The organization has arranged a tour of the electronics retailer’s Barrie warehouse on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. The tour will be preceded by a dinner and networking event at a nearby restaurant.

For those interested in the facility, here’s what the MHMS has to say about The Source and its operations:

With (over 700) locations primarily in malls and plazas, stores have a small foot print, on average 1,500 sqf. To keep compulsory in stock inventory levels, stores receive multiple shipments per week consisting of mainly split case orders. The Source also provides a choice of online direct-to-customer or direct-to-store processing and deliveries across Canada from the Barrie DC.

In 2002, the DC was completely refitted with a fully integrated system: WMS, conveyor, automated picking, pick-to-light and shipping diverts. This was required to meet growing business needs and to provide efficient processing in a primarily split case environment. The system is designed to provide continuous motion, reducing the requirement for temporary storage on conveyor lines. In August of 2012, a new e-commerce fulfillment area was created within the DC.

Barrie Distribution Centre specs:

• 368,000sqf
• Knapp Logistics Automation (conveyor, A-frame, LMS, sort divert system, WCS)
• Infor (formally Exceed) WMS
• RF by symbol
• Bulk storage areas
• Rack storage areas
• ATS Retail Solutions provide 90 percent of outbound freight services.

The Source  Online Fulfillment specs:

• Knapp Logistics Automation—14 put to light work stations
• Conveyor by Wecon Systems
• Canada Post (direct-to-home service)
• ATS Retail Solutions (direct-to-store service)

For further details or to book a space, please contact the MHMS.

MM&D now posts daily news items to our website and tweets the news on our Twitter feed. We also shoot video.

Below is a list of original MM&D videos. They include demonstrations of innovative technologies at use in the Canadian supply and interviews with key players in the industry.

Supply Chain Canada: Flowcasting and highlights
A discussion at Supply Chain Canada about what flowcasting is and how it works

Racking up a storage solution
Flint Packaging installs mobile pallet racks

Canadian 3PL thinks robots
Think Logistics turns to Kiva robots for a competitive edge

Canadian ports compete fairly: Lisa Raitt
US grievances against Canadian ports are a long-standing issue

Lisa Raitt discusses labour relations in the logistics sector
Says government is watching CN, Chorus and the Port of Montreal

Ports call on Hamilton
Association of Canadian Port Authorities holds annual conference in Ontario

Inside FedEx’s new facility
Business needs drive relocation and construction

Pival Expedite opening
New headquarters part of the company’s plans for growth

Supply Chain Canada: Interview with RF Pathways
Company releases update of its warehouse management software

Supply Chain Canada: Interview with Lean Supply Solutions
iPads ready for warehouse deployment

Supply Chain Canada: Interview with Second Foundation
New ERP system introduced

Interview with 2012 SCL President’s Award recipient Naeem Farooqi
Winner creates program to buy parts for eight transit authorities

Fashionable supply chain
DHL Express Canada helps designers send clothes down the runway at Toronto Fashion Week

Go to the Supply Chain Canada LinkedIn group.  Look for a thread started by MM&D editor Carolyn Gruske.

Reply to that thread with a comment that describes the challenge and explain what type of solution you’re hoping to find at the conference.

Every person who shares their story will be entered to win a full, two-day pass to the conference.

Supply Chain Canada takes place in Mississauga, Ontario on May 14 and 15.

Among the topics being addressed at the event will be:

• How to comply with changing regulations for the storage and handling of food and chemicals.
• New methods and challenges of communicating with customers and industry peers
• Complying with changes to laws in the US and Canada regarding reporting of financial transactions
• Discovering new sources of capital and putting those sources to the best use.

Speakers at this year’s event include:

• Peter Wilson, president of Sonwil Distribution Center and chair of IWLA’s Food Safety and Security Council,
• Dave Saucier of the Canadian Association of Chemical Distributors (CACD)
• Mitch Green of Clairvest Group
• Rebecca Mountain of Impetus Consulting

“New Environments—New Responses: Taking the Risk out of Your Business”, will take place in Woodbridge, Ontario on April 16.

Still, the survey notes that women in the industry are yet to reach the same heights as men. The wage gap between men and women stands at 17.7 percent, with men earning on average $91,181 and women $75,033. There are also significantly more women than men in clerical and administrative positions and significantly more men in managerial roles.

Those attending the conference held at the University of Calgary’s downtown campus, however, are set to change this circumstance by building dynamic careers in supply chain occupations across many different industries. Here, they share tips on not only how to survive, but to thrive in the logistics and supply chain world.

Break your own barriers

Kara Slemko, director of supply management operations for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNRL), encourages women to step outside of their comfort zones. “We are our own worst enemies,” she insists, arguing that women often face greater self-doubt and are less likely to perceive themselves as qualified for new opportunities than men are.

“When women are considering applying for a job we feel we need to have 100 percent of the skill set. Men think they only need 50 percent.”

Bobbi Lambright, president of ATCO Electric Operations, also encourages women to stretch themselves. “I’ve been a lot of firsts in my career,” she says. “The opportunities are there. We create our own barriers.”

