After the turbulence in the economy for the past year, more than 220 manufacturers and distributors gathered in Montreal from June 3 to 5, 2010, for the Power Transmission Distributors Association's (PTDA) 2010 Canadian Conference.
The successful conference has been retooled from the previous years' events, driven by input from PTDA’s Canadian distributor members. One difference was the inclusion of a product showcase during the welcome reception to provide an additional opportunity for channel partners — both new and established — to meet in an informal format. It featured table-top exhibits of new products from PTDA’s manufacturer members.
The second, and most engaging, addition to the conference was an industry panel focused on distribution channel efficiencies. Opinions often clashed, but led by facilitator and former PTDA president Don Latham, Belterra Corp., the panel of top executives discussed the challenges and opportunities for improving the distributor/manufacturer-supplier relationship, concentrating on those factors that can improve the efficiency of the channel in serving the customer. Panelists Francois Arbique, Kinecor LP; Ali Moghadam, Canadian Bearings Ltd.; Dermot Strong, BC Bearing Engineers Ltd.; Randy Breaux, Baldor Electric Co.; Sean Hickey, Lafert North America; Tom Karch, SKF Canada Ltd.; and Jos Sueters, Tsubaki of Canada Ltd. explored how distributors and manufacturers can work together to streamline processes and reduce expenses.
After the panel session, PTDA vice-president of programs and services Ann Arnott commented on its importance. "It really takes a manufacturer and distributor working together to improve margins and bring the product to the customer in the way the customer needs it and the way the customer wants it."
She added that the talk went on four two hours, longer than its planned 90-minute run time, because the conversation kept going, touching on issues voiced by the opinionated
The successful conference has been retooled from the previous years' events, driven by input from PTDA’s Canadian distributor members. One difference was the inclusion of a product showcase during the welcome reception to provide an additional opportunity for channel partners — both new and established — to meet in an informal format. It featured table-top exhibits of new products from PTDA’s manufacturer members.
The second, and most engaging, addition to the conference was an industry panel focused on distribution channel efficiencies. Opinions often clashed, but led by facilitator and former PTDA president Don Latham, Belterra Corp., the panel of top executives discussed the challenges and opportunities for improving the distributor/manufacturer-supplier relationship, concentrating on those factors that can improve the efficiency of the channel in serving the customer. Panelists Francois Arbique, Kinecor LP; Ali Moghadam, Canadian Bearings Ltd.; Dermot Strong, BC Bearing Engineers Ltd.; Randy Breaux, Baldor Electric Co.; Sean Hickey, Lafert North America; Tom Karch, SKF Canada Ltd.; and Jos Sueters, Tsubaki of Canada Ltd. explored how distributors and manufacturers can work together to streamline processes and reduce expenses.
After the panel session, PTDA vice-president of programs and services Ann Arnott commented on its importance. "It really takes a manufacturer and distributor working together to improve margins and bring the product to the customer in the way the customer needs it and the way the customer wants it."
She added that the talk went on four two hours, longer than its planned 90-minute run time, because the conversation kept going, touching on issues voiced by the opinionated
members, touching on marketing, manufacturer-distrubtor information exchange and pricing. When they ended the talk for lunch, she commented, "I'd be willing to bet the conversation is still going on, now at lunch — and through the evening."
Gathering both sides together, she said, help build trust, and putting concerns on the table "is what will bring about change."
The event has several highly interactive and proficient presenters, touching on topics from free trade agreements to innovation, marketing and finances:
Pierre Marc Johnson, former premier of Quebec, lead off the conference with a keynote on free trade.
The entertaining Ken Wong of the Queen’s School of Business addressed "Marketing & Your Next BIG Thing" on Friday afternoon. He combined a review of the recent trends in the power transmission/motion control industry with lessons learned from other industries with common characteristics to present an “outsider’s view” of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. He really got the audience going, making his presentation engaging and humours.
Joe Ellers, author of The Sales Manager's Handbook and The Best Distribution Sales Book Ever, gave attendees all the tools they need to take sales management efforts to the next level. He covered setting goals that drive the right activities, creating the value proposition, using six major tools of the sales management professional, compensating for what you (really) want and developing a sales process that is easy on the manager and really helps the salesperson.
And finally, corporate planner Ryan Garrah led attendees through an interactive session that will help unleash the creativity needed to foster corporate innovation. In a short program followed by roundtable discussions, attendees will discover what they can achieve by stepping outside of their comfort zone and embracing new ideas.
www.ptda.org/CanadianConference
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Gathering both sides together, she said, help build trust, and putting concerns on the table "is what will bring about change."
The event has several highly interactive and proficient presenters, touching on topics from free trade agreements to innovation, marketing and finances:
Pierre Marc Johnson, former premier of Quebec, lead off the conference with a keynote on free trade.
The entertaining Ken Wong of the Queen’s School of Business addressed "Marketing & Your Next BIG Thing" on Friday afternoon. He combined a review of the recent trends in the power transmission/motion control industry with lessons learned from other industries with common characteristics to present an “outsider’s view” of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. He really got the audience going, making his presentation engaging and humours.
Joe Ellers, author of The Sales Manager's Handbook and The Best Distribution Sales Book Ever, gave attendees all the tools they need to take sales management efforts to the next level. He covered setting goals that drive the right activities, creating the value proposition, using six major tools of the sales management professional, compensating for what you (really) want and developing a sales process that is easy on the manager and really helps the salesperson.
And finally, corporate planner Ryan Garrah led attendees through an interactive session that will help unleash the creativity needed to foster corporate innovation. In a short program followed by roundtable discussions, attendees will discover what they can achieve by stepping outside of their comfort zone and embracing new ideas.
www.ptda.org/CanadianConference
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