The Florida Solar Energy Center

The Florida Solar Energy Center, in Cocoa Florida, focuses on research in the area of solar energy in addition to educating the public, students and practitioners of the research conducted. On arrival to the Center we were greeted with a warm Trinidadian welcome by Mr. Patrick Robinson, an engineer who does work primarily on the solar collectors. The primary theme of the visit was centered around awareness in promoting innovation in alternative energy. Mr. Robinson commenced by explaining the two primary means by which solar energy can be utilized which are solar collectors and photovoltaic systems. Solar collectors are basically non electric water heaters while photovoltaic systems are used to produce electricity. At the research center, products are tested and approved for usage.

Students of the IIEM all showed interest in implementing solar energy in their business models. Some are in the initial stages of implementation while others are currently using photovoltaic systems. The class is now more aware of the benefits of these systems as the simplicity of their implementation was demonstrated. A realization of the government’s role in promoting alternative energies was noted.

Rebates has been a critical factor in the promotion of wide spread use of renewable energy ,a currently implemented model is shown on the DSIRE website (http://www.dsireusa.org/). The research center brings awareness by providing 1-2kW systems to about 90 schools throughout the Florida state. As some of the IIEM students are passionate in the initiative of jump starting renewable energies in Trinidad and Tobago, we implore you to give the mentioned websites a quick read. For those of you who are thinking about implementing photovoltaic systems we shall relay the basic technical information given to us to you the future practitioner. Solar panels which are currently found in three types, mono-crystalline, poly-crystalline and thin film amorphous are used to convert sunlight into electricity are listed from most efficient to least above. But what does efficient mean? This specification can be interpreted as the more efficient the less area the modules utilize. Batteries are a critical part and definitely the weakest point in the

system. A deep cycle battery bank can end up costing more than the panels themselves and hence should be properly maintained. The inverter converts the DC battery bank power to usable AC current which can be a better a quality of power compared to the electrical grid. Lastly the charge controller protects the batteries from overcharging. With respect to sizing the system, this can be found on, http://www.pvwatts.org/. We have relayed the technical aspects and the ways to promote the alternative sources of energy, but why should you invest in such a system? This was answered by an educational video at the end of the session. We have a responsibility to protect our future and with the world’s current state , young entrepreneurs have to start now to support and sustain a stable environment. Questions have to be asked in our daily activities like where does our electricity come from, what is the carbon footprint of my hand lotion warmer? When you discover the upstream and downstream effects of our activities you will be conscious of your actions and possibly realize that some of our activities are non-value added. Starting now , it is as simple as changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescents and using gas stoves instead of electric ones or really questioning yourself, “Do I really need this hand lotion warmer?”

Overall this was a most enlightening visit for all of the IIEM and I’m proud that Mr. Robinson is representing Trinidad and Tobago at the Florida Solar Energy Center. This visit concludes our International Study Tour, we were definitely proud to represent our nation and eager to return home to inform and implement some practices that have seen during our packed 10 days. To all of our families, see you guys in a few hours.

Author: Daryl Hosein

NEXT STOP: SOUTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTRE

The Southeast Fisheries Science Centre, located in Virginia Beach Drive, Miami is a Federal agency tasked with the main responsibilities of habitat preservation, resource protection and fisheries research. Most of the agency’s research activities are centred on marine and coastal ecosystem assessment of stocks and migratory patterns along the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean. The arm of the organization visited was the Sustainable Fisheries Division in Miami, Florida. Worthy of mention is the ability of the facility to foster the objectivity of science by having the facility to operate on its own. Furthermore, it is clearly evident that they understand and value the need for collaboration between government, private sector and educational institutions such as:
· Regional Fishery Management Councils
· Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami
· Atlantic & Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions
· International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
· Commercial & Recreational Fishing Industry

The Centre has also been also been responsible for the development of sustainability driven innovations for the maintenance of sea catch levels and the reduction by catch losses. One of these innovations was the development of a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) which has the express purpose of preventing the depletion of the marine turtle population from the fishing of tuna and other marine fish species.
In terms of aquaculture the agency is mandated to focus on marine and coastal farming activities while, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with land based farming initiatives like catfish and other species. From this point of view the agency has worked on the development of further innovations to prevent losses due to hurricanes and reduce the negative environmental impact of existing techniques. One such model is the submersible aquatic cage innovation for the growth out of species such as tuna for commercial endeavours. It speaks to the institute’s continued drive and focus to support the continued management and development of coastal and marine species and their ecosystem.

