Transcript UBC International Students??

Manufacturing & Exporting
“Business Development
Opportunities for ITE’s”
Presentation to SITE BC
By Craig Williams, P. Eng
Vice-President BC Division
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)
January 10, 2008
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Canadian, born in Vancouver
P. Eng, Mechanical Engineer
(UBC ‘74)
Varied career !!??
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R&D, design, consulting
engineering, project mgt,
construction, sales, general
management, advanced
manufacturing, small hi-tech
electronics
• 70% away from Vancouver
• 100% export oriented
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Expatriate … for ~11 years:
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Associations & Community
Involvement:
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Turkey, USA, Australia,
Netherlands
APEBC, VIATEC, CME,
Premier’s IAC, CCCA,
hobbies, children’s events,
charities
Recruited many ITE’s
My Career
… over 30+ years
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‘74 … R&D/plant engineer … Vancouver &
Port Alberni
‘79 … consulting engineer & construction
management … Vancouver & Turkey
‘84 … VP, equipment/construction firm …
USA & Vancouver
‘88 … VP, global engineering firm …
Australia & Vancouver
‘93 … President, global machine
component manufacturing firm … Holland,
Finland, Sweden, Belgium, France
‘97 … CEO, aquaculture technology firm …
Nanaimo
‘00 … CEO, heavy industrial equipment
manufacturing firm … Victoria, Salmon
Arm … with operations in USA, Europe,
Australia, NZ, Chile
‘04 … President, remote automated
environmental monitoring technologies …
Victoria
‘08 … VP, Canadian Manufacturers &
Exporters, BC Division
Canadian Manufacturers &
Exporters
• CME is a results-oriented, memberdriven organization, established in 1872
with a presence in every province.
• Delivers programs to members via:
– Facilitation & networking
– Advocacy with Government
– Communications about important issues
impacting the sector
– Education for manager and employees … eg.
Lean, benchmarking best practises
Manufacturing in
Canada
Short Term Challenges
Long Term Opportunities
Jayson Myers
President
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
November 26th, 2008
Is Manufacturing & Exporting
important to Canada?
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Single largest business sector in Canada … brings
together manufacturers and exporters from every
industrial sector; small, medium and large
Manufacturing directly accounts for 20% of
Canada’s GDP – 12% in BC.
Every $1 of manufacturing output generates more
than $3.00 in total economic activity – largest
economic multiplier
$600 billion in annual manufacturing sales across
Canada, more than $40 billion in BC
Canadian manufacturers:
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Employ 2 million Canadians with wage levels 25% above
national average – 200,000 in BC
Account for 67% of Canada’s goods & services exports
Account for 75% of private sector R&D
Jobs Depend on
Manufacturing!
FORESTRY
83%
CROP & ANIMAL PRODUCTION
47%
FORESTRY & AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
46%
UTILITIES
31%
PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL SERVICES
29%
MINING, OIL & GAS
29%
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
26%
WHOLESALE TRADE
24%
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING
19%
TRANSPORTATION & WAREHOUSING
19%
INFORMATION & CULTURAL INDUSTRIES
18%
OTHER BUSINESS SERVICES
15%
ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION
15%
FINANCIAL SERVICES & REAL ESTATE
0%
11%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
PERCENT OF EMPLOYMENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO MANUFACTURING
The Perfect Storm!
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Canadian $ volatility
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Over 50% increase since January 2002 … and back down to almost
$0.85 recently!!
Volatile energy & commodity costs
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Oil at $145+/barrel, now in the $40/barrel range!!
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Less of a concern now, but will be a significant issue in the long
term
Skills Shortages
Stronger International Competition
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Low cost competition … downward pressure on prices
Need to escape the commoditization trap
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Housing, automotive, consumer, equipment … many plant closures
Significant market uncertainty
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Tighter credit conditions – in the US & Canada, and for export
Volatile currencies
Recession in key US markets and overseas
Currency & credit market problems
The BC Economy
… courtesy of
Jock Finlayson
Business Council of BC
December 2008
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Canadian Economy – Growth Expectations
Downshift (private sector consensus)
5%
2008 Budget
Nov 2008
4%
3%
2%
1%
0%
2008
2009
Real GDP
Source: Department of Finance.
2010
2008
2009
2010
Nominal GDP
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BC Economic Forecast
(annual % change unless noted; as of Dec 1/08)
actual
forecast
2007
2008
2009
2010
Real GDP
3.1
1.2
0.4
2.6
Nominal GDP
5.5
3.5
0.6
5.5
Employment
3.2
2.2
-0.7
1.3
Retail sales
7.0
2.1
0.7
5.0
39,200
35,800
Housing starts
(units)
Source: Statistics Canada and Business Council of British Columbia.
24,000 26,000
Responding to the challenge …
how can you assist/benefit?
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Global markets = Global competition … find your
niche!
Competitors, partners, suppliers & customers from
around the world
Global access to knowledge & new technologies
Accelerating pace of technological change …
innovation, R&D, product development
New market development … in Canada and overseas
Competitiveness/productivity … reduce waste and
create customer value through Lean manufacturing
Achieving results through people … skills upgrading,
teamwork, ideas
Specific Lessons learned from
CME’s EMAP program
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English communications … speaking and writing
Resumes
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Interviews
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How to present yourself … attire/appearance, punctual, well prepared, relaxed
Attitude … respectful, non-argumentative, non-sexist, non-hierarchal, nondiscriminatory, sense of humour
Understand what the employer is looking for … and position your skills/experience
Listen carefully … “Two ears, one mouth”
How to answer questions … “describe situation, action taken, results achieved”
Trusted references & education
Involvement in outside activities … community, clubs, hobbies
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Canadian workplace basics, organizational structure and roles/responsibilities
Interpersonal communications, working in teams
no gift-giving
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Keep it short and concise … with a powerful covering letter!
Know the employer’s business/markets/products … review corporate website, etc
Custom design your resume to match job requirements with your skills/experience
… what benefits do you bring to an employer?
Customs and cultural norms of the workplace
Computer/software skills
Craig’s Lessons Learned …
for ITE’s
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Round out your technical education with “soft skills” …
continuous ongoing education
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marketing, sales, public speaking (Toastmasters), law, writing, etc.
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Review business, trade, local papers
Look for good volunteer/intern opportunities
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Participate in networking activities
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Demonstrate good problem solving/decision making skills
Be prepared to accept entry level jobs … to prove yourself
Don’t worry about wages initially … if you’re good, you’ll be taken
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Be prepared to work outside of metro Vancouver
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Be flexible and keep your options open: “if at first you
don’t succeed … try, try again!”
Balance your work and personal life
Have fun! 
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profession or community
zone”
… work,
… get out of your “comfort
care of
establish your credentials
… to
Questions??
Contact Jacqueline deRaadt
(CME’s EMAP program
representative) for more
detailed information