Saskatchewan manufacturers will soon have access to specialists who can help them implement lean principles in their operations.
Lean manufacturing is a philosophy that focuses on reducing waste and increasing efficiency.
The federal and provincial governments announced $198,000 in funding, shared equally, to finance a one-year pilot project to help companies adopt the principles.
The money is the final payment to come from the previous Western Economic Partnership Agreement and goes to the newly created Saskatchewan Manufacturers’ Resource Centre in Saskatoon.
The announcement is not for “bricks and mortar”, however, but for two specialists.
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Some work is likely to be done at Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute and the provinces’ many manufacturers.
The announcement was made at Brandt Engineered Products in Regina.
“Many of our employees, if not all of them, have been involved in helping us become more efficient and more productive through (lean manufacturing training) and so we welcome any further assistance and support that you can provide to us through the manufacturing resource centre,” said Gavin Semple, president of Brandt Group of Companies.
Saskatchewan enterprise and innovation minister Lyle Stewart said the province’s businesses have to adapt to survive and thrive in a global marketplace.
He said manufacturing is one of the three major generators of wealth in the province. It employs 30,000 people.
“With shipments of over $12.3 billion in 2008 (manufacturing has) the highest growth among the four western provinces according to Statistics Canada,” he said.
“Saskatchewan-made products till the earth and fields of Asia and Europe. Saskatchewan-made products electronically monitor cargo traffic on highways in Australia. Saskatchewan-made products improve indoor air quality and reduce greenhouse gases across North America.”
The resource centre will help the industry improve productivity and increase innovation, he said.
Brian McCready, Saskatchewan vice-president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, said the centre could be the first step to a permanent centre of excellence for manufacturers.
Saskatchewan companies that have wanted to train their personnel in lean principles have previously had to travel out of the province to do so.
McCready said he would like to see Saskatchewan work toward a concept similar to the Advanced Manufacturing Institute in Manitoba, which offers resources and staff who travel to help businesses.
With the economic recession ongoing, he said now is the time to support training at home and get labour in place.
Canadians should not be complacent about the low dollar relative to American currency, he said.
“I think we’ve learned our lesson,” he told reporters.
“We stood behind that 73-cent dollar and 62-cent dollar … and we understood, when it went to $1.10, what pain was.”
McCready expects the dollar will rise again and he said manufacturers have to prepare to compete at par.