“Take the opportunity in front of you. Don’t second-guess. The way people get ahead is by doing.”

Engage

When it comes to getting the job done, attitude may be more important than skills and experience. According to Lambright, skill sets are transferable across industries, but enthusiasm and engagement make the difference in succeeding in the supply chain. “People who take a genuine interest and take on a little more have almost an unlimited opportunity for growth,” she says.

This includes being willing to tackle whatever needs to be done, including small jobs others may consider “beneath them.” “It’s not demeaning to do these tasks,” she says. “If I have a guest, I’ll get them a cup of coffee.”

Lambright’s message to employees with a limiting attitude: “Get over it!”

She also warns industry members to avoid working in a silo and engage in teamwork.  “There is nothing more powerful in an organization,” she says, “than those who know where the company needs to go, are committed to getting there and throw their heart and soul into doing it”.

Know the business

When Slemko began her career at former employer CN Rail, one of her first tasks was to learn how to operate a train. Although she would never work as an engineer, this experience offered her a valuable awareness and appreciation of company operations. “You need to understand what the business requirements are in order to be the best at what you do,” she insists. “If you don’t understand the business and have that credibility, I don’t think you’ll go that high.”

Martha Cooper, professor of logistics at Ohio State University, agrees. She says a common complaint throughout the industry is that top management lacks understanding of the supply chain. “You have to speak their language,” she says. In particular, she encourages supply chain professionals to study and understand finance, as C-level leaders tend to focus on numbers and the bottom line.

Stand up for yourself

While supply chain managers and logistics professionals require a broad understanding of all business segments, they also need to defend their own territory. According to four women who work in the supply chain division of ENMAX Corp, one of their greatest challenges is influencing other divisions of the organization. “We have a unique culture with a diverse demographic,” explains corporate buyer Roula Wilde.

Joan Burke, manager of corporate procurement agrees and says she often finds herself “challenging engineer-type roles.”

She says “They have the tech knowledge, but it is your job to challenge the requests”.

Generation supply chain manager Andrea Smallbone insists you have to stand up for yourself. “Don’t be bullied by anyone. Find your own voice and stick to it.”

Junior Buyer Kerri Somes agrees. “Be confident in the knowledge you have.”

These women can gather inspiration from ENMAX president and chief executive officer Gianna Manes, who says leaders must have courage. This includes the courage to speak up, make difficult decisions, fire poor performers, lead change and hold others and yourself accountable. Courage, she adds, often requires “exercising your personal moral muscle”.

“Focus on doing the right thing more than focusing on doing things right.”

Lisa Ross, Director of Procurement Services for Altalink also emphasizes the importance of integrity, even when it requires challenging your superiors. She recalls a time while working for a former company that she uncovered an ethical breach. While the investigation led to serious repercussions including loss of employment for those who were involved, she says she has no regrets. “Never remain silent on ethics violations.”

Be “FAB”ulous

A reason women may be missing out on promotions is that they fail to promote themselves. “We need to blow our own trumpets,” says Smallbone. “Often women are too reserved and we don’t take enough credit. Then we go unnoticed.”

According to Sher Zaman, a senior HR director with Supply Chain Management, a fear of appearing ambitious can sabotage a woman’s career.

“Men see ambition as a positive trait, while women tend to be behind the scenes doing their job, hoping they’ll get appreciated; and that doesn’t always happen unfortunately.”

Kevin Maynard, executive director of the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council encourages individuals to promote themselves as if they were a product. This involves creating their own personal value proposition, not only to professional clients but internal customers such as your boss, and personal customers such as your spouse or children. He suggests using the F-A-B formula, which stands for features, advantages and benefits. Examine your features, the advantages those features offer to your customers, as well as the benefits or impact to those customers. The result is your own personal sales pitch.

Strike a balance

With long hours and plenty of opportunity for growth, many women struggle to find balance between work, family, community and leisure. Ruth Amarilla, manager of strategic spend management at ConocoPhillips insists balance is possible—as long as you remember it is a relative term. “Work/life balance means different things to different people. It can also mean different things for the same people at different stages in their lives.”

She stresses the importance of knowing your values and priorities and sticking to them. “It’s about saying ‘yes’ to those things that make us better versions of ourselves and saying ‘no’ to those that don’t.”

The CEO of YWCA of Calgary, Sue Tomney agrees. “I believe you can have it all,” she says. “You just can’t have it all at the same time and it won’t all be perfect.”

From her work with vulnerable women throughout the city and her own experience raising children while managing a career, she testifies that women can survive in the work world. In fact, she insists, women can do better than survive—they can go from “surviving to thriving.”

While women in supply chain face a number of challenges, the benefits they experience can be worth it. Deborah Hurst, associate dean and MBA program director for the faculty of business at Athabasca University, says according to her research most women in the industry were highly positive about their experiences. “They really love this field. They believe it is challenging and exciting. They love the travel and all the different demands that are coming at them at great speed every day. They are really thriving on that.”

The Baie St Paul is the first of the company’s trillium class ships—ships that have been specifically designed and built for operation on the St Lawrence—to arrive in Canada. A Chinese shipyard has the contract to build the the gravity-fed self-unloaders.

