Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
July 12, 2017

Ministers Byrne and Mitchelmore Highlight Success of Lean Training Initiative

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, and the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today highlighted the benefits and successes of a partnership between the Provincial Government and the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association which supports companies involved in Lean Training and Processes.

Lean manufacturing is an effective method of reducing waste within the manufacturing process while developing a culture of continuous improvement. A formula for growth, Lean helps support a sustainable economy, the top priority of the Cabinet Committee on Jobs. Lean training enhances the skills of the labour force by enabling manufacturers throughout the province to cut costs, increase productivity, boost morale, and strengthen their bottom line.

The success of the program was on display at SkyHawk Telematics in St. John’s where the ministers presented Lean certificates to the company’s employees.

Lean training has enabled SkyHawk Telematics, a software-as-a-service provider delivering communication and monitoring systems across North America using both cellular and satellite networks, to successfully reduce standard order delivery time from six weeks to next day. With continued business success in government and public works as well as the power utility sectors, SkyHawk has experienced Compound Annual Growth Rates greater than 20 per cent, allowing a 350 per cent increase in staff since 2012.

Through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant program, almost $439,000 was provided to Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters to deliver Lean training to manufacturers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. To date, more than 600 individuals from more than 40 organizations have received training and all are eligible for Manufacturing Productivity Lean Certification.

As committed in The Way Forward, the Provincial Government also continues to adopt Lean principles in its own structure and services.

For more information about Lean training in Newfoundland and Labrador, visit Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters at www.cme-mec.ca external link.

Quotes
“Adopting Lean principles enables organizations and businesses in all sectors to be more competitive and take advantage of opportunities to grow. With new offices and a growing workforce serving an expanding market, SkyHawk Telematics is an example of what Lean can help organizations accomplish.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

“I congratulate SkyHawk Telematics for their focus on innovation and business excellence. By applying Lean management practices, the company has made tremendous improvements in processing efficiency by reducing the standard order delivery time from six weeks to next day. These practices not only result in improved customer service, but the creation of a culture of continuous improvement for employees, all resulting in company growth. I also commend Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters for its continued role in working with companies throughout the province to implement Lean training.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

“The Lean training is designed to introduce participants to as many as 19 custom built training modules that are taught using a ‘learn by doing’ methodology based on each company’s specific needs for improvement. When the methods and concepts are applied correctly, companies can become much more competitive and significantly increase their profits.”
David Haire, Vice President
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Newfoundland and Labrador
Lean Atlantic

“Lean productivity has become a core part of the corporate culture at SkyHawk, Lean training has significantly impacted the accuracy of our product delivery, decreased delivery times from weeks to 1-2 days, improved internal processes enabling scaled production and growth, and most importantly has increased the level of our customer satisfaction.”
Mark Gillingham, Vice President
Skyhawk Telematics

- 30 -

Learn More
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters - www.cme-mec.ca external link

Skyhawk Telematics - www.skyhawk.co/ external link

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL external link, @AESL_GovNL external link and TCII_GovNL external link

Media contacts
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca

Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4918, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Leona O’Neill
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
709-237-8711, 709-764-7674
Leona.ONeill@cme-mec.ca

Charlie Reid
Skyhawk Telematics
709-737-2583 (ext. 23)
charlie@skyhawk.co

2017 07 12                             11:50 a.m.