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Manufacturing Innovation Summit - Save the Date! 

This year, Invest Barrie and Simcoe County have partnered to bring together the energy of the Manufacturing Innovation Summit with the engaging conversation from the Manufacturing Forum into one regional event on October 19th, 2022. 

MIS 2022 is a must-attend, half-day conference for both manufac​turers and service providers. The event will bring together industry leaders, executives, investors, and entrepreneurs from the Ontario manufacturing sector to learn firsthand what the future of manufacturing looks like within our region and beyond.​ To learn more, click here. 

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​New Rapid Skills - Micr​o Credentials for Manufacturers

The City of Barrie and Georgian College in partnership with County of Simcoe and the Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board received funding to deliver part-time (online and in-person), industry recognized micro-credentials from July 2022 to March 2023 in the following subject areas: 

• Fundamental shop skills
• Precision Machining
• Hydraulics/pneumatics
• CNC
• Industrial Automation
• Robotics
• Quality Management
• Leadership in Manufacturing
  

The Skills Development Fund (made possible by the Government of Ontario) is a way to address skills development and labour shortages within the manufacturing sector by offering educational opportunities at no cost to the participant. Through this, job seekers can find a career path in manufacturing with local employers and help existing employees upskill.

​Interested companies can contact Rebecca Sanderson with questions about registration:​

Rebecca.Sanderson@GeorgianCollege.ca​

​Industry 4.0: Automation Accelerator Program

The County and area partners, including member municipalities, the Cities of Barrie and Orillia, Georgian College, Lakehead University and Province of Ontario are collaborating on a pilot project to create a responsive, industry-driven solution for regional manufacturers to implement Industry 4.0 solutions. ​

The pilot program will assist compani​​es in understanding initiatives that are actionable in the near and long-term, increase awareness in ecosystem supports and provide connections to programs, such as research and innovation projects at Georgian College and Lakehead University along with funding opportunities through the National Research Council of Canada and Next Generation Manufacturing Canada. ​

Media Release

Click here to watch the program video! ​

• Research, Economic Development and Innovation - Lakehead University 
• Supporting your company’s Industry 4.0 Journey - Georgian College ​
• Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)
  

Shifting Gears - Manufacturing Newsletter

Get access to concise, relevant and e​xclusive manufacturing updates with the Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia Shifting Gears newsletter in partnership with Georgian College and Lakehead University. To submit a relevant story idea or article, please email edo@simcoe.ca. ​

Please click here​ to subscribe.

​​Past issues:​​​

• Shifting Gears - November 2021​
• Shifting Gears - October 2021​
• Shifting Gears - Septembe​r 2021
• Shifting Gears - ​August 2021
• Shifting Gears - July 2​021
• Shifting Gears - June ​2021​
• Shifting Gears - May 20​21
• Shifting Gears​ - Ap​ril 2021
• Shifting Gears - March 2021​
• Shifting Gears - February 2021​
• ​Shifting Gears - January 2021 ​​​​​

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2020 Manufacturers Forum - Presentations

• Managing Uncertainty: Challenge​s & Opportunities for Manufacturers​ - Jayson Myers, CEO, NGen
• Feature Vide​o Presentation: Made in Simcoe County​
• Technology Assessment Program - Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Honda of Canada Manufacturing and BDO
• Research and De​velopment Opportunities for Automation - Georgian College & Lakehead University​

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Training and Coaching ​Resources 

• Trade Accelerator Program: Do you require export tools or resources? Are you considering expansion into international markets? Do you need support to build an export strategy? ​​The Trade Accelerator Program​ program can help! ​
• Skills at Work:​ ​at Georgian College offers one-to-one advanced career advisement with a direct career coach to plan the skills and training your employees require to move ahead in the manufacturing industry and make their future more secure with your company. The result will be a customized plan according to the individual needs, which may include free training opportunities. ​​
• Manufacturing Recovery Support Program:​​ is a national coaching program offered through the Excellence in Manufacturing Consoirtum to help manufacturers better understand the current situation they face by identifying and supporting a clear path forward. 

Labour and Recruiting Resources 

• ​Work in Simcoe County​ is a one-stop shop for careers and resources in Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia. The portal features local resources including interactive activities for various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) careers and the ability to map job opportunities. The website automatically aggregates listings from over 20 popular jobsites such as Indee​​d, Workopolis and more, which​ alleviates having to post directly on the website.​
• Career Exploration w​ith Edge Factor:  ​​​​showcase your company to our local schools, job-seekers and families across our region! ​​​Manufacturing businesses can create a free profile. 
  
• ​Excellence in Manufactur​ing Consorti​um​, via the​ WILWorks​ program, is a preferred partner for the Government of Canada to deliver the student Work Placement Program to Canada's manufacturing sector. 

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Automation Resources 

• ​​Technology Assessment Program​ connects manufacturers in southern Ontario with experts to get customized technology assessments (up to $25,000 in reimburseable funds). The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters will work on-site with companies to create a customized plan on how they can improve productivity by captilizing on existing assets and implement the latest advanced manufacturing technologies including hardware, sofware and cloud computing.
• ​Innovation Canada: a customized list of grants and funding programs for manufacturers.
• Research and Innovation Projects:​​ Connect with Georgian College and Lakehead University to learn more about the researchers and students who could have an impact on your company.​
• 2020 World Manufacturing Report​: ​the 2020 World Manufacturing Report focuses on the transformation of the manufacturing sector in the age of AI. 

Virtual Learning Opportunities​

• ​Ask an Expert: in an unprecedented crisis, where information changes rapidly, businesses have questions. Ask an Expert was created to help provide answers and guidance​ to navigate changing market conditions on topics like Health and Safety, Accounting, Marketing, Business Planning, Legal and Mental Health. 
• Business Events Calendar:​ ​​learn about upcoming events across the region for businesses. 

Made in Simcoe County and Ontario Made

• Made in Simcoe County​: Discover the world class products, services and opportunities created right here in Simcoe County. We are home to hundreds of manufacturers offering innovative, rewarding and career-focused job opportunities producing products used around the globe. See first hand how local companies ​are paving the way in manufacturing and browse local careers. 
• Ontario Made​​: Manufacturers are encouraged to register their Made in Simcoe County products to the searchable Ontario Made​ consumer database to promote the very best that this Province has to offer. 
  

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Funding and COVID-19 Resources 

• COVID-1​9 Business Resources: find the help you need to navigate rapidly changing information related to doing business through the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Innovation Canada: a customized list of grants and funding programs for manufacturers.​