“Canada Steamship Lines ranks prominently among a number of Canadian shipowners who are committing hundreds of millions of dollars to build new vessels, testifying to the confidence these firms have in the future of the Great Lakes-Seaway System,” said Terence Bowles, president and CEO of the SLSMC. “The new vessels coming into service will bolster marine transportation’s competitive edge as the most energy efficient means of moving cargo.”

The efficiencies and savings garnered by running the new ship will prove advantageous, according to CSL president Louis Martel.

“The Baie St Paul is 15 percent more fuel efficient than CSL’s previous class of ships—vessels that were already among the most efficient in the Lakes—and will save approximately 750 tonnes of fuel per year, amounting to a yearly carbon emission reduction of 2,400 tonnes.”

The positive environmental picture is one the Seaway wants to promote.

From left to right: Captain Jim Leaney, Terence Bowles (CEO of St Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation) and Chief Engineer Jean-Louis Girard in front of the Baie St Paul, the first ship to open the St Lawrence Seaway.

“A peer-reviewed study, released in February of 2013, confirms that marine generates the least greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of any transportation mode. The new vessels can move a tonne of cargo very efficiently, and when compared to the state-of-the-art equipment in alternate modes, generate 38 percent less GHG emissions than rail and 88 percent less GHG emissions than trucks,” said Bowles.

Bowles added that he expects the amount of cargo transported on the Seaway to increase this year. “Seaway tonnage is forecast to exceed a total of 40 million tonnes for the year.”

In terms of the outlook for cargo volume on the St. Lawrence Seaway in 2013, the SLSMC’s Bowles noted that he continues to be upbeat. “Seaway tonnage is forecast to exceed a total of 40 million tonnes for the year,” said Bowles.

According to Craig Middlebrook, acting administrator of the US Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the confluence of a recovering economy and the investment in new ships is happening at the perfect time to drive the growth of St Lawrence traffic.

“The resurgence of manufacturing in North America is fueling demand for both traditional and new Seaway cargoes, having positive implications for Great Lakes shipping. Just as the private sector is investing in new vessels and new engines, public sector investments in lock rehabilitation, port infrastructure, and new navigation technologies are laying the foundation for sustained future growth,” he said.

This year will be the 55th operating season since work was completed (including the building of seven locks) to ensure the 306km stretch between Montreal and Lake Ontario was passable and deep enough to allow the travel of large commercial vessels.

Rather than paying over $1,000 in registration costs to attend the two-day event, MM&D is giving you the opportunity to win a pass for free.

All you need to do is pick a story from the MM&D homepage and post a link to that story to your Twitter account. And then let us know that you’ve tweeted the story by tagging MM&D in your tweet (please include @MMDOnline in the body of the tweet). Everybody who tweets an article will be entered into a draw to win a pass to the show.

Supply Chain Canada runs May 14-15 in Mississauga, Ontario.

MM&D is a media sponsor of Supply Chain Canada.

Bracing winter winds blew through Chicago, Illinois this January but even they couldn’t cool down the energy and excitement that seemed to resonate out of McCormick Place as it played host to ProMat 2013.

The materials handling tradeshow drew 785 exhibitors and 34,085 attendees, who packed the tradeshow floor. Informal polling by MM&D found exhibitors reporting a seeming uptick of senior level executives—people who could make purchasing decisions and open the purse strings—visiting their booths, and that impression was confirmed by the facts. ProMat officials report 85 percent of attendees had buying authority and 34 percent planned on spending $1 million or more on equipment and systems over the next 18 months.

According to MHI (the new name for the association formerly known as the Material Handling Industry of America) people intend to open their purse strings. MHI forecast a six percent (or better) growth rate across the industry for 2013 and a 10 percent rate for 2014. MHI cautioned there is some risk of a downslide for the first half of 2013, but even so, it expects the global industry to be strong.

The only negative numbers MHI reported were those for trade growth, import growth and export growth. It found trade growth slowed by more than 50 percent in 2012 due to reduced US demand and economic problems in foreign markets. Import growth dropped nearly 19 percent and export growth slipped 13.5 percent from the previous year.

The projections follow a series of positive numbers generated in 2012. Orders for new materials handling equipment grew 7.7 percent in 2012, while shipments grew 9.6 percent. For 2013, that number is expected to grow approximately seven percent, with the following year seeing a nine percent growth rate.

Positive feelings about the future weren’t just found in data projections. Organizers added a new element to the show. They hosted a competition and gave awards to the most innovative new and existing products. The winners were iQFusion, a custom-sized cardboard box automated packer, by Packsize LLC (new product) and the dual sided packing slip/shipping label printer application TwinPrint System by FOX IV Technologies Inc (existing product). But more than just passing out some hardware, the competition spurred discussion about the competing products and about advancements in the industry in general.

The show’s headlining speakers echoed enthusiasm for the industry. The Wednesday morning keynote, in particular, featured a panel discussion about the future of the materials handling industry, and the industry experts on the panel all seemed to be genuinely optimistic about the industry’s health.

