Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium of Canada 
Various Locations, Ontario and Atlantic Region

Industry: Service

Website: Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium of Canada (EMC)

Activity A

Results

A company official shared the power of learning that resulted from participating in with other manufacturers, being openminded and listening. This sharing of knowledge provoked a great deal of discussion on approaches implementing and sustaining Lean initiatives and the necessity of having both involvement and commitment from all areas of the company to ensure success.

Contributing Techniques and Tools

• Sharing initiatives
• Learning about the pitfalls, so they can be avoided
• Identify opportunities that might enable other manufacturers to succeed

Source: All-Canada EMC Update, June 29, 2006.

Activity B

Results

EMC's Lean team has become renowned for its success in consistently delivering outstanding Lean and Human Capital results and world-class training and mentoring programs. Over the past nine years, the Lean Sensei that comprises the "Lean Team" has helped deliver millions of dollars to the bottom lines of EMC members across Ontario and Atlantic Canada: in people and process improvements, waste reduction and increased productivity (economic) opportunities.

Contributing Techniques and Tools

• EMC had identified member needs for better metrics in determining manufacturing capabilities
• Targeting improvement opportunities and engaging strategic initiatives designed to bring positive change and improved results for EMC members
• This has resulted in a need for the team's organization to evolve, in order to meet new member requirements and effectively deliver this new method of "Lean Thinking".

Source: All-Canada EMC Update, Vol. 11, Issue 26, August 4, 2006.

Activity C

Results

An EMC Community Development Advisor recently participated in an event that looked at continuous improvement opportunities in an entirely new light. The "Lean and Clean Workshop" was a full-day event hosted by Environment Canada, the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, NRC-IRAP and Industry Canada and was attended by 36 participants from across Ontario. The event's objectives were to understand the environmental implications of Lean trends and the connections between Lean and clean manufacturing approaches.

Contributing Techniques and Tools

• Identified additional opportunities for savings in materials, energy and water consumption, and pollution prevention/mitigation
• Provided participants with strategies and practical tools to raise productivity, reduce waste, prevent pollution and boost profitability.

Source: All-Canada EMC Update, Vol. 12, Issue 07, March 8, 2007.

Activity D

Results

EMC hosts "De-Mystifying Lean" events across Ontario and Atlantic Canada on a weekly basis. EMC has hosted hundreds of participants in these high-impact sessions. "Demystifying Lean" is a special networking and learning session that will provide a dynamic review of the "Principles of Lean" and the "Seven Deadly Wastes," as the EMC speaker prepares participants for real examples of true Value Stream improvement.

Contributing Techniques and Tools

• Included an interactive discussion which included examples of how Lean Thinking has helped to make value flow throughout their entire business process.

Source: All-Canada EMC Update, Vol. 11, Issue 41, December 14, 2006.