SME Toronto Chapter 26 Special Technical Groups:

STG: The Human Side of Lean

This SME-26 initiative to set up specific STG’s offers additional value for our members by providing special platforms that allow for intensive and active information exchange. STG’s can be initiated and organized by SME members who want to highlight and learn more about individual topics of general interest. The idea is to have monthly meeting in the GTA with member presentations, plant tours, guest speakers and discussions corresponding to the theme of the particular STG.

The first STG: The Human Side of Lean was launched February 20, 2006 with the CFN Precision plant tour, a leading Lean Six Sigma manufacturing company.

Lean and Six Sigma are the most widely accepted and successful business process improvement strategies in the world. The Toyota Production System TPS is based on these methods in combination with a unique and extremely well defined People Engagement philosophy, dating back to the origin of TPS in the 1940th. In North America less than 5% of companies achieve sustainable results and they increasingly realize that the secret lies in the necessity of actively addressing the "Human Side of the Lean Implementation".

Click here to find out about upcoming events.

If you are interested and want to learn more about the STG: The Human Side of Lean, we urge you to send an email directly to Juergen Boenisch.

Juergen Boenisch, Ph.D., CMC
Executive Management Consulting
Tel.: 905-847-9298
Email: Juergen.Boenisch@jbemc.com
 

STG: Professional Networking

NEW Successful Launch of Monthly Special Tech Group
STG: Professional Networking

An opportunity to meet and network with SME Members
and Non-Members in a relaxed and informal way.

SME-26 launched the first successful - STG: Professional Networking on February 21, 2008 at Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, Streetsville, ON.

"Professional networking is the creation and cultivation of business friendships and acquaintances. Those who do so effectively know its value. It is the life blood of strong and stable careers and businesses. Unfortunately, for many it is one of the most neglected aspects of professional development."

SME-26 took the initiative to launch a monthly networking event with great success and interest from a variety of professions. Present at this launch were six (6) representatives from Aerotek - North America’s Leading Technical and Professional Staffing Agency – providing informaton and links to new job oportunities.

Why network?

Very commonly known phrase says, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know. “

The modified and more appropriate phrase would be:
“It isn’t who you know, but who knows you and knows what you know. “

STG: Professional Network events are always every 3rd Thursday of the month between 6pm and 9pm at currently changing locations.

Please keep an eye on our website for details and location as it would be changing for every event. If anybody knows a good place, please let us know.

It is very important to hear your opinion and comments about this new STG: Professional Networking.

Please contact Ken Shah at (416) 508-4434, Ken.Shah@sme-toronto-26.org or Juergen Boenisch at (416) 839-7759, Juergen.Boenisch@sme-toronto-26.org.

We are looking forward to seeing you at our next event!
 

STG: Professional Development

LAUNCH OF 3rd SPECIAL TECH GROUP - STG: Professional Development

SME-26 is pleased to announce its 3rd Special Tech Group STG: Professional Development.

Our newest edition the STG: Professional Development is based on feedback we received from the other two events as well as from discussions with members and industry representatives. It became clear that we need to provide additional value and education for more specific and technical areas such as for Automation, Forming & Fabricating, Industrial Laser Application, Machining & Tooling, Plastics & Composites, Management Information System (ERP/MRP), Design Software and Simulation Packages, IT in general etc. etc.

There is a wide range of topics and areas our members are interested in and want to learn more about. It is our task now to determine where the greatest interest lies and how to compile educational packages that provide the best value to our members.

YOUR feedback and input for finding the right subjects and experts and to make this NEW STG: Professional Development successful will be highly appreciated!

STG: Financial Management

After several requests from external financial service providers to provide value to our members and non members, SME Toronto Chapter 26 decided to start a Special Tech Group STG: Financial Management.

The STG: Financial Management will cover financial subjects like

• Lean Accounting vs. Activity Based Costing
• Make versus buy including "all relevant" aspects
• Personal finance and portfolio management
• Finance 101 for Engineers and Technicians
• How to calculate Total Cost of Ownership
• Off-Shoring - What are the financial KPIs
• How to read financial statements: Income statement - Balance Sheet - Cash Flow
• True inventory evaluation
• And other topics you think we should cover

The first session will be related to YOUR investments without leaving the impression of a sales pitch, but rather offering the opportunity for you to openly raise question and to get professional feedback.

We will cover questions such as

• Are you Recovery Ready?
• Are your investments on the "sidelines" waiting for worries to recede?
• Waiting for investments to recover before making any changes?

STG: Innovation and Creativity

Here is our newest edition of our SME Toronto Chapter 26:

The mandate of STG: Innovation and Creativity is to promote and share best practices in innovation and creativity, and turning innovation and creativity into results. This includes bringing new ideas to market to:

• create and retain customers, clients and stakeholders.
• generate revenue, cash flow and profit.
• create social wealth, such as jobs, professional opportunity, or a greener world.

Our goal is to deal with the challenges of bridging the divide between Concept and Result.