The discussion was led by futurist Edie Weiner, president of Weiner, Edrich, Brown Inc. But before moderating the discussion, she opened with a presentation about how changing perceptions and technology will allow the industry to leap forward.

She stressed that the concept of storage is going to play an increasingly important role, not just in the materials handling world but in everyday life. “Solving the storage problem will be a tremendous opportunity of the future. People will want to pay for it.”

Developing a better understanding of what goes on outside of the four walls of a business is one way the industry is changing, according to panelist Michael Mikitka, CEO of the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC).

“We’re hearing more from our members they’re becoming more involved with sales teams and customer service when it comes to delivering on the promises made by the company to its customers. They’re getting involved to see how the product, once it hits the customer’s door, is being used. Then they can provide input and take back information that provides value to the relationship.”

He added that not only is the industry adapting to this new business approach, but it’s trying to quantify and understand it as well.

“Obviously numbers and benchmarking are important, but we’re moving beyond the numbers to what we refer to as soft metrics. We’re finding some of our members are now trying to evaluate relationships they have with business partners: the flexibility they have, their reliability, etc. Using that, they consider all the other metrics—what’s been delivered on-time, what’s been delivered damage-free, what’s the best supplier who’s been reliable and dependable. The relationship side is a metric our members are looking more closely at.”

Closely examining every aspect of the operation is the necessary first step organizations must take if they want to drive their supply chains into the future. They really need to understand their business as it is today and determine what they want it to be in the future.

“I think our role is so core, the role itself doesn’t change, but how we implement and how we innovate, that makes the supply chain more efficient,” said George Prest, CEO of recently rebranded Material Handling Industry (MHI).

“Our industry literally touches everything. We are just one small part of it, but we tend to look at ways of improving productivity because if we can increase productivity we have a healthier economy, which creates jobs and a higher standard of living. So what I see is more and more innovations. The role itself doesn’t change—move, handle, store, protect—but the way we do it will evolve.”

Liz Richards, executive vice-president of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), also spoke about how jobs have evolved.

“In 2009 our members really, really struggled and the sales process changed. The cycle became much longer. There was a realization the skill-sets needed by sales people changed with it. They needed to be much more solutions-focused. I think an organization can take its core beliefs and flip them over, and that’s really where our members need to go and really see how things have changed, ”

Richards said the industry must do a better job recruiting talent. She told the audience of the efforts MHEDA is making to introduce high school and university students to the supply chain world.

“Whether they become our employees or our suppliers, it’s important for them to see who we are. We’re an industry hidden in plain sight. We need to bring in young people to help us and turn things around and uncover new paradigms and flip our core beliefs.

Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) also said he regretted the supply chain not having as high a profile among students

“Students coming out of universities are receiving higher paying job offers than engineers, so we’re getting there. The career opportunities for supply chain professionals have never been greater. If you want an international opportunity, it’s easily accomplished. There are networks of people in our organization looking for individuals who want those roles. And those people are becoming senior leaders in companies. Look at Tim Cook. He ran the supply chain before taking over the reins at Apple. Or Walmart’s last two CEOs were out of their logistics organizations because we see so much and understand our suppliers and our customers. Frankly we’re taking over the world and everybody hasn’t figured it out yet.”

That’s the business philosophy of Dan Barnett, an experienced C-level executive who will offer practical leadership advice to attendees at the 2013 International Warehouse Logistics Association Convention & Expo. His presentation will focus on managing make-or-break execution in business operations, which he says is the core of success.

“The best leaders have both a clear vision and an eye for the operating detail that will make or break that vision,” Barnett says. “Lack of vision will result in a business that spins its wheels. And yet even the best vision will go nowhere in the face of poor execution.”

According to Barnett, the big struggle for most leaders is how to do both. “How do you actively lead your organization to ensure superb execution of your vision without being consumed by the details and the urgent ‘alligators’ you face daily?”

In his scheduled address, Barnett will offer practical and executable steps executives can take back to their businesses to help make their visions reality, and he is just one of the many speakers who will present at the convention.

“Those who attend will take home with them information about industry and economic trends, management techniques and leading-edge technological developments they cannot obtain in any other industry gathering,” says Paul Verst, president and CEO of Verst Group Logistics in Walton, Kentucky, and IWLA vice-chair and convention planning committee chair.

Educational sessions provide attendees with practical information and updates on management and business trends; and legal and government affairs updates. The concurrent trade show features a range of information including innovative technology options and services. Additionally, a full range of social events like the 2013 IWLA Golf Classic, March 10, will provide attendees with unique opportunities for networking.

The 2013 IWLA Convention & Expo runs from March 10 to March 12, at the Loews Portofino Hotel at Universal Orlando, Florida.

From a keynote that looked into a (figurative) crystal ball to predict upcoming materials handling industry trends to awards that recognized the most cutting-edge and ground-breaking technology, show organizers did everything they could to present attendees with a glimpse of how the industry will evolve in the coming years.

For the first time, show organizers ran a competition to award the most innovative products on display. Not only were the exhibitors required to have their products sitting on the show floor, they were required to offer a working demonstration of the equipment.