The group was also able to view the cobia salt water fish hatchery, and grow-out operations that the facility has developed in collaboration with the University of Miami. The facility was designed to be a low cost farming model that can be implemented and replicated with ease of operations in a variety of conditions. So far the institute has commercialised the model in Honduras and other parts of Central America with significant success. The agency is also involved in growing slugs for the express purpose of bio-medical research on neuron development.

Author: Kirbby Austin

Cawy Bottlers

The visit to Cawy Bottling Co. Inc. began with a warm welcome from the President, Mr. Vicente Cossio who shared some of the company’s history which dates back to Cuba in the late 1940’s pre revolution. The original partners began the US Company in 1964 with other exiled Cuban investors and the company is still owned and operated by their decedents. The company has a diverse assortment of uniquely flavoured tropical carbonated soft drinks and these award winning beverages are distributed across the US to states such as Texas, New Jersey, California and Illinois and also the Caribbean, South America and Europe.

The factory currently produces 12 different product lines. These processes to manufacture the drinks are very straightforward. The raw materials required to manufacture a can of carbonated drink are treated water, carbon dioxide, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavouring and the aluminium can. The raw materials are ordered and stored in large quantities on the compound. The process begins with treated water which flows into a tank and the carbon dioxide and artificial flavouring are injected into the water which forms the mix.

The cans are then transported to the filling machine via a conveyor system where they are filled to a specific volume. Lids are then placed on the top of the cans to seal them. Next, the cans are placed on cardboard cartons and a layer of plastic is placed on top of the cans. The cartons are then placed on pallets by a palletizing machine and the pallets placed in the warehouse. It was noticed that the factory has an uncomplicated layout and utilizes machines adequate for its production lines.

The company distributes its products in the South Florida area with its own fleet of trucks to major supermarket chains such as Publix, Winn-Dixie, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, BJ’s and Costco just to name a few. When looking at the sustainable practices that the company operates, Mr. Cossio mentioned that a calculated decision was made to run its production line below capacity to ensure the longevity of the machinery used at this facility. When asked about breaking into additional markets in the US, Mr. Cossio stated that he would be interested and excited, if he could get the right distributor for his products. The group enquired how the company ensures continuity of products in response to changing consumers’ tastes such as increasing preference for more health conscious beverages. He explained that the company had introduced diet lines to some original products. The company adheres to stringent quality controls guidelines and has never had any product recalls.

The company is innovative in its capacity to offer a wide range of soft drink flavours such as pineapple, watermelon and coconut. Similarly, as mentioned before, each of these flavours is also available in diet form. There are also future initiatives to develop recipes based on market demand such as replacing the corn syrup used in production with cane sugar. These drinks are also exclusively packaged in aluminium cans rather than glass bottles which have been phased out some years ago. This innovative decision allowed the company to reduce costs and simplify operations by eliminating losses due to broken bottles and expenses to collect returnables.

Other evidence of innovation is displayed in the redesigning of the aluminium can. Traditionally, the lid had the same circumference as the width of the can. However, in its latest form, the lid is tapered such that the amount of material used to make the lid is lighter, easier to ship and therefore much more cost efficient. Similarly, modifications to the bottling line were developed and implemented in-house such that existing equipment was able to operate with the redesigned cans. Overall, the company’s innovative performance aims to keep operations uncomplicated, neat and adequate such that cost reductions are derived and maintained. Cawy, with its straightforward bottling operations, its charismatic leader and efficient staff, demonstrate their innovative capabilities and calculated use of technology for ensuring longevity of their business. This has allowed them to become one of the leading soft drink manufacturers in the Miami tri-state area.

Authors: Laura, Sharon, & Sheldon.

Sutton Ferneries

Sutton Ferneries Incorporated provides a range of greenery to which customers can add their flowers to customize their floral arrangements. In 2008 Sutton Ferneries Incorporated was featured on “Focus on America” in the series “America’s best growers” as the only farm owned greens supplier in the Miami Cut Foliage Market. This company has distinguished its products by its innovative designs and high standard of quality.

