Over the course of my career I have heard many people downplay the obvious credit risks in some of their clients, taking comfort instead in their prompt payment on previous dealings. Are these companies playing it smart or taking risks with their assets?

One of the first things I learned in my career was that there are two key determinants in establishing credit:

1) Ability to pay, and

2) Willingness to pay.

Ability to pay is quantitative and fact based.

Willingness to pay is more speculative, as it...

APMA members currently face a number environment and energy related challenges and opportunities. The APMA is hosting a one-day conference on March 31 at the new Linamar Training Centre in Guelph The event will also feature a number of exhibitors.

This one-day conference provides participants with current information regarding challenges such as the recently passed Toxic Reduction Act and changes to Regulation 419.

The event also provides valuable insight regarding the benefits of the APMA /...

I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 Toronto Auto Show on February 11. What more can anyone ask for than to check out hundreds of new vehicles and wish they had a few hundred thousand dollars kicking around to add five or six vehicles to the personal fleet? Ok, back to reality.

Big picture, I am encouraged by the direction of the automakers. But it was a couple of vehicles that I noticed that struck me as a window to future years at the show. The Tesla, the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf...

Export Development Canada (EDC) seems to be known within the Canadian automotive supply chain almost exclusively as a provider of Accounts Receivable Insurance (ARI).  While EDC is a dedicated provider of ARI within the OEM automotive industry, they also offer a wide variety of other services.  Did you know that EDC can potentially assist you with increasing your bank line of credit, investing abroad, getting improved credit from your suppliers, hedging your foreign exchange exposure, and more? 

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and it was especially positive that Ford announced a solid fourth-quarter profit and their first full-year profit since 2005. They were able to accomplish this based on a solid year-over-year sales gain. The strength of Ford is great news for all automotive parts suppliers. Ford also reported a return to profitability in Europe which shows that this is not just a regional recovery for Ford. As well, overall vehicle sales in January remained quite strong, starting the year off on a very positive...

For your information - in mid-February, the APMA will be announcing partnerships with PV roof top developers. These partners will provide strong experience in all facets of renewable energy development for interested APMA members. Please contact me at pcorbyn@apma.ca for more information on this program if you are interested in more information prior to this coming annoucement.

Also, here is a very informative article FYI regarding rooftop solar panel deals: http://tinyurl.com/ylmm98u.

Welcome to a New Decade and the new APMA…

  and hopefully to better times and greater prosperity within the Canadian automotive industry.

 2009 presented unprecedented challenges and economic turmoil like we have not experienced for a very long time within the automotive industry. However by the end of 2009 the signs were already very positive with sales in both US and Canada for the month of December continuing at very encouraging levels.  December sales in the United States, 1,030,096 vehicles,...

The following is reprinted from http://www.news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2009/12/reducing-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html:

Ontario is closer to establishing a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Today, the legislature passed the Environmental Protection Amendment Act (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading), the foundation for Ontario's cap-and-trade program.  

The act allows Ontario's program to link to other systems in North America and abroad. Aligned systems would maximize...

As of the end of October, 26 companies have completed Phase 1 of the program which is an assessment of their operations known as an Operations Effectiveness Review. 

These companies who have completed the Phase 1 OER represent numerous manufacturing process types.

Our reviews have shown that there is more of a difference in the philosophies of the individual management teams than in the actual process types.

Budget remains for an additional 14 companies at the current funding support rate. Of...