This project is just getting underway. If you are interested in participating in the project’s Working Group, please contact Dale Ross, at dross@supplychaincanada.org.

Focus Groups

The primary purpose of this project is to provide the tools necessary for sector stakeholders to clearly enunciate the occupational, training and certification standards associated with material handling in the supply chain sector.

There is a critical need to standardize the certification requirements for forklift/reach-truck operators on a national basis throughout the sector. In addition, there is significant demand for qualified workers, and this occupation lends itself well to facilitating entry to the sector.

The apprenticeship model is ideally suited for this occupation and is supported widely by industry and governments. There are many people, particularly among under-represented groups, interested in apprenticeship opportunities.

The expected benefits of this project are:

For workers: greater knowledge and information regarding entry-level career opportunities in the sector and, consequently, increased access, particularly by under-represented groups.
For employers: the ability to more effectively recruit and retain workers by offering entry-level apprenticeship opportunities that are nationally recognized.
Through this project, the CSCSC will:

Complete a review of apprenticeship frameworks for occupations consistent with material handlers from other sectors;
Develop essential-skills requirements for material-handling occupations;
Identify existing training providers and match training curricula to skill requirements;
Establish an accreditation framework for training providers; and
Promote the accreditation program within the sector.
The results of this project will include the development of a process that will ensure that material handlers, specifically forklift and reach-truck operators, have the requisite skills and competencies to operate their equipment safely and efficiently in workplaces throughout the sector and that the acquisition of such skills can be clearly demonstrated so as to be accepted and recognized nationally by the sector.

Focus Groups

If you are a user, trainer or manufacturer of material-handling equipment, we’d like you to share your first-hand knowledge and experience as the Council, with the assistance of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), develops occupational standards for material handlers within the Canadian supply chain sector.

The initial focus of project activities will be on the development of occupational standards for operators of electric trucks (Industrial Truck Association (ITA) Class 1 through 3), internal-combustion-engine trucks (ITA Class 4 and 5), and aerial work platforms, booms and cranes used in connection with material-handling-equipment maintenance.

If you or anyone in your company has experience with material-handling equipment, we welcome, and need, your involvement in this project. Focus-group sessions will be held as shown below. Sessions will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Note that teleconferencing options are available should you wish to attend a particular session but are unable to travel.

Vancouver – Thursday, July 9
Holiday Inn Express Metrotown, 4405 Central Boulevard, Burnaby

Calgary – Tuesday, July 14
Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel, 2620 32nd Avenue NE

Toronto – Tuesday, July 21
Canadian Standards Association, 5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100, Mississauga

Montreal – Friday, July 24
Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites Montreal Airport, 700 Avenue Michel Jasmin

Halifax – Thursday, July 30
Future Inns Halifax Hotel & Conference Centre, 30 Fairfax Drive

Contact Dale Ross, at dross@supplychaincanada.org, to register for one or more of the focus-group sessions or to find out more about how you can participate.

February 20, 2009, Mississauga, Ontario – The Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council (the CSCSC) has responded to the needs of stakeholders with an update of labour-market information (LMI) achieved through a process developed to ensure that an accurate picture of the sector’s human resources is consistently captured in the future.
In a sector study completed in 2005, stakeholders identified the need to collect and monitor LMI as a high-priority action item. As a first follow-up step, the CSCSC completed a phase I LMI project in 2007 to gather input from the sector about the types of LMI that were most required. Two further LMI-related projects resulted: a phase II project, through which LMI tools are being developed for use by stakeholders, and the LMI-update and NOC-awareness project through which labour market data has been updated to reflect the current state of the sector.
The 2005 study used data from the 2001 Canadian Census and a ratio, developed by Industry Canada, applied to an aggregate of the total labour market for the 26 NOC (National Occupational Classification) codes considered to comprise the sector. Through its LMI-update project, led by RDA Global, the CSCSC has defined the ratio used in the sector study and applied it to recent Labour Force Survey data to establish current statistics for the sector. Based on recent data, the sector now employs 732,000 Canadians, up from the 701,880 people estimated to work in the supply chain in 2004.
The new LMI-update process will enable an understanding of trends, overall and by occupation, on a national, regional or local level, and provide an accurate baseline in terms of labour supply that firms and educators can use for forecasting purposes. On a larger scale, the data can also be used in addressing issues related to inter-provincial mobility and labour-market transitions, for example. NOC-Awareness Workshops
A second component of this project is aimed at boosting the use of NOC codes by the sector’s employers in their HR-management activities. Three information sessions will be held across Canada.

www.supplychaincanada.org

Canada must foster domestic firms’ integration into global supply chains in order to secure a better standard of living for its citizens and to stay competitive, says a new report by the Conference Board of Canada.North American supply chain trade growth has plateaued in recent years, following dramatic increases in the 1990s, says a CBOC report titled ‘Stuck in Neutral’. The study argues that governments continue to view trade in outmoded terms of sales of finished goods from one country to another, but the new trans-national nature of corporations means goods and services flow across multiple borders around the globe before a finished product comes to market.