As we entered Sutton Ferneries Incorporated, we were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Michele Sutton the President and Chief Executive Officer. We were given a presentation which outlined the history, the operations and the products of the company. This was followed by a tour of the factory to observe the operations and then four students were given an opportunity to test one of the products during a fun session of creating a floral arrangement. After this, Mrs. Sutton addressed all the questions of the enquiring minds of the UTT students.

Mrs. Sutton’s story began when she completed her studies in the field of languages. Not being sure of how to proceed, she received a box of greenery from a relative who advised her that there was a market for it. She decided to follow through and relentlessly visited floral shops and other potential customers to sell the greenery. This perseverance led to her having such a large customer base, that she had to source additional suppliers of the greenery to supply her customers. Eventually, she also had to incorporate the farming of greenery as part of her business to keep up with her customer demands. Now operating under Sutton Ferneries Inc., Sutton Ferneries Inc. and its farms have been producing and distributing top quality ferns and foliage worldwide since 1987.

The Sutton’s establishment has a keen interest on directing and catering their line of products to quality and customer satisfaction. The elaborate range of floral designs that have been developed within this enterprise, expresses not only the artistic nature of the designer’s expression but also the reciprocity of quality and an apparent approach toward excellence and the eventual delivery of a choice product.

The approach towards recruitment into the organization was also of particular interest to the IIEM entourage. Potential staff was firstly interviewed; this was done within a rudimentary manner with a particular interest being placed on the prior history of the applicant, their current interests and their further expectations as to what they would be able to offer as a benefit to the company. This perspective, as indicated by Mrs. Sutton was integral to the best fitting of applicant to the job. Another interesting aspect of the operations strategy is the cross- training of the entire staff and thus ensuring that allowing everyone has a full grasp of the business. New recruits all start off at the same point and are given not only an equal opportunity for progression upwards but also a broadened view thereby allowing everyone to be aligned.

Quality assurance of the products is an area that is considered to be a vital element to the structure of the business. The importance of this part of the process was made vivid when the entourage was shown, that the individual bundles of cut produce could be traced to the individual reaper/s, ensuring that responsibility was targeted accurately in case of a query. Other aspects of quality assurance and accountability were evident within the observation that one in every ten, of the finished goods was checked for consistency and quality. The justification of these checks was evident within the high satisfaction of the products by consumers.

The use of technology within the operation of the business has also been of pivotal importance. The issues relating to proper tracking and movement of supplied materials and finished goods has led to the adoption of ingenuity and the best industry practices in order to deliver the best possible product.

Truly, this was a valuable learning experience. An important lesson this class will retain from this experience is despite its success, the company has faced several challenges. One of the major challenges faced by this company is the destruction of the farm where the ferns are planted by hurricanes which have destroyed many of the company’s produce over time. In one case after efforts of recovery from these attacks, the ferns became affected by Anthracnose, a disease which affects the leaves of plants; despite experiencing such losses, the President sought the positive side and explored other sustainable measures such as importing these ferneries, instead of closing the business down.

Mrs. Sutton, continues to create and design new products and currently possesses a 5 year plan, although, she did not begin the business via the use of a business plan. She revealed her best teacher has been the mistakes that she has made from the establishment of the business to this point. Although not fully comprehending the avenue to pursue after completion of her language studies, she decided to follow her passion and developed this business. This has in turn worked out for the best as most of her employees speak Spanish and she can now effectively communicate to them. Thus, she leaves with us the advice to follow our dreams.

Network Access Point of the Americas

We are going to build a knowledge based economy and to facilitate this every citizen will have access to broadband internet. How is this really going to come about? How do people in Trinidad get online? Where do all those E-mails go once you click send?

Well I can't explain that in this small space, but I can surely tell you where it goes. Believe it or not all the E-mails you send or have sent have left our shores have been routed to a stout stoic building in the heart of downtown Miami called the Network Access Point Of the Americas.

Its name gives away its purpose. Over 90% of Latin American and Caribbean internet traffic finds its way at Terremark's facility. Terremark is a privately held IT infrastructure company which serves clients such as AT&T, Facebook, YouTube, Cable & Wireless(TSTT) and even the United States Federal Government. The NAP is purpose built facility with the sole purpose of handling and storing internet data. The building integrity is so high that 25% of their business is with the Federal Government.

The building is designed to withstand a category 5 hurricane and the 100 yr flood. From within the NAP Terremark can monitor all internet activity worldwide via large monitors in the Network Operation Centre (NOC). Talk about leveraging technology….signing out, Dwayne Pierre.