There were two categories: best new product and best existing product. In the existing product category, the Twin Print System from Export, Pennsylvania-based Fox IV Technologies Inc, beat out products from Bishamon Industries, Daifuku Webb, Dematic, Digital Lumens Inc, and Jungheinrich.

But it was the category of best new product finalists that drew the most buzz, especially the winner. Finalists included the Dead Man Brake caster from Blickle Casters, Restuff-IT Loaders (adaptable powered conveyor accessories with a worker platform) from Engineered Lifting Systems, the goods-to-person picking solution Perfect Pick from Opex Corp, the Mixed Case Row Palletizing (MXRP) from KUKA Systems and the Pick-to-Light System for Dynamic Pick Face from Intelligrated.

The winner was a piece of packaging equipment, the iQ Fusion from Salt Lake City, Utah-based PackSize Limited LLC, that took a piece of cardboard, formed it into a custom-sized, easy-open, no-filler required box, and automatically packaged the item-to-be-shipped into the box, complete with necessary labels. According to PackSize one of the biggest advantages to the system is the reduction in wasted cardboard, a concern that will become of greater importance as companies begin adopting more environmentally-friendly practices and technologies in the future.

The custom-built theme was also one that was echoed by one of the show’s keynote speakers. Edie Weiner, president of Weiner, Edrich, Brown Inc, a futurist and change management consulting company, told the gathered crowd that in the next two-to-five years, materials management professionals will need to become familiar with 3D printing. According to Weiner, 3D printing “is going to radically change materials, materials handling, materials storage, and warehousing”.

“I want to encourage you all to know more about this. This is not science fiction. It has been around for 20 years and is getting more sophisticated all the time,” she said. “At the molecular level, nano-technology will transform how much of what we do is done, from healthcare to materials building and storage. And that’s because they portend the capacity to create whole materials at such tiny levels and have them do so many more things.”

After her presentation, Weiner led a panel discussion featuring George Prest of the Material Handling Industry (formerly MHIA), Rick Blasgen of the CSCMP, Michael Mikitka of WERC and Liz Richards from MHEDA.

For more coverage from the show, the January-February 2013 print edition of MM&D is coming soon.

Amid pleas from aboriginal leaders for civility on both sides, peaceful protest appeared to be the order of the day, but motives varied. Some groups spoke of their own land claims, others decried the federal government’s changes to environmental oversight. Still more spoke of the need to honour all First Nations treaties.

In a message on their Facebook page, Idle No More organizers said their goal was to resist government policies in a peaceful and respectful way.

“It can be done,” the post said. “It can be done without aggression or violence. This is an energetic, exciting and transformative time.”

Tempers appeared to flare briefly in Edmonton, Alberta, however, where a group of protesters slowed traffic to a crawl on the busy highway artery that connects the capital city to Calgary.

At one point, the driver of a pickup truck tried to slowly push through the human blockade, prompting protesters to lean on the front of the truck. One even jumped up on the hood as onlookers shouted at the driver to stop.

The pickup was eventually allowed to pass and no one was injured.

Perhaps the biggest crowd of the day materialized in Windsor, Ontario where hundreds of people gathered at the Ambassador Bridge to temporarily snarl transport-truck traffic at the busiest border crossing in the country.

At one point, trucks were lined up for about a kilometre. Police said one entrance to the bridge was blocked, but a second remained open.

A group of people also set up a blockade on a rail line near Belleville, Ontario, about a two-hour drive northeast of Toronto. Via Rail said the blockade halted the movement of trains between Toronto and Montreal and Ottawa. By Wednesday night, OPP said the blockade had been cleared.

In downtown Toronto, about 100 people sang songs, played aboriginal drums and belted out anti-Harper slogans as they slowly made their way through the city’s core, snarling traffic as they marched towards Dundas Square.

“It’s a new year and we want a new relationship. What kind of relationship do we want?” protester Wandsa Nanibush asked the crowd.

“Nation to nation,” came the enthusiastic reply.

“The lands, the waters, everything that is the lifeblood of ourselves, our country and our people,” Nanibush said. “We’re in this together and we have to stand side by side as nations to nations. That’s the only way this country can go forward.”

Merv King, a member of the Timiskaming First Nation who lives in Toronto, came to the rally to support the Idle No More movement and its tactics.

“I believe it’s time to take actions now,” King said.

“Closing the roads, maybe the railroads—some of these things need to be done because if we don’t do these things then nobody pays attention. So, you’ve got to take some drastic action to get some results.”

In British Columbia, about 100 protesters gathered outside community hearings on the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline in Vancouver, which organizer Frank Brown (a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation near Bella Bella, British Columbia) said would lead to oil tankers passing through his nation’s traditional waters.

“We know that this current government has not been receptive. We know that there’s a spirit of denial in dealing with our aboriginal peoples,” Brown said.

“Our people have been ignored, our rights have been ignored and that’s why our people are rising up. They’re tired of being ignored.”

About 200 First Nations protesters also took part in a 45-minute highway blockade north of Victoria, British Columbia. Protesters were also blocking the Canadian National rail line through Kitwanga, in northwest BC.