As a result, the paper argues, governments must adopt policies that recognize the new reality and help domestic firms to take advantage of lower cost labour and other efficiencies abroad, something that just isn’t happening to the extent it should, says the board.

Read more here…

FedEx announced Monday it is now delivering to select provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.

When the FedEx Truckload Brokerage launched in January 2007 it focused solely on the U.S., company officials said.
“Since we opened our doors last year, our customers have been asking if we could handle their shipments to and from Canada,” said John Colonna, managing director of FedEx Truckload Brokerage, in a statement. “This is the reason we started the company in the first place — customers wanted a FedEx solution for their truckload shipments.”

FedEx Truckload Brokerage offers full-service truckload brokerage solutions. Options range from brokerage solutions for regular, dry-van freight to oversized pieces requiring flatbed trailers.

The CITT designation continues to be Canada’s most respected and widely held professional designation in the supply chain and logistics field according to the 9th Annual Salary Survey of the Canadian Logistics Professional” by Canadian Transportation & Logistics magazine.Eighteen per cent of survey respondents rated the CITT designation as the Top Professional Designation earned in the supply chain and logistics sector.  Read the survey article at http://www.citt.ca/files/CTL_Survey%20of%20the%20Logistics%20Professional.pdf 

A Canadian wireless equipment company is buying a Boise high-tech company in a stock and cash deal valued at more than $30 million.Richmond, British Columbia-based Sierra Wireless said its purchase of CradlePoint Inc. should close in July.

CradlePoint, which employs 40 people in Boise, develops wireless networking products for the cellular industry, including docking cradles, routers and software programs. The privately held company reported $6.5 million in revenue for 2007 and hopes to increase revenue to $25 million in 2008. The companies’ announcement did not say whether any Boise jobs would be affected. A call to CradlePoint’s chief executive Tuesday afternoon was not immediately returned.

Sierra Wireless is a publicly held company whose stock trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Jason Cohenour, president and CEO of Sierra Wireless, said the CradlePoint purchase will allow Sierra to expand its position in the mobile computing market.

“We believe that adding CradlePoint’s mobile broadband networking and docking solutions to our product portfolio extends our offering and value proposition to mobile operators and vertical OEM (original equipment manufacturers) customers,” Cohenour said in a statement. “Furthermore, we believe that the mobile broadband networking category is poised for rapid growth, and that CradlePoint brings innovative mobile networking technology and talent to our team.”

Sierra Wireless said it will keep CradlePoint in Boise. Pat Sewall, CradlePoint’s CEO, will become vice president and general manager of the Sierra Wireless Mobile Broadband Networking Product group in Boise.

“By joining forces with Sierra Wireless, CradlePoint gains immediate access to established global distribution channels, leading-edge mobile broadband technology, product marketing expertise, large-scale supply-chain capabilities and working capital to drive future growth,” Sewall said in a statement.

The company is paying $21.8 million and will issue more than 463,000 shares of stock to shareholders of CradlePoint for a total value estimated at $30.2 million.

Sierra announced the purchase Monday. On Tuesday, the company’s shares were up 30 cents to close at $18.43. Over the last year the stock has traded between $11.98 and $28.10. In 2007, the company reported nearly $136 million in revenue, nearly double the $68.3 million reported in 2006.

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Lawson Software (Nasdaq: LWSN) today announced that Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. licensed the Lawson M3 Finance Management, Enterprise Asset Management and Supply Chain Management Suites along with Lawson Business Intelligence. The company selected the Lawson enterprise software solutions to help improve profitability, increase operational efficiencies and support its growth plans. The contract was signed during Lawson’s third quarter of fiscal 2008, which ended Feb. 29, 2008. Lawson Professional Services will provide implementation services for the project.

Kelowna Flightcraft includes Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd., Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd. and Allied Wings. Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. is a maintenance organization that operates 10 line maintenance facilities across Canada and two full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Kelowna, British Columbia, and Hamilton, Ontario. Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd. is the air cargo carrier for Purolator Courier Ltd., shipping up to 600,000 pounds of freight nightly. Allied Wings operates the Canadian Forces Contracted Flying Training and Support Program near Winnipeg, Manitoba. Together, these three businesses employ 1,000 employees who fly, maintain, modify, engineer and paint aircraft.