Florida International Medical Expo (FIME) 2010

FIME is an annual medical expo held at Miami Beach Conference Center located in Miami Beach. It is a Medical tradeshow which features Medical Manufactures and Industry Experts from all over the globe strategically positioned in over half a million sq. ft. of exhibition space. It displays innovative medical equipment and supplies used in hospitals, physician offices, medical laboratories and medical supply stores. Some of these equipments and supplies consisted of automated wheelchairs, x-ray machines, diabetic testing devices and for the beauty conscious self proclaimed creams to cure all conditions such as ache, allergic rashes and burns.
We were privileged to attend this expo which is mainly reserved for doctors, pharmacists and other medical professionals. This was particularly enlightening for those students who are interested in manufacturing their own medical equipment. This expo will be of significant importance to those students in the future when they are ready to place their products on the market. It will be the ideal place for them to showcase their inventions and acquire distributers for their products.

We beat the downtown Miami traffic to reach at the FIME 2010. I was wheeled into convention center by my very supportive colleagues (that explanation comes later). There we registered and collected our ID tags complete with Qcodes.
For those not in the know the Florida International Medical Expo (FIME) is one of the largest expos for the medical industry in North America. It is held in downtown Miami at the Miami Beach Convention. It is where the who’s who in the industry comes to show off their latest wares and where the small upstarts seek out their piece of this multibillion dollar pie. How does a medical expo and a master’s program which is focused heavily on innovation and entrepreneurial activity in manufacturing relate? And why was I was being wheeled around in the first place are probably some of your first thoughts. The former is relevant as the medical industry is not simply Tylenol and Benadryl but encompasses everything from laser cut surgical tools to Ip based bedside nurse calling systems to physiotherapy equipment and even new high mobility wheel chairs. Yes, high mobility wheel chairs.

This is about perspective and opportunity; after some amateur heroics on the football field a few weeks prior I was left without ambulatory mobility. As a result of being wheel chair bound for the duration of the expo my perspective was that of a paraplegic where my eye line was at waist height of the average person as well was my reach. So as we traversed the expo I got to talking with my colleagues discussing possible designs for a wheel chair that does not limit its user to a static position. Just as I had that thought we turned the corner of one of the many aisles within the labyrinth of an expo and arrived at the Salzgitter Morex Enterprises (SAMORE) booth. There it was the SMC-S2 electric wheel chair which enables the user to not only get from place to place at the touch of a finger; literally, but also allows the user to raise themselves to reach and commute in a completely upright and erect position.

What is most striking is not the technology used which actually is not as advanced as it sounds but the seizing of an opportunity. It is an example of manufacturer looking at a problem through the eyes of the user, or perhaps attempting to capitalize on the success of other seated mobility chairs. It is also interesting that this chair though designed by SAMORE is actually a well assembled composite of independently manufactured parts. Thus it begs the question could this have been designed in Trinidad and Tobago? The SMC-S2 electric wheel chair retails for $4000- 6000 USD. And through conversations with the company representative discovered they do have a distributor for the Caribbean.

My recent Hand Therapy Kit project developed during the design stream of the IIEM programme at UTT had reached the prototyping stage and it was at the process of seeking manufacturers for full scale production had commenced. On entering the FIME 2010 exhibition I visited booths which had anything to do with design, electro-medical and manufacturing. After passing out a couple business cards, I encountered a booth that displayed most of the products I used as research for my project. Fabrication Enterprises Incorporated is the manufacturers and mass distributers of the major physiotherapy products in the present market. Because of my prior knowledge of the products they were impressed and gave me their undivided attention. The representatives re-iterated the company’s policy of accepting new ideas and working with the designer to develop the product and following this I pitched my recent work on my design project and business plan which they were enthusiastic about.

This meeting alone was worthwhile as a personal face to face conversation with the representatives of the manufacturers gave me the opportunity to express my idea freely and gather as much information that I could. The one on one meeting was a plus as Mr. Drucker one of the representatives even expressed his familiarity with Trinis as he knows one in the Wall Street business who was as skinny as me. Overall it was a perfect opportunity for me which would open up potential relations, this I captured without second thought. The representatives gave offers of half price off products some of which I bought for further experimentation and as a token of appreciation to some of the therapists who gave a helping hand towards the prototype that we have today.

