The Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) is the central place for local manufacturers in the Waterloo Region to:

1. Build Awareness - raise awareness of products and services manufactured in the region both on a local and global scale.

2. Network - improve collaboration and knowledge sharing between companies and industry professionals in an effort to create shared best practices, standard protocols and new innovations. Members can join peer groups, create professional profiles and access experts in blogs and online discussion forums.

3. Trade - a centralized e-marketplace for buying, selling and promoting goods and services online, such as classified ads, job board and a comprehensive company directory.

It's the place to go to find out what's happening in the region's dynamic manufacturing sector and to get connected with resources and people from across the region and beyond. The MIN is not a replacement for other manufacturing membership based associations and consortiums that provide face-to-face services, consultation, financing, advocacy and training. Developed in partnership by local manufacturers, academic institutions, government, associations and manufacturing consortiums, MIN is intended to help manufacturers become more innovative by building awareness and innovation throughout the Waterloo Region and beyond. This can only be accomplished by improving the connections between people, information and expertise.

History

The MIN came about as a result of the 2006 Corporate Visitation Program conducted by the City of Kitchener to 150 automotive-related manufacturers.  One of the difficulties identified by these companies was lack of opportunity to collaborate effectively, and network with other local manufacturers.  When Dan Latendre, CEO of IGLOO software approached the City of Kitchener with the concept of establishing an online innovation network dedicated to the needs of the local manufacturing community, it seemed to fill this previously identified need. 

During the fall of 2007, the annual Corporate Visitation Program (conducted by the City of Kitchener) was extended to the general manufacturing community, and 88 companies were visited over a six week period.  One of the questions measured the interest of the manufacturing sector in participating in an online manufacturing innovation network—68% indicated that they were keenly interested in such a tool.  Suggestions as to what they would like MIN to be able to do included:

• incorporate a method to share best practices, lean manufacturing concepts, and six-sigma protocols;
• support supplier networking to help businesses to self-promote, and connect with other local suppliers; and,
• ensure that the needs of subsectors are represented and that they can connect with other similar companies to provide for focused networking. (taken from 2007 Corporate Visitation Report, "Manufacturing Our Future")