“We needed an integrated, yet flexible business system to support our growing aircraft maintenance business,” said Mike Udala, director of maintenance, Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. “Lawson will help simplify and expedite the way our employees order parts, manage inventory, track key financial information, and manage maintenance projects and processes.”

Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. will use the Lawson M3 Enterprise Management System to help increase profitability by standardizing and automating core business processes company-wide. In addition to helping staff more efficiently manage aircraft maintenance and repair, the Lawson applications will help Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. optimize its financial and materials management processes. This will help the company serve a growing number of customers with an expanding range of services.

“Companies that use and maintain significant physical assets, such as aircraft, need technology solutions that will help them run their businesses more efficiently and protect their long-term investments in equipment,” said Robert Peterson, marketing director, Industry Markets, Lawson Software. “Complex assets like aircraft are the life-blood for these companies, so a smarter approach to equipment service and business operations can help them achieve their growth plans and stand out from their competitors by providing more predictable, reliable service to their customers.”

About Lawson Software

Lawson Software provides software and service solutions to 4,000 customers in manufacturing, distribution, maintenance and service sector industries across 40 countries. Lawson’s solutions include Enterprise Performance Management, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management and industry-tailored applications. Lawson solutions assist customers in simplifying their businesses or organizations by helping them streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance business or operational performance. Lawson is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., and has offices around the world. Visit Lawson online at www.lawson.com.

OTTAWA, April 7 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister
of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the start of the
rail freight service review by inviting comments from interested parties on
the draft terms of reference for the review.
    “Shippers need an effective, efficient, consistent, and reliable rail
transportation supply chain to remain competitive in domestic, continental,
and international markets,” said Minister Cannon. “There is widespread support
for this review because it will identify service problems and their impacts
and make recommendations to improve Canada’s rail freight logistics system.”
    When the government tabled proposed amendments to the shipper protection
provisions of the Canada Transportation Act (CTA) on May 30, 2007, it
announced its commitment to begin a review of railway service within 30 days
of the Bill receiving Royal Assent and to consult with shippers and railways
on the scope and terms of reference for this review. Bill C-8 received Royal
Assent on February 28, 2008. Draft terms of reference have already been
reviewed by the Coalition of Rail Shippers, Canadian National Railway (CN) and
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), and revised, based on their feedback.
Stakeholders are invited to comment by May 11, 2008. It is expected that the
terms of reference will be finalized in May 2008.
    The scope of the review is Canada’s rail-based logistics chain (including
shippers, terminal operators, ports and vessels). The review will focus on
service provided to Canadian shippers and customers by CN and CPR within
Canada, including to and from ports and border crossings. This is good news
for shippers of a broad range of commodity groups such as agriculture; coal;
fertilizers; forest products; fuel and chemicals; grain; intermodal including
retail; machinery and automotive; manufactured products; and metals and
minerals.
    It is proposed that the review be conducted in two stages that may take
12-18 months to complete.

    In the first stage (at least six months):

    <<
    - Consultants would gather and analyze data from shippers, railways and
      terminals, assess railway operational issues and conduct shipper
      surveys on railway best practices and issues; and
    - Transport Canada would assess how service issues are addressed in other
      transportation sectors and in regulated industries in Canada and the
      United States.

    In the second stage (approximately six months), a panel of three eminent
persons would:

    - Develop recommendations based on the results of the analytical work and
      any other available relevant information;
    - Consult stakeholders on the draft recommendations; and
    - Submit a final report to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and
      Communities.

 

strategic alliances with leaders like SATO America, and the modular archite cture of the

Supply Chain leaders embody five critical skills, according to an article by John T. Mentzer, professor of business in the Department of Marketing and Logistics at the University of Tennessee. Here they are:
Supply chain leaders surround themselves with the best and brightest supply-chain professionals.
Supply chain leaders are metrics driven. They are able to list and explain the factors affecting availability, working capital, and cost, and push the organization to do supply chain benchmarking and best-practice analysis, and personally review the results.
Supply chain leaders establish reward and incentive programs to encourage people to behave in ways that benefit the overall firm–not just their own functions.
Supply chain leaders understand the new software, process, and technology advances that are rapidly emerging to support sophisticated supply chain management. They lead the change-management process, helping drive user buy-in and making certain that proper vendor support, adequate training, and other resources are in place.
Supply chain leaders resist the Urge to Surge (sluggish sales for most of the quarter are often capped by an end-of-quarter surge, driven by deep discounts as the companies tries to make projected sales numbers) and are a voice in the company to avoid these disruptive practices.