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Strength in Numbers
Red Deer, Alberta --
Dec 6, 2003 --
By HARLEY RICHARDS, Advocate business editor
What do Almita Manufacturing Ltd. of Ponoka and Red Deer's Collicutt Energy Services Ltd. have in common?
A lot more than you might think.
Despite dissimilar products and markets, the two Central Alberta manufacturers face many of the same problems and challenges. And representatives from each meet regularly to discuss these and share ideas. Joining them are officials from E-One Canada Ltd. and Quinn Pump - A Division of Quinn's Oilfield Supply Ltd. from Red Deer, NWP Industries Inc. of Blackfalds and Wetaskiwin-based Supreme International Ltd.
The six companies are members of a consortium formed through Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, a national organization that supports and represents the interests of manufacturers and exporters.
Brian McCready, a CME vice-president responsible for its Alberta and Saskatchewan division, said manufacturers and exporters can benefit greatly from working together.
"The best part of a consortium is new eyes looking at your process." Often, he said, other companies have already encountered the problems your company is struggling with today.
"It's based on the philosophy you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself," he laughed. There are currently three CME consortiums in Alberta: Central Alberta's, one in Calgary and another based out of Edmonton. A second Calgary consortium is pending, and McCready thinks the northern region will soon follow suit.
CME consortiums usually grow to about 12 members before a new one is established in the area, he added. Members must be from non-competing industries, with unanimous approval required before an applicant is accepted into a group.
In addition to sharing "best practices" at their regular gatherings, consortium members contract CME to organize combined training courses.
This is less costly than individual companies arranging their own training, said McCready. Since the Central Alberta consortium came into existence in May 2002, CME has conducted courses on effective administration, achieving continuous improvement through teamwork, and lean purchasing and supply management.
In addition to the six members of the Central Alberta consortium, six other companies belong to CME. These do not participate in consortium meetings, but can take part in the training courses.
McCready said CME will place its members in contact with other companies that might be able to help them. It even organizes for plant tours. Information and ideas from members are also reviewed by CME and disseminated. This is important, said McCready, because about 85 per cent of the private capital research in Canada is done by CME members.
The organization also advocates for manufacturers and exporters at the municipal, provincial and national levels, said McCready. Often, it acts as an intermediary between government and industry, helping to relay information on topics like health and safety.
For companies active in other countries - or considering entering foreign markets - CME can offer assistance, said McCready.
"If somebody comes to us looking for something we can direct them to the right place." CME even helps foreign companies find Canadian manufacturers to produce their products here.
CME acts on behalf of both manufacturers and exporters because of the strong link between the two sectors, said McCready. He pointed out that nearly 70 per cent of the goods made in Canada are shipped to foreign markets.
Scott Smith, a value stream and supply chain specialist from [High Performance Solutions, in] Kitchener, Ont., conducts a training seminar on lean purchasing and supply management for a Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters group in Red Deer on Thursday.
08/12/2003 http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/portals-code/searchd.cgi
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