A rail blockade was also established for part of the day on a CN rail track west of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, where the tracks cross the Yellowhead Highway, said Terry Nelson, former chief of the Roseau River First Nation.

“This is all about the businesses in Canada that depend on CN and their product being there on time,” said Nelson, who described the protest as an effort to make business leaders stand up and take notice of the dispute.

Nelson had said the protesters planned to block the line until Saturday, but the group of about 20 demonstrators left the area after CN obtained an injunction against them which was served by police.

Elsewhere across Canada, a handful of flag-waving demonstrators stopped a train on a rail line an hour west of Winnipeg, Manitoba, while marchers were also on hand to temporarily divert traffic from the Centennial Bridge in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

About 150 people rallied outside the residence of New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor Graydon Nicholas. They pounded drums, sang and waved signs as they walked from the St Mary’s First Nation and marched through Fredericton.

In Quebec, about two hours northeast of Ottawa, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake also slowed traffic along Highway 117.

In northern Alberta, members of the Lubicon Lake Nation staged information checkpoints on roads through the oilsands region.

“We’re not out blocking the roads and shutting things down, we’re not at that point,” councillor Bryan Laboucan said of the demonstration.

“All we’re doing here today is taking a few minutes to talk to people visiting our territory, whether for work or just passing through, and educate them on our situation.”

The honour, which is bestowed to the first first ocean-going vessel to enter the port without a stop-over, was awarded to the Hapag-Lloyd ship, the Mississauga Express, and its master, captain Deepinder Singh, of India.

Jean-Luc Bédard, vice-president, operations and Port of Montreal harbour master with Deepinder Singh, captain of the Mississauga Express

The Mississauga Express, which is 245m long and registered out of Bermuda, departed from Portugal’s Port of Lisboa on December 23, 2012, and arrived in Montreal yesterday. It is docked at Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership’s Racine Terminal.

The ceremony was led by MPA president and CEO Sylvie Vachon, and officially marks the start of the 2013 port activity. It is the 174th time the gold-headed cane was presented at the port.

Also recognized was the work of Corporation du Saint-Laurent Central pilots Onil Jean and Jacques Vigneault who brought the vessel safely into port.

Vachon also made mention of the the 150th anniversary of the Mariners’ House of Montreal, which welcomes seafarers from around the world when their vessels are docked in port.

“This organization recreates for these men and women a family atmosphere that is both warm and welcoming. It’s a home away from home for seafarers who are separated from their families for long periods of time,” Vachon said.

The port is commemorating the anniversary with the sale of specially made toques, which were distributed to mariners who visited the port during the month of December. Proceeds from the sales, which totalled $3,248, have been given to Mariners’ House.

If you’re looking for innovation in the supply chain, you should be able to find it in Chicago in January 2013.

That’s where the next iteration of the ProMat conference will be held. Like past versions, ProMat 2013 will have a trade show and educational seminars, but this year it is adding something new. It is launching the ProMat Innovation Award competition.

Two awards will be given out to companies exhibiting at the show: best new innovation and best innovation of an existing product. Finalists will be required to demonstrate their products on the show floor, and a special exhibit will feature all of the entrants.

The other new feature returning attendees can expect to see is an extra keynote session. Steve Forbes, chair of Forbes Media and one-time US presidential hopeful, will open the show with a presentation about how the incoming American president and his administration will affect future business growth and the state of the economy. (The show’s opening day is also the day the president-elect is inaugurated.)

The other keynote speakers are Henrik Christensen from Georgia Tech, who will talk about how robotics will help businesses drive future growth, and futurist Edie Weiner, who will lead a panel discussion about how material handling and logistics will impact future supply chains.

There are five education tracks. Three are sponsored by the Association for Automatic Identification (AIM), one is sponsored by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and one is co-sponsored by the Material Handling Industry Association’s Ergonomic Assist Association and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

“I think there is going to be more focus on education, with the three keynotes, the 100 sessions and the education track sessions. We are offering more educational opportunities, and educational opportunities at different levels. The show-floor sessions will be ranked as beginner sessions, advanced sessions and middle-of-the-road sessions,” says Carol Miller, vice-president of marketing for the Material Handling Industry Association (MHIA), the group that organizes ProMat.

Miller says she is expecting over 30,000 attendees and more than 800 exhibitors at the show. As in past years, the show is being held in conjunction with the Automate 2013 trade show, which showcases automation technologies and solutions.

While there will be lots of announcements at the show, a few companies have decided to provide sneak peeks of their upcoming news.

RMT Robotics

The Grimsby, Ontario-based division of Cimcorp Oy will showcase a new layer picking system. RMT Robotics says by using a combination of vacuum and clamping technologies, the system will able to pick up the vast majority of consumer products on the market, including corrugated or boxed cases, shrink wrapped products, bottles, tubs and open trays

SDI Industries Inc

Los Angeles, California-based SDI Group USA will bring its new sorting system to Chicago. The SORTRAK is designed to travel on an extremely flexible route through a facility. Its path can include inclines, declines, serpentine corners, and multiple levels. It can also incorporate multiple induction stations. The SORTRAK comes with two trays positioned across the sorter, and the sorter’s spin wheels propel the trays along. It can handle sorting speeds of 14,400 trays per hour.