Authors: Maria, Dwayne, & Daryl

Port of Miami

The Port of Miami is the largest port in Florida and is the home to the Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. China is the Port of Miami’s largest trading partner, followed by Hong Kong and Honduras ranks as the Port’s third largest trading partner. The Port of Miami has been continuously improving with much success over the years due to heavy strategic planning for companies and tourists, while seeking the interest of all employees.

The Port has been seeking to continuously upgrade its facilities in an innovative fashion. This is evident as the Port of Miami has won two consecutive national awards for the development of port technologies for its innovations. Being innovative and creative is very critical to the operations, especially since there is a limited amount of real estate. This has allowed the Port to remain both flexible and agile in the existing market.

Despite this the Port of Miami is much larger in capacity than both of our local ports in Trinidad and Tobago. There were a total of 9 ship to shore gantries, whilst the Port of Point Lisas and the Port of Port of Spain has 2 and 3 ship to shore gantries respectively. One noticeable difference was the use of stackers at the Port of Miami as opposed to Rubber Tire Gantries which are used in Trinidad for offloading stored containers.

Information technology is one of the major factors that have led the port to become more efficient in operations by significantly reducing operation times. There is a tight security system for both personnel and trucks entering the restricted container transfer and storage area via the use of personnel ID’s. These ID’s allow background checks on the drivers to be done via a bar-coding system; this process takes under 2 minutes. Tight security systems were implemented after the 9-11 attacks and are evident as we were stopped several times for ID checks. In addition, the Caribbean Cruise Lines buildings which were constructed after the 9-11 attacks have an emphasis on security. Lastly, intensives searches which are about 2-3% of all incoming containers are done randomly however containers from particular countries are under more scrutiny than others.

The limited real estate is in no way at all a deterrent from additional construction and architectural design, given the fact that height has not been utilized in past construction. Because of continuous success, the port has been able to upgrade the facilities, from construction to information technology and keep up with evolving trends. As such, much of its innovations have been developed in collaboration with industry leaders for particular types of technologies. For instance, the Port of Miami was the first to ever install a workable baggage carousel similar to airports for the cruise line industry which was an initiated undertaken with the help of UPS Express. In addition, there was evidence of minor usage of renewable sources of energy via mono-crystalline solar panels.

Customers are the main focus and therefore satisfaction is a major determinant when seeking to develop the clientele. The experience that customers have can influence decisions that may be positive or negative for both parties involved. At the port it is everyone’s business to take care of the customer and ensure that they are satisfied. In this light, logistics are very crucial to the success of operations, and mistakes in this area are usually very costly. Therefore, in order to prevent such additional and unnecessary expenses on the ports account, steps are usually put in place to ensure that protocol is followed at all times. In addition, to support the ease of logistics there has been a separation of both cargo and cruise line movement in terms of in-bound and out-bound trucks and tourists.

The factors which are integral to success also include business development, safety and security. World class excellence is no longer a passing term, but part of the company’s overall strategic plan to ensure continuous success.

Authors: Arlette, Danna, Daryl, Kirbby, & Sheldon

Photos by Abigail Liverpool

NEXT STOP: THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Trivia:

What is the difference between a high commission and an embassy?

The little known jewel in the Trinidad and Tobago trade crown to the Americas is known mainly for supplying passports. Surprising to us, despite its location in down town Miami the consulate general is responsible for nine other southern states including Kentucky, Louisiana and Alabama . The consul, however, serves a much greater purpose. This includes:
• Diplomatic strengthening by forging better relationships between the Trinidad and Tobago and the US government
• Intelligence gathering – informing the government of changes in US laws and policy and how they affect the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
• Economical – by facilitating trade opportunities between foreign companies operating within their jurisdiction and Trinidad and Tobago
Our main interest in the consulate was to understand their role in trade facilitation. The consulate focuses on specific business segments such as agro-processing, hi-tech manufacturing, economic diversity and knowledge based industries just to name a few. One example illustrating the consulate’s trade involvement is its attendance at several trade shows. In one case they attended a trade show that showcased a machine with the capability to reduce patients’ recovery time for hip replacement surgery from six weeks to two days. This information was passed on to the Ministry of Health. The consulate, in this way, facilitates innovation, technology transfer and foster sustainability for the Trinidadian Diaspora.
So what’s the difference between a high commission and an embassy?
A high commission is located in all countries that are a part of the Commonwealth example England, South Africa and India, while an embassy is located in non-Commonwealth countries such as Venezuela and the United States.

