Northumberland Manufacturers' Association - Media

Local Manufacturers Taking on the Global Market

March 12, 2007, Cobourg Daily Star

Within 18 months there should be an Eastern Ontario "manufacturing brand" which identifies businesses in this area as leaders in productivity, research and development, plus continuing worker education, says the head of the NMA. It should be recognized as "where it's happening," continued GE Plastics' Steve Rosa, as he addressed hundreds who filled the double ballroom of the Best Western Inn & Conference Centre on Friday. Full text

Mission Possible for Northumberland Manufacturers

March 2007, Northumberland Business Times

Steve Rosa, Chair of the NMA delivered a call to action Friday morning for continuous improvement and innovation across all sectors. The goal: brand recognition of Eastern Ontario as a business and manufacturing powerhouse… in eighteen months. What does the Conference Board of Canada’s Senior Vice President and Chief Economist think? "It is quite possible for Eastern Ontario as a region to brand itself," said Glen Hodgson. "[To] seek out new markets and greater productivity." Full text

Success Requires Proactive Attitude

November 17, 2006, Cobourg Daily Starr

Manufacturers must not adopt a “circle the wagons” mentality in the face of ever-increasing global competition and a high Canadian dollar, warns the chair of Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association’s High Performance Manufacturers Conference which wrapped up Thursday. “Don’t get in a panic” about negative headlines, but instead be positive; focus on the positive aspects of doing business in this country, Bradley Robertson said. Full text

Employers, Families Need to Prepare for Pandemic: Doctor

November 17, 2006, Cobourg Daily Star

It makes little sense to stockpile the medicine Tamiflu because the pandemic flu strain has not yet emerged, says Dr. Robert Goldsmith, General Electric's Associate Global Medical Director. And, in order to be effective, a vaccine must be specific to the virus.The "major shift" in genetic material hasn't taken place to create the kind of pandemic flu which can spread quickly to people around the world like the Plague which killed 30 per cent of Europe's population, the doctor said.Full text

Manufacturing Sector Crucial to Economy: ED Minister

November 17, 2006, Cobourg Daily Star

Ontario Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello is making no apologies for her government's decision to keep at least half of the province's dirty coal-fired power plants operating until at least 2014. Earlier this week the provincial government came under fire by the opposition and environmental groups for failing to keep its commitment to phase out all coal-generated power by 2009. Full text

Premier Announces $700,000 for GE Innovation

August 18, 2006, Cobourg Daily Star

The provincial government's $700,000 investment in a new plastics' technology research-and-development centre at GE Plastics "will make Northumberland a hub for research technology in plastics," says Premier Dalton McGuinty. It will create "high-value jobs in the community" and speed up the process from innovative research to selling the product in the global market place, Mr. McGuinty said. Full text

Manufacturing Association Wins CED Award

June 2006, Cobourg Daily Star

The Northumberland Manufacturing Association has been presented with the Community Economic Development Award by the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations. First established in 2004 and officially launched in 2005, the association offers innovative and cost-effective opportunities for networking, advocacy, and training and development.... Full text

The Signs are Positive, Economist Says

June 13, 2006, Cobourg Daily Star

At the second of the Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association speaker series last week, a Royal Bank of Canada economist said there are many reasons to be optimistic about the economy. The breakfast meeting, jointly hosted by NMA and RBC, featured vice-president and chief economist Craig Wright, who is responsible for the analysis and forecasting of market developments.... Full text

Local Manufacturers' Association Recognized

April 2006, Cobourg Daily Star

Barely a year after its inception, the Northumberland Manufacturers' Association has won the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations Community Economic Development Award. The NMA is a not-for-profit organization that provides services to local manufacturers of Northumberland County, including innovative and cost-effective opportunities for networking, advocacy, training and development. Full text

Striving for Excellence in Health and Safety

March 1, 2006, Northumberland County Business Times

The Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA) recently launched its third Strategic Focus group – on Environmental, Health and Safety. The first session, led by Gloria McKim, EHS leader at GE Plastics, was well attended and set the groundwork for a long-term partnership among several local manufacturers. The group discussed a variety of issues in the EHS field – including common injuries, preventative measures, and accident analyses... Fulltext

