Manufacturing Excellence Forum - GTA

Location: Vaughan Metropolitan Centre — Hwy 400 & Hwy 7 (exact address to be disclosed upon registration)

Agenda:

8:00am – 8:30am – Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:30am – 8:45am – Opening Remarks

8:45am – 9:15am – Keynote address – Christy Michalak, Director, Advanced Manufacturing Development Programs at NGen

9:15am – 9:30am – Networking Break

9:30am – 10:30am – Panel Discussion: Unlocking Operational Excellence — How Small Improvements Drive Big Results 

Panelists: Byron Leclair, President, fluidconcepts; Koyinsola Olorode, Sr Manager of Process Improvement, Griffith Foods; Jamey Heaton, Director of Operations, Wholesome Kids Catering

10:30am – 10:45am – Networking Break

10:45am – 11:45am Breakout Sessions:

• Productivity: Leading through the Chaos — Using Lean strategies to create productivity prowess, flexibility to respond to challenges, and develop new relationships.  Speaker/facilitator:  Chad Metcalf, President, Value Stream Solutions Inc.
• Solving the Productivity Puzzle — Interactive roundtable discussion about Canadian productivity.  Speaker/facilitator:  Matt Weller, EMC.

11:45am – 12:30pm – Lunch

1:00pm – Plant Tour at fluidconcepts, EMC Member in Vaughan. fluidconcepts is premier designer and manufacturer of innovative, creative commercial interior workspaces.  (Limited number of spots available for the tour).

More Info

Breakout Session 1

TOPIC:  Productivity: Leading Through the Chaos

Using Lean Strategies to create productivity prowess, flexibility to respond to challenges, and develop new relationships

In this session, our speaker will lead us through a review of the familiar, highlighted in new ways, so that companies can respond appropriately to the business challenges we are currently facing.  Now, more then ever, making sure your business focusses on adding value to your customers while reducing wasteful activities, is key.  We will explore specific tools and processes used to help free processes and workers from burden and roadblocks and discuss a few case studies to show how some companies have implemented real change.

Speaker: Chad Metcalf, President, Value Stream Solutions Inc.

As a recognized leader in process improvement, Chad has helped guide companies and individuals to phenomenal results.  His expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Leadership and Team development, developed through years of practical application in manufacturing and service organizations throughout North America, gives him the ability to relate big picture thinking to real world implementation.

His education includes a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Technology from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota and a college diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology from Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology in Barrie, Ontario.  He is a Six Sigma Black Belt that has led and mentored dozens of other ‘Belts’ and coached them in their projects.  In addition to leading change in manufacturing, engineering and service, Chad’s experience also includes kaizen improvements in administration, sales, call centers, health & safety, human resources, IT and accounting.

Breakout Session 2

TOPIC:  Solving the Productivity Puzzle: A Roundtable on Reindustrialization

Productivity is the one metric that measures if all efforts and interventions — process improvements, labour training, adoption of technology, and business strategies — are working or not. Since 1997, Canada has continued to invest in capital and resources only to have our manufacturing productivity continuously decline. We’ll examine some persistent root causes and 3 areas to focus on for the solutions: 1) a national reindustrialization strategy, 2) a rethink of education/knowledge development/funding, and 3) building a connected, active manufacturing ecosystem.  This will be an interactive roundtable discussion led by EMC Supply Chain/Productivity Expert Matt Weller.

Speaker: Matt Weller, CPIM

Matt brings over 25 years experience in various manufacturing environments from industrial to tech, in both large multi-national corporations and start-up environments where the supply chains must be built from zero and be scalable through to acquisition or investment. He has spent time working directly with every major component of supply chain, including materials & inventory management, production management, sales & operations planning, logistics, purchasing and sourcing, supplier strategy & management, new product introduction, supply chain risk and resilience, and international trade. He has also managed several combined engineering and supply chain projects from design through to product launch. System thinking and a concern for productivity underpins everything Matt does.

As a Supply Chain Strategist, Matt is focussed on Canadian small and medium manufacturing, and the challenging business realities that are exclusive to manufacturers of that size. His work includes providing advisory support for a variety of small and medium manufacturers across Canada in a variety of industries and product types, to help them navigate the rapidly changing domestic and global supply chain landscapes and unlock their productivity.

Facility Tour

Location: fluidconcepts (151 N Rivermede Rd, Concord, ON L4K 3N7)

About fluidconcepts:

fluidconcepts is an award-winning, industry-leading designer, manufacturer, and retailer of contemporary office furniture. Since 2001, we have been supplying unique and intelligent office furniture for architectural and interior design professionals, dealers, and end users throughout Canada and the United States.

Our goal is to provide unbeatable world-class service and customer support that meets the needs of our clients, and surpasses their expectations.

Through a highly-customizable process that extends from customer-focused design to post-occupancy evaluation, we provide creative and effective workplace solutions for customers seeking differentiated, intelligent office workspace solutions at affordable prices.

NOTE: As limited space is available, admission for the plant tour is not guaranteed. We will contact you at a later date to confirm your registration for the the plant tour.

Sponsorship / Partnership Opportunities

Please click here to review opportunities for sponsorship.  We look forward to hearing from you!