Northumberland Manufacturers' Association

Green Jobs?

By Dan, on May 3rd, 2011

Brad Robertson, the past president on the NMA board, recently came across this study which details the effects of public aid to renewable energy sources to jobs created (or lost?).

This report is a very good review of the experience Spain has had using the same model Ontario is using to develop green energy sources with high feed-in tariffs. An interesting read for members. Have a look and let us know what you think….

Click the image to view the study.

NMA AGM Details

By Dan, on May 3rd, 2011

On Thursday April 28th, the NMA held it’s 2009-2010 AGM. The turn out at the event was very strong with approximately 2o members in attendance. The NMA is happy to announce that it has added a couple of new faces to it’s board of directors including:

Brian Peterson from Weetabix
Pat Jossinett from CpK Interior Products
Bruce Cooper from Cameco

I would like to welcome our new board members to the team! At the AGM, we presented some of the activities the NMA has been involved with in the past 2 years including:

Funding Forums: Where we connected manufacturers with funding opportunities
Tri-Association Funding: Where we provided funds to members conducting training or hiring interns and displaced workers
Speakers Series: Where we have brought in speakers to discuss issues with manufacturers
The Tri-Association Conference: Providing a local venue to learn about and discuss local manufacturing issues.
Innovative Durham Northumberland: A partner bringing innovation to Northumberland County

Following the AGM, a tour of the SABIC Innovative Plastics facility was provided. The tour focussed specifically on lean tools that SABIC has implemented. Each team was introduced to how SABIC Innovative Plastics was using 5S to manage tool boards, the daily accountability process to drive improvements and visual tools for communication purposes.

As you can see, your NMA volunteer board has been very busy over the past couple years. I have attached the presentation that was given at the AGM for anyone to review. Here is to another successful year with the NMA. I look forward to continuing to serve the needs of our manufacturers.

2009-2010 NMA AGM – Click to open the power point presentation

Thanks,

Dan Ross, NMA President

NMA AGM Scheduled

By Dan, on March 16th, 2011

Thursday April 28, 2011 – NMA 2009 & 2010 AGM – Will be held at SABIC Innovative Plastics in Cobourg. The Schedule of events will be as follows:

8:00 am – Registration and Breakfast
8:30 am – Presentations
9:00 am – AGM
9:30 am – SABIC Innovative Plastics Plant Tour
10:30 am – Closing Remarks and Departure

An online registration will be available shortly. Or if you prefer you can register by filling out the following from: 2009-10_AGM_Flyer

The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to:

1. Adopt the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held October 9, 2009, in Port Hope, Ontario.

2. Receive reports from the President of the Board of Directors on activities of the Board and the Association

3. Receive the Financial Report on behalf of the Board of Directors

4. Receive the Audit Committee Report, Approve the Financial Statements for the Year-ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010, and appoint the Association’s auditors for the coming year

5. Receive the Nominating Committee Report and Elect Directors for the coming Year

6. Review and vote on any by-law changes – By-Laws_Revised_Oct08

7. Transact any other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you there,

Dan Ross, President

Congratulations Structural Panel Industries

By Dan, on March 4th, 2011

Recently the Northumberland & Central Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Achievement awards. These are awards presented every year to a local manufacturer doing great things. The manufacturing category has been judged on the following criteria in the past; current business achievements, steps taken to stand out from competition, greatest business challenge, innovation and technical advancement, employment practices and community relationship activities.

Congratulations to our member Structural Panel Industries.

Lets talk about it on Linked IN: Linked In Discussion

IDEA Hub Event and The IDN

By Dan, on March 3rd, 2011

This morning I attended the IDEA Hub event where they showcased the new facility and their first tenant. The event was well attended and there is a ton of energy on building new businesses in this region which is amazing to see. The NMA was also very excited to speak to the audience about some new services available to them through a new organization in the area called Innovative Durham Northumberland (IDN) under the Ontario Centers of Excellence (ONE) network. Jonathan Wheatle from the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance (DSEA) spoke to all of the great services the IDN will provide to entrepreneurs and companies alike.

