HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-05, Page 103GSS/Wednesday, Nov 5, 1986
Champion Road Machinery has
made extensive use of
government grants to help
establish the company in the export
market and to train and develop its
employee base.
Bill Hayward, director of planning
and special projects for Champion,
has the responsibility of identifying,
applying for and utilizing
government grants wherever
possible. Reporting to executive
vice pr et ii:L vc Syme
Hayward has direct contact.with
several government agenoies,and
., bodies, trying to sort out and identify
areas where Champion could utilize
assistance.
"Being a Canadian company
dealing in the export business, we've
established ourselves with the
government," he explained. "We
have to compete offshore because we
are a single product manufacturer
and the government has been a
helpful partner."
Through such projects as the
Export Market Development
Program, the government has
assisted Champion in financing
projects on a pay -back arrangement
or assisting with tenders.
Federal government assistance in
elp finance any
Champion has
established itself
major,..
Canadian
manufacturer
and exporter
the form of a non-interest IRDP loan
helped the company purchase $3
million worth of new machining
equipment to help modernize the
facility here. And subsequent to the
downsizing of the South Carolina
plant, the company developed a
comprehensive job -development
program involving 11$ trainees in a
new training facility in Goderich.
"The job development program
was one the major projects we've
been involved in with the
government. The paperwork for the
project was tremendous and, in fact,
we got funding for an employee to
administer the project," he said.
"Government programs have helped
us develop our markets and people,
which is important because we are a
fairly large company out of the
mainstream. Vv'r'r r not elosc enough
to training focilities."
Champion enjoys a high profile
with the federal government
subsequent to its involvement in
IRDP and the job development
program sponsored by Employment
and Immigration Minister, Flora
MacDonald. The company has also
made extensive use of the provincial
government's TIBI program to train
and develop employees.
An accountant by profession with
11 years experience at Champion,
Bill worked as an accounting
manager before moving to act as
controller of sales. He was controller
of Champion before moving into the
corporate finance department.
Besides major expenditures to
modernize manufacturing,
Champion has also made an
investment in the implementation of
the Manufacturing Resource
Planning II system. An investment
Bill says will pay dividends.
"MRP is a smarter way of doing
business and it's the road to
success," Bill said. "It has required
extensive training and effort but the
company is approaching it in the
right way. We've put too much effort
into the program for it to fail,"
Confident that Champion iiaiaaapion li`i. �. �at„
produces the best product on the
market, Hayward said MRP will
ultimately lead to cost reduction and
a bigger share of the market.
Responsible for special projects,
Bill manages to get involved in
many areas of the company's
operation. He handles insurance for
the company with respect to product
liability, ocean freight and car
insurance, gets involved in some
government -assisted financing and
acts as controller for Research and
Development.
Champion is often invited on
government sponsored trade
missions which suggests the
company enjoys a good working
relationship with many levels of
government.
All of us at Dofasco Jo i b " ling a fi my remarkable
Canadian company. Our people slime the,commitment to quality
that has earned Champion Road Machinery Limited an outstanding
worldwide reputation. That commitmentto quality has also helped
Dofasco earn Canadian sales leadership in flatrolled steel.
DOFASCO
Our product is steel. Our strength is people.