Prepare for the New Global Economy, And Thrive

February 13, 2006, Cobourg Daily Star / March 1, 2006, Port Hope Evening Guide

Whether the new global economy presents a threat was the topic at a recent Northumberland Manufacturers' Association speaker series. In short form, the answer offered by speaker Elyse Allan was yes -- but only if you fail to prepare. The president and chief executive officer of GE Canada described the unassailable positions of China, which is producing 33 per cent of the world's manufactured goods, and India, which is producing 25 per cent. Full text

NMA Breakfast Seminar with President and CEO of GE Canada

February 2006, Northumberland County Business Times

Over one hundred people as well as the Mayors of Cobourg, Hamilton Township and Alnwick Haldimand, representatives from local Chambers of Commerce and the Northumberland Manufacturers' Association got up bright and early to hear a talk given by Elyse Allan, President and CEO of General Electric Canada. The event marked the inaugural session of the NMA's much anticipated 2006 Speaker Series. Full text

Strategic Focus Groups: The NMA Advantage

January 2006, Northumberland County Business Times

The Northumberland Manufacturers' Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping manufacturing companies in our county flourish and succeed. The manufacturing sector is of paramount importance to our local economy. Canadian manufacturers face more challenges than ever before and we are quickly losing to our global competitors. If we are to succeed, we MUST make a step change in our productivity results-now. This is our NMA mission. Full text

NMA Promotes High Performance Manufacturing

December 2005, Northumberland County Business Times

The Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA), a not-for-profit corporation representing the interests of local industry, has held a number of events to promote the importance of High Performance Manufacturing (HPM) – considered by many to be the key to increased productivity and competitiveness within the sector. “One of the main elements of HPM is a company-wide commitment to problem solving and learning,” said Steve Rosa, President of the NMA. Full text

Manufacturers Advised to Control Their Own Fate

November 19, 2005, Cobourg Daily Star

It's time for the manufacturing sector to take control of its dentiny, Steve Rosa of GE Plastics in Cobourg hold Northumberland's first annual high performance manufacturing conference Monday. Industry can't rely solely on government to address issues ranging from off-shore competition to skills training, he said. Manufacturing associations must partner with labour training bodies to address deficiencies in the skill sets required in work forces, he elaborated during an interview. Full text

Zircatec Promotes Health and Safety

August 2005, Northumberland County Business Times

Zircatec Precision Industries is committed to worker health and safety and has the track record to prove it. The company has not seen a lost work day case -- an absence due to workplace injury -- at its Port Hope facility in well over two years. This is one of the longest periods in the company's history in which no such case has been recorded. Full text

Training Within Industry At ESCO

June 2005, Northumberland County Business Times

The Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA) promotes innovation, continuous improvement, and high performance within the manufacturing sector of Northumberland County. Esco Limited—a founding member of the NMA—recognizes the value of these objectives and has implemented several operational changes at its Port Hope facility with the support of the NMA. Full text

Weetabix Implements High Performance Manufacturing

May 2005, Northumberland County Business Times

The mandate of the Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA), a not-for-profit organization that provides services to local manufacturers, is to help guide its members toward High Performance Manufacturing (HPM). Based on company-wide commitment to continuous improvement and increased efficiency, HPM emphasizes the need for total quality in all aspects of operations... Full text

Northumberland Manufacturers Respond to Global Challenges

April 2005, Northumberland County Business Times

The Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA) – a not-for-profit organization established to promote the interests of manufacturers in Northumberland County – is taking steps to improve the performance and competitiveness of local companies. Founded in 2004 by a diverse group of manufacturers, the NMA is set to implement the first of several programs designed to facilitate collaboration and networking. Full text

Manufacturing Association Intern Means Business

February 2005, Cobourg Daily Star

It's a long way for Paula Johnson from the lemonade stand she had when she was 10 to working with the Northumberland Manufacturers' Association. A graduate of the University of Waterloo since June -- having majored in political science and arts and business with a management specialization -- Ms. Johnson is now on a placement in the county's economic-development office to get the fledgling association established. Full text