SWOT Analysis
For a short but effective review of the SWOT analysis process, please watch the attached video produced by Erica Olsen, VP Marketing, M3Planning.
Strategic Planning Workshop

Fully customized to the needs of our client, this workshop will focus upon the particular needs of Small and Medium sized enterprizes (SME's), or small and medium sized teams that operate within larger organizations. Developing a strategic plan is a critical step in launching a new business, or renewing an existing one. It allows the business and your team to focus upon those projects that are important, and avoid spending on initiatives that are not aligned with the strategic plan.
The workshop will explain the meaning and importance of articulating a vision, and will follow up with creating a statement of core values. We will then proceed to preparing a mission statement, and then how to develop a set of strategic objectives. The place of the strategic plan within the overall business model and its relationships to the operating plan and the business plan will be discussed. Strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat analysis will be explored.
The workshop will combine lecture with presentation of case studies and hands-on assignments for the attendees. A typical workshop will last for 4 hours, but shorter or longer sessions can be developed depending on the level of detail required by our client. The ideal class size ranges from 6 to 15 attendees.
The workshop will explain the meaning and importance of articulating a vision, and will follow up with creating a statement of core values. We will then proceed to preparing a mission statement, and then how to develop a set of strategic objectives. The place of the strategic plan within the overall business model and its relationships to the operating plan and the business plan will be discussed. Strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat analysis will be explored.
The workshop will combine lecture with presentation of case studies and hands-on assignments for the attendees. A typical workshop will last for 4 hours, but shorter or longer sessions can be developed depending on the level of detail required by our client. The ideal class size ranges from 6 to 15 attendees.
Inventory Control Workshop Series

The Inventory Control Workshop Series introduces attendees to fundamental concepts, terminology, and processes in five specific areas:
ü Basics of Inventory Management
ü Cycle Counting
ü Distribution Inventory Management
ü MRP and Bills of Material
ü Physical Inventory
Each of these five modules is designed to be presented in four-hour sessions. This is a non-certification program, targeted at personnel who are new to the field of supply chain management, companies who detect gaps in their knowledge of inventory control, businesses who are experiencing problems with inventory stock loss and shrinkage, and individuals who want to enhance their basic understanding of inventory management methods and standards. It is an excellent introduction to the world of APICS, and the internationally-renowned APICS Body of Knowledge.
These workshops can be scheduled and priced on a one-at-a-time basis or on a group basis. They can be presented off-site in the Durham Region, or on-site at your business in the GTA, where number of registrations and availability of facilities warrant. The ideal class size ranges from 6 to 10 students; however, we are able to arrange sessions for as few as 2 or 3 attendees.
The workshops use training materials developed by the APICS Educational and Research (E&R) Foundation and APICS.
Module Descriptions:
Module 1: Basics of Inventory Management
For most organizations, inventory is one of the more visible and tangible aspects of doing business. Beginning with the management of suppliers delivering raw materials to goods in various levels of completion in the production process and management and delivery of finished goods in the distributions channel, each type represents money tied up until the inventory becomes purchased products. The workshop provides a broad overview of basic concepts and good inventory management strategies.
Module 2: Cycle Counting
In this workshop, the participants will learn how to implement or improve a cycle counting program and what the real purpose of cycle counting is: finding and fixing the causes of inventory errors. Also included are several methods for selecting items to count, using correct accounting techniques, and reconciling any outstanding transactions. In addition, the participant will learn various reporting methods to illustrate the results of the cycle counting program to employees and management.
Module 3: Distribution Inventory Management
This workshop focuses on the distribution network model and its objectives, activities, and distribution inventory management decisions and includes interactive exercises to present the fundamental concepts associated with the distribution environment. It is appropriate for management, sales, purchasing, forecasting, materials management, operations personnel, shipping/receiving, and any other supply chain function tangent to the distribution activity.
Module 4: Material Requirements Planning and Bills of Material
To effectively use a material requirements planning (MRP) system, it is essential to understand how bills of material (BOMs) are structured and how MRP calculates requirements. This course includes instruction and exercises so students can practice these important concepts. From structuring simple BOMs to creating phantom bills, modular bills, and super bills, the participant will learn many ways to use BOMs, how to calculate material requirements, and some common action/exception messages that MRP systems frequently include.
Module 5: Physical Inventory
This workshop will discuss what works and what doesn't as the participant learns the essential preparation steps and activities to perform in advance. These activities include everything from cleanup and sorting to working with auditors. The best physical inventories require the best, most thorough, preparation. The participant will also learn how to keep the physical inventory under control once it starts. From tracking of tags to weigh scales and facility maps to handling recounts, this course guides the way.
ü Basics of Inventory Management
ü Cycle Counting
ü Distribution Inventory Management
ü MRP and Bills of Material
ü Physical Inventory
Each of these five modules is designed to be presented in four-hour sessions. This is a non-certification program, targeted at personnel who are new to the field of supply chain management, companies who detect gaps in their knowledge of inventory control, businesses who are experiencing problems with inventory stock loss and shrinkage, and individuals who want to enhance their basic understanding of inventory management methods and standards. It is an excellent introduction to the world of APICS, and the internationally-renowned APICS Body of Knowledge.
These workshops can be scheduled and priced on a one-at-a-time basis or on a group basis. They can be presented off-site in the Durham Region, or on-site at your business in the GTA, where number of registrations and availability of facilities warrant. The ideal class size ranges from 6 to 10 students; however, we are able to arrange sessions for as few as 2 or 3 attendees.
The workshops use training materials developed by the APICS Educational and Research (E&R) Foundation and APICS.
Module Descriptions:
Module 1: Basics of Inventory Management
For most organizations, inventory is one of the more visible and tangible aspects of doing business. Beginning with the management of suppliers delivering raw materials to goods in various levels of completion in the production process and management and delivery of finished goods in the distributions channel, each type represents money tied up until the inventory becomes purchased products. The workshop provides a broad overview of basic concepts and good inventory management strategies.
Module 2: Cycle Counting
In this workshop, the participants will learn how to implement or improve a cycle counting program and what the real purpose of cycle counting is: finding and fixing the causes of inventory errors. Also included are several methods for selecting items to count, using correct accounting techniques, and reconciling any outstanding transactions. In addition, the participant will learn various reporting methods to illustrate the results of the cycle counting program to employees and management.
Module 3: Distribution Inventory Management
This workshop focuses on the distribution network model and its objectives, activities, and distribution inventory management decisions and includes interactive exercises to present the fundamental concepts associated with the distribution environment. It is appropriate for management, sales, purchasing, forecasting, materials management, operations personnel, shipping/receiving, and any other supply chain function tangent to the distribution activity.
Module 4: Material Requirements Planning and Bills of Material
To effectively use a material requirements planning (MRP) system, it is essential to understand how bills of material (BOMs) are structured and how MRP calculates requirements. This course includes instruction and exercises so students can practice these important concepts. From structuring simple BOMs to creating phantom bills, modular bills, and super bills, the participant will learn many ways to use BOMs, how to calculate material requirements, and some common action/exception messages that MRP systems frequently include.
Module 5: Physical Inventory
This workshop will discuss what works and what doesn't as the participant learns the essential preparation steps and activities to perform in advance. These activities include everything from cleanup and sorting to working with auditors. The best physical inventories require the best, most thorough, preparation. The participant will also learn how to keep the physical inventory under control once it starts. From tracking of tags to weigh scales and facility maps to handling recounts, this course guides the way.