Developing Global Manufacturing Competitiveness
These days with the economic turbulence of Europe and concerns about China’s growth prospects, many may overlook the Canadian manufacturing community and their position and importance in the overall manufacturing sector. Unlike other countries, the Canadian manufacturing sector today is smarter, leaner and better than before, despite the significant loss in buying power associated with the Canadian dollar.
These days with the economic turbulence of Europe and concerns about China’s growth prospects, many may overlook the Canadian manufacturing community and their position and importance in the overall manufacturing sector. Unlike other countries, the Canadian manufacturing sector today is smarter, leaner and better than before, despite the significant loss in buying power associated with the Canadian dollar.
What opportunities does Canada have for the gear industry and how have they addressed the issues of a skilled labor shortage and economic turbulence?
AGMA’s Strategic Resources Network (SRN) will address these issues in its next meeting October 10-11 in Ontario, Canada. This two-day meeting will focus on Canada’s position in the global manufacturing community and the current technologies that make the Canadian manufacturing sector so competitive. Attendees will take home some “lessons-learned” from speakers representing the Canadian government, including local gear manufacturers, and colleagues. After this meeting, attendees will have a better understanding of the similarities and differences of working within the global arena. That will be true whether your company does business in Canada or not.
This meeting is sponsored by the Strategic Resources Network (SRN), which is a group of up-and-coming professionals employed in the AGMA member companies. The goal is to provide “take-away” practicalities that can be shared with colleagues.
Here are a few of the highlights that are planned for the meeting.
It opens with a plant tour of Ontario Drive and Gear (ODG), which is located in New Hamburg, Ontario. In addition to the tour, the attendees will have the opportunity to ride the ARGO, an all-terrain vehicle, manufactured by ODG. This event is sponsored by Ontario Drive and Gear. After the tour is over, we will explore the Canadian manufacturing community with two presentations.
Candian Technology Triangle
John G. Jung, Chief Executive Officer, Canada’s Technology Triangle. (CTT Inc) Co-Founder and Chairman, Intelligent Community Forum
John Jung is an award-winning registered urban planner, urban designer, economic developer and global speaker on planning, development, urban design and economic development related issues, including “intelligent communities.” John Jung will discuss the Canadian Technology Triangle’s mission to attract and expand local investment, which has been instrumental in setting up partnerships that bring capital and employment opportunities to the local Waterloo region.
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
Al Diggins, President & General Manager, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
Since founding EMC nearly 27 years ago and incorporating it as a not-for-profit organization in 1997, Al Diggins has guided the EMC’s from a small 18 member local association into Canada’s Largest Manufacturing Consortium. Find out what programs the EMC designs for their groups and how these concepts can be incorporated into your peer groups within your local manufacturing community.
That evening we will take part in a traditional Oktoberfest. Each October the Kitchener-Waterloo area hosts one of the largest Oktoberfests outside of Germany. The event is based on the original German Oktoberfest, which is billed as Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival. Join the group at the Concordia Club of Kitchener, the largest ethnic German club for some authentic German food, drink and merriment.
The following day the group will explore the on-going challenges the gear industry has for finding and hiring good workers.
Panel Discussion: Creating Industry Leaders
Moderated by Jack Masseth, SRN Chair and Advanced Gear Manufacturing Technology Manager, Meritor, Inc.
Panelists: Alesia Butera, Shared Services Manager, Milwaukee Gear Company; Ed Das, Manager of Process Development Ontario Drive and Gear; Greg White, Chair of Trades and Apprenticeship, Conestoga Institute of Technology; and special guests to include recent Conestoga Institute graduates currently employed at Ontario Drive and Gear
Finding and training good employees is a difficult task in any business. This panel discussion will focus on how to grow future industry leaders and will include first hand updates and success stories associated with ongoing apprenticeship programs in the States and Canada.
Gas Nitriding as an Alternate to Carburizing for Gears
David Orosz, President of Nitrex Metals Technologies
Plant Tour & Company Presentation: Linamar Corporation
Executives from Linamar Corporation will address how they are developing gear leaders. They will demonstrate the differences between skilled labor in Canada versus the United States, and explore Linamar’s training and apprentice programs.
The day will conclude with a personalized plant tour of one of the nearby Linamar gear manufacturing facilities.
Registration is $400 for AGMA member and $495 for nonmembers. The fee includes all round-trip coach transportation between the Waterloo Inn and the program components; lunch both days; breakfast on Thursday and Oktoberfest dinner and reception on Wednesday.
If you would like more information about AGMA’s SRN visit the AGMA website at www.agma.org or contact me through AGMA at website@agma.org.
Two Great Gear Courses in Two Great Locations
AGMA continues its lineup of quality educational courses with two of our most sought-after Ray Drago classes this fall. These advanced gear education courses provide two and a half days concentrating on a single focus within the industry and are designed to provide information you can take immediately back to your company and use. As an added bonus, these courses have been scheduled at quality venues easily accessible from airports around the world, including Las Vegas, NV, and Alexandria, VA, located conveniently outside Washington, D.C.
November 13-15, 2012
Gear Manufacturing & Inspection: Methods, Practices, Application
& Interpretation for the Design Engineer
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, NV
Instructor: Ray Drago, PE, Chief Engineer – Gear Technologist, Drive Systems Technology, Inc.
It is critical that the design engineer understand the manufacturing and inspection processes that will be employed so that the intent of the design can be successfully translated into practice. This seminar aims to narrow and possibly close the information gap by providing gear design engineers with a good foundation in both manufacturing and inspections processes and procedures.
Learn about methods behind a variety of gears, including external and internal spur, single and double helical gears, as well as bevel and worm gears. A description of each basic manufacturing and inspection method is provided. Both the methodology and underlying theory are explained.
The “features” associated with each manufacturing method are discussed with regard to their impact upon and their ability to refine, guide and optimize the design process.
For a complete description and details, please visit http://www.agma.org/events-training/detail/gear-manufacturing-inspection3.
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas affords attendees of this event easy access to exceptional dining, entertainment, relaxation, and more. This is a quality location to take quality advanced gear programming.
December 4-6, 2012
Detailed Gear Design – Beyond Simple Service Factors
Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria
Alexandria, VA
Instructor: Ray Drago, PE, Chief Engineer – Gear Technologist, Drive Systems Technology, Inc.
Detailed Gear Design – Beyond Simple Service Factors, is one of our most popular courses attended by more than 300 students in the last seven years.
This course will cover all factors going into good design from life cycle, load, torque, and evaluating consequences. Whether a gear engineer, gear designer or application engineer, by attending this course, you will be able to:
• Improve your gear designs.
• Better understand gear rating theory and analysis methods.
• Investigate differences in stress states among various surface durability failure modes.
• Discuss time dependent and time independent failure modes
related to tooth design.
• Use computer-generated graphics to examine mesh action and
tooth interaction.
Who Should Attend
Gear engineers, gear designers, application engineers, people who are responsible for interpreting gear designs, technicians and managers that want to better understand all aspects of gear design. Some familiarity with gear design and application will enhance overall understanding of the material.
For a complete description and details, please visit http://www.agma.org/events-training/detail/detailed-gear-design-beyond-simple-service-factors2.
Alexandria, Virginia is a destination where colonial charm blends harmoniously with some of the most dynamic activities in the Washington, DC area. The Crowne Plaza, host hotel for this event, provides all the amenities you expect. The hotel is located directly across the street from the AGMA Headquarters and offers a free shuttle to and from National Airport. Alexandria and Washington, DC are especially good destinations in December where holiday lights and activities provide an even more festive atmosphere.
