BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES

BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES - BREAKFAST SERIES 2008

Business Advisory Services of the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship delivers direct support to Ontario business leaders to assist them to develop and execute strategies that will position their firms for success.

Recent Events:

Breakfast Series 2008

From June 3 -5, Business Advisory Services held consecutive, well attended events in London, Cambridge and Windsor with presentations on innovative Lean business practices and information on Ministry programs that can assist in the growth of Ontario companies.

The goal of this series is:

Provide information on processes and applications that you can directly apply to your day-to-day business practices;
Introduce and update on how Business Advisory Services can assist in the growth of your company.
Underscore how the Ministry can be a valuable resource for your business.

Lean Thinking

Lean is the most powerful force changing Manufacturing in the world today. It is transforming small business as well as the largest and it has now spread into every sector from construction, medicine, and the service industries. As the economy tightens more are turning to Lean and what it can offer. Series presenter, David Hogg, sees Lean as:

“..a philosophy/mindset that is committed to achieving a totally waste-free operation that's focused on your customer's success... that is achieved by simplifying and continuously improving all processes and relationships in an environment of trust, respect, and full employee involvement. It is about people, simplicity, processes, flow, visibility, partnerships, integrity, and true value as perceived by the customer."

Click here to see the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Leading Growth Firm Series publication on Lean strategies.

About The Presenter:

Dave Hogg, P Eng.
Founding President, High Performance Consortium Inc.
Director, High Performance Solutions Inc.

Dave Hogg has been renovating companies for over 25 years. His work has developed the model for most Lean consortiums in Canada, Australia, and the United States. In a career that has crossed all sectors, from Aerospace, to Marketing, Applied Education, and Technology Transfer with the Ontario Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, Dave has been committed to one clear goal: ‘make a difference that matters’.

His talk was a frank and practical discussion focusing on real world examples of practices that work. The presentations aim was to make Lean concepts easy to understand and apply, providing the structure and steps required initiating a culture change in your business.

In addition to his formal work with groups and associations, Dave writes two weekly newsletters and is Chair of the 2008 AME International Conference, Toronto October 20-24, 2008, where 2,500 Manufacturing practitioners are expected to attend in what will be the largest event of its kind in North America.

To read Mr. Hogg’s articles on Lean practices:

Update on Government of Ontario Programs:

Next Generation Of Jobs Fund (NGOJF)

NGOJF is a new program designed to support research, development and commercialization in innovative industries and attract new investments in strategic areas of Ontario’s economy. NGOJF is a five -year $1.15 billion program to support job creation or retention in strategic areas of great potential for Ontario.

The NGOJF program will:

Create and sustain jobs for Ontarians
Lever private sector investment in Ontario
Improve competitiveness of Ontario businesses
Foster innovation
Support Ontario’s Go Green Plan

Click here for more information on this program.

Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy (AMIS)

AMIS will lower the project thresholds to 50 jobs created/retained and $10 million invested (previously 100 jobs/$25 million), and increase the program’s incentive from a 10% to a 30% loan. These enhancements will increase access to more projects from small and medium-sized manufacturers in Ontario. Companies will benefit from a 30% interest free loan for 5 years; giving companies greater access to more capital at a lower cost, enabling them to undertake significant new investments in advanced manufacturing.