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Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
March 31, 2011

Lean, Streamlined Operations Goal of Businesses

Companies and organizations across a wide variety of industry sectors are undertaking training to shed excess and waste, while becoming leaner, more efficient operations. Supported by a $169,496 investment from the Provincial Government, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association (CME) will deliver introductory and targeted programming to members of the Fluent Manufacturing Consortia.

“Becoming leaner and more efficient is all about local companies and organizations taking a smarter approach to operating their business,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. “Through the CME’s training, company management and staff work collectively to identify a variety of measures to maximize productivity and increase their competitiveness. Together, they are able to address issues that have the potential to weigh down a company’s effectiveness such as reducing waste and time-to-market, as well as best practices for managing inventory.”

The Fluent Manufacturing Consortia consist of 14 companies within the manufacturing sector that are focused on best practices within their respective operations. Consortia members are Mad Rock Solutions (St. John’s); Browning Harvey (St. John’s); Country Ribbon (St. John’s); Dynamic Air Shelters (Grand Bank); Genoa Design International (St. John’s); Kodiak/Terra (Harbour Grace); Northstar Network (St. John’s); Newfoundland Liquor Corporation (St. John’s); Norampac (St. John’s); Precision Industries (St. John’s); Restwell Mattresses (Harbour Grace); Smith Snacks Ltd. (Norman’s Cove); Scotsburn (St. John’s); and Weather Shore Windows (St. John’s).

“For Restwell Mattresses becoming lean was all about surviving in a very competitive environment,” said Bob Tetford, Owner, Restwell Mattresses. “Our company cannot afford to sit back and do nothing about getting more productive. Lean training has already helped us survive through some challenging times and these new initiatives will add to our previous lean efforts. I expect to see real shop floor results from this initiative. The site visits and networking allow me to learn from what other world class companies are doing to become more competitive while sharing our own experiences with other companies.”

CME will deliver the training over a 12-month period. Programming will vary depending on what stage in the process members are at in adopting lean principles into their operations – those at the initial stage will receive an introduction to lean manufacturing, while those more progressed will receive company/organization-specific training.

“The Fluent Manufacturing Consortium is pleased to have the ongoing support from the Provincial Government,” said David Haire, Vice President, Lean and Best Practices, CME Atlantic. “The lean training will provide companies with the fundamentals of lean thinking and teach them how to facilitate and build participation in an environment that enables them to address the real issues within their operations. These exercises have the ability to strengthen and accelerate productivity.”

This initiative was funded through the Workplace Skills Enhancement Program. Administered by the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, this program helps small and medium-sized enterprises in strategic sectors acquire and increase the skills of employees to enhance productivity and global competitiveness. It is funded by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Agreement and the Strategic Training and Transition Fund.

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Media contacts:

Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca
Bob Tetford
Owner
Restwell Mattresses
709-596-7088
David Haire
Vice President, Lean and Best Practices
CME Atlantic
709-772-3682

2011 03 31             4:15 p.m.

 
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