Vidir Machine Inc

Vidir Machine Inc, from Arborg, Manitoba, will introduce 10 new models of its Pan Carousel at ProMat. These carousels have a more compact design than earlier models and will include safety light curtains, an ergonomic workbench, and automatic retrieval. The will also come with an assortment of new options including pick-to-light, barcode scanning, security gates, inventory management software, and a wider variety of shelving configurations.

Kardex Remstar

Kardex Remstar, LLC, the Westbrook, Maine-based division of Kardex Group, will highlight its Megamat RS Model 650 vertical carousel. Designed for industrial material operations, it holds up to 650Kg (1,433lb) per carrier with a total unit load of 19,000kg (41,887lb). The Megamat RS comes in a wide range of sizes and with numerous options including inserts, rollout drawers, intermediate shelves, partitions, dividers and specialty holders.

TMI

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based TMI will expand its Screen-Pro roll-up screen product line by introducing Screen-Pro bug screens to control flying pests, Bird-Pro heavy mesh screens to keep birds out and Vinyl-Pro supported PVD doors which separate differing environmental areas according to temperature, dust, debris, fumes and noise.

To read the second part of the article, click here.

Traditionally, you wouldn’t expect the Annual Fall Conference of the International Warehouse and Logistics Association’s (IWLA) Canadian Council to bear any similarity to an episode of the TV show Law & Order. However, when the theme is “Security and Safety Hits the Bottom Line Hard”, and one of the speakers is a detective who just a few hours earlier was catching tractor trailer thieves in a sting operation, crime fiction comparisons tend to find their way into the day’s conversations.

Held in Woodbridge, Ontario, just north of Toronto, the conference opened with constable Morris Shaw of the York Regional Police offering tips on preventing crime through the use of environmental design.

Appropriate lighting, such as bright white LEDs that create good visibility and don’t distort colour recognition (important when describing and identifying what suspected criminals are wearing) should be deployed around facilities. Landscaping should follow the three/seven rule. Shrubs should be kept below three feet and tree branches should be above seven feet. That way there is a four-foot vertical surveillance area, making it easy to see who is on the property. Decorative boulders can serve as barricades.

Shaw also spoke about the care and attention security systems need. Cameras, for example, are useless if they are placed behind obstructions (such as trees or columns) or if they aren’t aimed in such as way as to capture people’s faces as they enter and exit buildings.

Shaw admitted security measures can be thwarted—wheel boots and locks on tractor trailers can be circumvented by anybody who has watched “lock bumping” videos. He acknowledges “security is a huge inconvenience”, but by taking measures to make it harder for criminals to do their jobs, you can minimize losses by making your business a harder target.

Detective sergeant Lou Malbeuf of the York Regional Police’s auto/cargo theft unit was the second speaker of the day. Malbeuf and his team had spent the early hours of the morning catching a tractor trailer cargo theft gang, a bust made possible thanks to a tip from somebody in the industry about a fired employee who had been leaking information about deliveries and schedules.

Knowing a theft was likely to take place, the police loaded a “bait” trailer with cargo (and a hidden GPS unit and a silent security device to notify them when the trailer was moved), and allowed it to be stolen and taken to an off-site warehouse location. There, the police not only found people unloading the shipment, but they also discovered a large cache of items that were likely stolen goods. Malbeuf applauded the person who gave him the tip, saying he needs as much help as he can get. “Without you guys, I can’t solve crimes.”

Malbeuf emphasized most supply chain thefts, whether they occur in truck yards or warehouses, are inside jobs, so he strongly recommends criminal background record checks on all employees.
Keith Parisien, an associate and senior project manager in the security and IT systems group of Thornhill, Ontario-based program management and engineering firm MMM Group, was next. He reviewed and compared different types of security monitoring and access systems. While there is no one best solution for everybody, he said businesses need to employ best practices when it comes to maintaining, managing and operating any security system.

He also reminded the audience the relationship with the security system vendor and support team is vital.

“We see issues with core components becoming obsolete and no longer supported by the manufacturer, so with no replacement parts available, the system stays down,” he said. Suppliers should provide not just sunset/end-of-life agreements, but also offer full support during the lifetime of the products.

Tim Reed, an actuarial associate with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario, said the WSIB is imposing a two percent increase for 2012, raising the average premium rate from $2.35 per $100 of insurable earnings to $2.40 for companies classified as general trucking or warehousing.

Paul Casey, vice-president of programs and strategic development for the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association of Ontario (IHSA), was the final presenter. He said the Safety Group rebate for 2011 will be $3.9 million, which will be shared among the 168 member firms of the organization. Safety Group members get a slight (5.3 percent) reduction on their WSIB premiums compared with non-participating companies.

Casey also discussed the arrival of the Certificate of Recognition in Ontario (COR). COR is an employer-driven, best practices, continuous improvement health and safety certification program backed by mandatory audits.

