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Business leaders share knowledge Getting lean, leveraging purchasing, trimming inefficiencies, and focusing on core competencies. Those were the messages that came out of last Wednesday's Halton CEO Series event at the Oakville Conference Centre. More than 250 senior executives from Halton's business community gathered to hear Paul Stroz, Vice-President of Modules, Magna Closures-Global, talk about remaining competitive in a changing economy at The Future of Manufacturing-- A New Competitive Model. Mr. Stroz recognized that manufacturers are experiencing tremendous competitive pressure, and must be prepared to face new competitive issues. Innovation and survival are becoming inextricably linked. He shared his insights and strategies on how Magna, one of the most innovative automotive suppliers in history, has not only survived, but thrived, to become the third-largest automotive parts company in the world. Mr. Stroz has been instrumental in identifying and implementing technological trends which continue to place Magna Closures as one of the innovation leaders in the global automotive parts industry. His comments are especially relevant to Halton manufacturers that are seeing their competitiveness tested from all sides. Other speakers included David Gurnham, Leader for Manufacturing, Southwestern Ontario, Deloitte; Paul Hardy, Lean Enterprise Specialist, Deloitte; and Martin Stolpmann, Principal, Operations Development Group, who used case studies of Ontario companies to illustrate the importance of innovative thinking to address competitiveness. Bob Civak, Interim Managing Director of the Centre for Materials and Manufacturing of Ontario Centres of Excellence, closed the Joyce Savoline 130 Guelph Street event by reiterating the importance of industrially-relevant research and development in maintaining Ontario's competitiveness. By continuing to encourage collaboration between science, research, education and industry, Halton is working towards becoming one of Ontario's leading centres for technological innovation. Events like the Future of Manufacturing are one way that we can cultivate that collaborative spirit. The Halton CEO Series supports the Region's work in developing an environment that promotes economic creativity, encourages investment in research and development, and champions education. Through opportunities like the Halton CEO Series, Halton's Business Development Centre provides insights, new ideas, best practices and networking, giving business leaders the chance to reflect, rethink, learn and build capacity that can contribute to sustaining or gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The Future of Manufacturing event was developed in partnership with Deloitte and Operations Development Group, and supported by RBC Royal Bank, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Ontario Centres of Excellence and Carmen's at the Oakville Conference Centre. (Joyce Savoline is the chair of Halton Region)