founder of Karico Performance Solutions, Richmond Hill, Ont., and author of How Can We Make Manufacturing Sexy?, urged cultivating and utilizing the skills inherent in current employees to mitigate the skilled-worker shortage.

Steve Guild (second from left), plant supervisor at Handling Specialty, Grimsby, Ont., explained production flow for manufacturing custom material handling units.

Trevor McAlpine, president of Synergetic Management, Burlington, Ont., encouraged improving current operations before making changes to establish an organizational DNA that empowers employees.

Bruce McDonald, lean coach and owner of Tumpline Sales, Burlington, said that keys to establishing lean practices, regardless of an organization’s size, are spending time on the front lines, engaging all employees, and teaching them how to work in a continuous improvement atmosphere.

Technology, Operational Excellence, and Mergers

New technologies and strategies for growth were offered during presentations on new software, tool management systems, and merger and acquisition management.

Richard Evans, sustainability coach and certified TWI instructor with High Performance Solutions, Oshawa, Ont., said that aspects of production that do not add value by changing the nature or shape of a part need to be examined and reduced to achieve lean manufacturing.

Jacques Decarie, vice president of sales of Industrios Software, Oakville, Ont., discussed how matching operational metrics to business goals through the use of technology can give a company the latitude needed to seize new opportunities.

Doug Nix, vice chairman of Corporate Finance Associates, Oakville, Ont., discussed the challenges in valuing an acquisition. He pointed out that the right price can be determined only by the buyer and hinges on the purpose the acquisition will serve.

Ronnie O’Byrne, general manager of ISCAR, presented a brief company history and introduced the latest version of the Matrix modular, automated tool storage unit and its management software for understanding and controlling tooling costs.

Workforce Development Examined

Ernie Parkes, coordinator—student pathways, Nova Scotia Community College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Diane Reko, CEO of Reko International Group, Lakeshore, Ont., led a group discussion on what is being done and what needs to be done to bring young people into the workforce.

An evening at Inniskillin Winery shed light on the production of ice wine and provided a relaxed venue for networking.

The take-away from the discussion was that although there are several government initiatives to train people for industrial careers, manufacturers themselves have work to do to educate the general population about existing opportunities, to actively promote the fact that tradespeople can earn a respectable living while working in interesting jobs, and introducing students to the variety of jobs available in manufacturing before they graduate from high school.

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(Left to right) Karin Lindner, Karico Performance Solutions; Trevor McAlpine, Synergetic Management; and Bruce McDonald, Tumpline Sales, offered insights on employee culture and retention during a panel discussion.