Kawartha Manufacturers Association

06/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to yesterday's AGM.

It is always a blessing when we can get together in the same room.

It has been a busy year for the KMA, our sector and the region.

Membership is up, more partners are engaged, and there is a great roster of events and programming planned.

See you at the next event!

06/10/2026

We are so excited to see everyone at the AGM tomorrow. If you still need to register, here's the link.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kma-annual-general-meeting-tickets-1989430379820?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/05/2026

The Northumberland Manufacturers' Association Industry Trade Show is happening June 19. Attendance is free. Pre-register for a chance to win some awesome door prizes.

Happy Friday Everyone!
We just wanted to give a big shout out to our valued Industry Tradeshow partners for your support, collaboration, and commitment. We are grateful for your contribution to creating a meaningful experience for all attendees and exhibitors.

Bel-Con Design Builders
Boost
Lakeland Multi-trade Inc.
Northumberland County
Municipality of Port Hope, Ontario
Levac Supply Limited

Kawartha Manufacturers Association
Quinte Economic Development Commission

Have a great weekend!

06/01/2026

Lunch Loop is back this month.
Join fellow KMA members for a relaxed, virtual check-in to share what you’re seeing, hear what others are navigating, and stay connected to the community. It’s an easy way to stay in the loop without stepping away from your day.

Set aside your lunch and join the conversation.

05/26/2026

In manufacturing, timing and perspective matter.
KMA connects members to a trusted network of peers, partners, and industry leaders, giving you access to timely, relevant insight you won’t get on your own. Through shared experience and open collaboration, members make better decisions, move faster, and stay ahead of change.

Being connected isn’t just helpful. It’s a competitive advantage.

05/21/2026

📣 Announcing our KMA AGM Keynote Speaker: Mike Temple.
The topic? Control What You Can: Leading Through Uncertainty.

When everything feels urgent and unpredictable, leadership can quickly become reactive. In this practical and engaging keynote, leadership coach Mike Temple explores how leaders can regain clarity and stability during uncertain times by focusing on what they can control: their decisions, systems, priorities, and where they invest their energy.

Hear more at the 2026 AGM.

June 11 in Ennismore at Jesse's Tap and Grill.

Register on Eventbrite here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kma-annual-general-meeting-tickets-1989430379820?aff=oddtdtcreator

Drawing from his work with business leaders, high-performance teams, and organizations navigating pressure and change, Mike offers a grounded, relatable approach to leading with greater intention and focus even when external conditions remain uncertain.

This session will explore:

👉 Moving from overwhelmed to intentional leadership
👉 Creating stronger systems to reduce chaos and improve consistency
👉 Identifying where to direct energy when everything feels urgent
👉 Building confidence through strengthening clarity, alignment, and decision-making under pressure

In uncertain times, the leaders who succeed aren’t necessarily the ones doing more, they’re the ones focusing their energy better. 🔋

05/04/2026

Lunch Loop is happening again this month. Join the virtual table for timely discussion and news.

It is a frequent Lunch Loop topic, but next week we’ll talk about AI adoption and previewing the upcoming workshop.

Applied AI for Manufacturing: Hands-On Strategies for Everyday Operations is happening May 27th in Millbrook.

Need an invite to the Lunch Loop? Email [email protected]

05/03/2026

AI Tools haven't eliminated work. But they are changing how we work, how fast we work and what work we do.

They can complement and augment human work and thinking. (not replace). They can help you accomplish a repetitive task, get through a slog or get unstuck.

(e.g. complete that boring task you've been avoiding).

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KMA members, join us for Applied AI for Manufacturing: Hands-On Strategies for Everyday Operations. It is happening May 27th in Millbrook.

Register on Eventbrite:
https://lnkd.in/eP-PY-tB

The event is hosted by KMA Vice-Chair Sherry Hill, who has been investing the time and resources to get real results from AI adoption.

Thanks to Peterborough County Economic Development for their support of the event.

Bring your laptop.
Bring your team.

We’re all learning how to use these tools.
Let’s figure it out together.
Let's build!

04/27/2026

AI chatter is everywhere. "Oh, look, another new, hyped tool." But there are also success stories of efficiencies gained, time saved, teams upskilled, and the grind getting easier.

We get this comment again and again from members:

"I hear about all these applications, but where do I start?"

We've designed a special half-day workshop to help small and medium-sized manufacturing teams get started.

Hosted by the KMA Vice-Chair Sherry Hill, the session will cover:

AI Fundamentals and Prompt Engineering:
Understand how generative AI works and learn to craft effective prompts for engineering and operational tasks.

Hands-On Practice with Everyday Tasks:
Work through interactive stations covering email communication, data analysis, marketing strategy, grant writing, and HR documentation using your own real business challenges.

Adopting AI into Production:
Explore use cases including predictive maintenance, quality control, and ERP/MES integration, and leave with a draft AI adoption roadmap for your facility.

Advanced Applications and Future Opportunities:
Discover how to leverage AI for staff training, governance, and long-term innovation, including partnerships with post-secondary institutions.

The event happens on May 27 in Millbrook.

Bring your team and your laptops.

You will walk out with your first AI project ✅ .

Lunch is sponsored by Peterborough County Economic Development.

Register on Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/applied-ai-for-manufacturing-hands-on-strategies-for-everyday-operations-tickets-1988052206667