Attached is the copy of the presentation that Jonathan provided during the meeting today: Introducing the IDN

Check out information on the IDEA Hub at www.myideahub.ca

Also find out more about the IDN at www.innovation-dn.ca

Lets talk about it on Linked IN: Linked In Discussion

NMA Hosts Ergo Training

By Dan, on February 21st, 2011

On Friday March 25th, the NMA will be hosting Ergonomic Training provided by Ergo Inc. This course will focus on physical demands assessment (PDA). This is a very good value for any NMA members focusing on ergonomics and its affect in the workplace. The following topics will be covered:

Course Description:

Ensure the PDA meets all legislative requirements and your return to work purposes.
What you will need and how to get started.
How to measure demands – frequency vs. duration, lifting, lowering, gripping types, handling, mental demands, dexterity, mobility, stooping vs. squatting, postures etc.
Setting up an easy to use format for your organizations’s PDA – what should you include?
How to collect the data – step by step procedures while onsite at the jog to ensure validity.
Describing the job – what should be documented, identifying essential vs. non-essential duties and job modification options.
How to use a PDA for job accommodations and return to work cases.
Participate in the completion of a PDA – learn how to assess different job types

This training is being hosted at the SABIC Innovative Plastics facility in Cobourg, ON. The cost of the training is $400/participant. This price includes HST, Manual and a Lunch.

If you are interested in attending the training, please contact Charlene Smith by EOB Wednesday March 23, 2011. 905-372-8315 Ext. 242 or charlene.smith@thenma.ca

New Help For Innovation

By Dan, on February 2nd, 2011

The NMA is excited to announce that it is partnering with Innovation Durham Northumberland (IDN) in a small business forum run by IDEA Hub on March 3rd sharing information on the benefits that the IDN brings to the business community

The Honourable Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation (MRI) announced that IDN will be a member of a new Regional Innovation Centre that is part of the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE). This province-wide network will provide commercialization support for entrepreneurs and business. The IDN will also provide access to a province wide network of experts, academics, companies, investors, government agencies and others who can help continue to grow ideas and businesses.

The NMA in partnership with the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance helped make the IDN possible. The IDN will house offices at UOIT in Oshawa, Durham College in Whitby and at the Northumberland Manufacturing Association offices in Cobourg.

For further information, please refer to the news release posted by the Ministry of Research and Innovation at:

http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/news/ONE121610.asp.

You can also visit the IDN website here: http://www.innovation-dn.ca/

The NMA Joins Linkedin

By Dan, on January 31st, 2011

Today the NMA has created a LinkedIn group, where local members can sign up and use this page as a local collaboration tool. LinkedIn is a social media website similar to facebook but is directed at a business audience. The NMA can use this forum to make it easier for local manufacturers to connect and solve problems.

Dan Ross states that “it is my hope that our local manufacturing community can use this tool to connect to one another and help each other solve problems. This tool can also be used for the NMA to communicate events, news and ideas.”

You can sign up at linkedin here and be able to find the NMA group by clicking on the following link. If you are having any difficulty with this please contact Dan Ross (dan.ross@thenma.ca) with any question.

Annual Tri-Association Conference Presentations

By Charlton, on November 22nd, 2010

Download the following Powerpoint Presentations from our 2010 Annual Tri-Association Conference

“Lean Manufacturing – Continuous Improvement Workshop” – Bob Forder – Deloro Stellite (Powerpoint 2.3 Mb)
“Upcoming MOL Blitzes & Bill 168 Update” – Lee McCue – IAPA (Powerpoint 1 Mb)
“Securing Revenue and Profit in a Tough Economy” – Stewart Anderson – Kaizan Solutions (Powerpoint 2.7 Mb)
“Improving Industrial Energy Efficiency” – Angelo Mangatal – CIPEC (Powerpoint 4.9 Mb)

Northumberland Today Covers Conference

By Dan, on November 6th, 2010

The Tri-Association conference was covered by Northumberland Today. Click here to see the article.