To achieve COR certification, companies apply to the IHSA, complete three courses and perform a self-assessment. The IHSA conducts a desk audit and offers suggestions for improvements. A full third-party audit follows. Certification lasts for three years.

All COR programs address 13 common elements including hazard analysis and safe job procedures. Ontario adds five additional ones: occupational health; first aid; health and safety committees; workplace violence and harassment; return-to-work policies; and management reviews.

IWLA President and CEO Joel Anderson made the announcement about the new handling and storage procedures while speaking in Woodbridge, Ontario at the IWLA Canada Fall conference.

The Responsible Warehousing Protocol sets standards regarding best practices for third-party chemical warehouse operators. The organization’s hope is that eventually these will be approved by organizations such as the Canadian Association of Chemical Distributors, the US-based National Association of Chemical Distributors and the American Chemistry Council. If that happens, it would reduce or eliminate requests from customers for 3PLs and warehousing companies to undergo repeated, extensive and expensive audits.

“It’s an example of what can happen when we don’t let borders get in our way,” said Anderson.

The protocols, established by the IWLA’s Council of Chemical Warehouse Providers, will require those adopting the standard to enter into a three-year verification and certification period, which will be followed by three-year re-certification cycles.

The program will require participating businesses to pay an annual membership payment (at this point it’s estimated to be around $600) and to cover the costs of the verification and certification process (estimated at $3,900 for each three-year cycle).

Rather than setting absolute requirements, the protocol was designed as a continuous improvement program.

The program requires participants to put in place best practices in 11 areas of operations: handling and storage, job procedures and training, compliance review and training, emergency response and public preparedness, document and data control, risk management, internal audits, corrective and preventative actions, community outreach, waste management and resource conservation, and carrier selection.

According to Anderson, this protocol could be the first of many.

“We are looking at more protocols because, by and large, the shippers are multinational and they are looking for good warehousing either south of the border or north of the border and our entry into responsible warehousing for chemicals could very well be a template for all types of responsible warehousing, expanding from there and saying, ‘This is what a good 3PL looks like. These are good standard practices. When you go to scope out a warehouse and give a contract to them, you should look for these types of activities because you know they are well-run, with safe perimeters, securely kept data, good handling of goods, deliveries made on time, and all the rest.”

“We want to distinguish members of the Canadian Warehouse Association and the International Warehouse Association from the pack—to set ourselves as a cut above. When you’re dealing with one of our members, you’re dealing with some really quality people. And the way you know that is they engage in these types of processes. So look for that to be a byproduct of the Chemical Council and its protocols.”

For full coverage of this year’s conference, the theme of which was “Security and Safety Hits the Bottom Line Hard”, please see the November-December issue of MM&D.

The event, to be held at the Sheraton Hotel, starts with a presentation by Transportation Media editorial director Lou Smyrlis, MCILT, on transportation industry trends. He will be sharing the results from the latest Transportation Buying Trends research, completed in late October.

Smyrlis will then moderate a panel entitled Transportation Beyond 2012, featuring several well-known transportation experts, including:

• Elias Demangos, president and CEO, Fortigo Freight

• Bill Oliver, vice president and general manager, Pegasus Logistics

• Bruce Burrows, vice president, Railway Association of Canada

• Mike Broad, president and CEO, The Shipping Federation

• Brian Springer, vice president transportation, Eastern Canada, Loblaw Company Ltd

The panel will be followed by an address from Andy Byford, CMILT, president and CEO Toronto Transit Commission.

Terry Bowles, president and CEO, the St Lawrence Seaway Management Corp, is the keynote dinner speaker.

For more information go to www.ciltna.com or call 613-688-1438.

The 2012 Annual Salary Survey of the Canadian Supply Chain Professional is now complete and the results will be presented in a webinar on Wednesday, November 21 from 12 pm – 1:00 pm ET. Join representatives from PMAC, MM&D, Purchasingb2b and CT&L magazines to discuss the results of the survey and career trends in more detail.

The 2012 webinar is open to anyone working in the supply chain, recruiting and HR fields. There is no charge for the webinar, but advance registration is required. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

All participants will receive a copy of the slide deck used for the presentation as part of their registration. Copies of the full report will be made available to PMAC members in the members-only section of the PMAC National website. Non-members are invited to contact Chloe Hong, chong@pmac.ca, 416 977-7111 x 3141 to order a copy of the full report for the special price of $399.

Fitting the nature of her portfolio, Raitt spoke at length about the need for ports to open themselves up to a more diverse workforce. In particular, she said the ports need to do more to attract female employees. She also addressed the issue of labour relations in the ports and in the logistics industry.

In an interview with MM&D, however, Raitt opened up about one of the hot-button issues in the port industry today: the US Harbour Maintenance Tax, and the common perception in the US that Canadian ports are not competing on a level playfield.

Port managers, shipping company executives, company presidents, labour representatives and government ministers attended the conference. So did MM&D .

FedEx Express Canada president Lisa Lisson and vice-president of operations Pina Starnino explain why YKZ (it was named after nearby Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport) was needed.