Solid Waste Management - Part 4

One topic of particular interest was that of aluminum recycling since an aluminum smelter complex has been proposed for the Union Industrial Estate in Trinidad. Mr. Shiraz explained that of all the materials that WM recovers, aluminum is the most profitable. He stated that extremely high levels of environmental pollution occur during the extraction of bauxite and smelting of aluminum. Aluminum recycling consumes 95% less energy than that required for smelting and it is the more environmentally sustainable option. Additionally, it is 100% recyclable and does not decrease in quantity when recycled. Aluminum recycling is therefore viewed by some as the 'creation of a renewable resource'.

The entire Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Department was a great experience. The integration of all the different companies makes this department a success. The linkages created together with the other companies that provide support to the organization, Miami-Dade Solid Waste Department is operating an extremely efficient waste collection and recycling facility.

Solid Waste Management - Part 3

The students then proceeded to the Reuter Recycling Facility (RRF). Reuter Recycling Facility is the first major solid waste company to focus on the cost effective, Single Stream Recycling approach. This is a technology that allows participants to place all newspaper; office paper cardboard, plastic bottles, steel and aluminium cans into a single container for subsequent collection. There is no sorting of materials into separate bins and no use of multiple collection vehicles. The simplicity of the approach allows for a wider range of waste materials for collection, approximately 30% more recyclables as compared to multi-stream programs. A very animated Shiraz Kasher, the community Outreach Coordinator addressed a very exhausted group. However, Mr. Kasher’s passion and energy were very contagious, thereby igniting an enthusiasm and awareness of the intrinsic and financial value of recycling. RRF recycles paper, cardboard, glass metal and plastic, which helps customers lower waste disposal costs, shield themselves from waste-related liabilities, protect the environment and help conserve natural resources.

He emphasized on the need to appreciate not only recycling but promoted environmental stewardship through material conservation and reuse. For our avid blog readers that may be wondering about organic wastes (kitchen/food wastes), this centre actually started with an organic composting inclination. This turned out to be a very messy and smelly situation, inviting large sums of flies and rodents. They were not very successful in this context but did not throw in the towel but persevered and evolved into the successful solid waste management department they are today.

Solid Waste Management - Part 2

The visit to the Central Transfer Station of the Department of Solid Waste Management of Miami was an enlightening experience. The visiting contingent was exposed to a well-organized proactive and experienced team that worked in tandem to address the primary separation of trash and garbage. Examples of trash were tree cuttings and other dry materials. Garbage is largely considered as kitchen waste. The Central Transfer Station was also the point where the sorted materials would be compacted and loaded on specialized container trucks and transported by land to the Resource Recovery Waste Energy Facility where they would be further broken down.

In 1987 the Resources to Recovery, Waste to Energy facility was established to reduce the amount of volume going into the landfill. At the start of the company they recycled 1.2 million tonnes of waste per year. Today they recycle approximately nine hundred million tonnes per year. They achieved this by burning the waste to get ash. This is because the ash will take up less space than bulk waste. All emissions are neutralised into steam and cooled before entering the atmosphere.

Solid Waste Management - Part 1

Monday 16^th August, 2010

Our visit to the Miami-Dade County’s Department of Solid Waste Management. The team arrived at the Department of Solid Waste Management, Public Information and Outreach Division where the staff were eagerly awaiting our arrival. Upon arrival our group was warmly greeted by Mrs. Gayle Love, Senior Division Director of the Public Information and Outreach Division, and all of the senior management at the Department of Solid Waste. Mrs. Kathleen Woods-Richardson, the Department’s Director, energetically introduced us to the management team and set an interactive tone for the rest of the day’s activities.

The group was given an overview of the operations and then engaged in a question and answer session. The mission of this department is “To provide our customers with exceptional waste collection, recycling and disposal services that protects, preserve and improve our environment and the quality of life in our community” of 2.5 million persons and that is exactly what the management and staff of Miami Dade County are doing and making money from it too. An interesting point to note is the company is self-sustaining since they receive no public funding, however they manage to have a budget of 400 million dollars. According to the department’s director, ‘garbage is money’ and yes by the end of the tour we saw the money. This session was particularly important since there was a lot of interest in this particular field by most students. At the end of this session, students were presented with tokens and light refreshments before going on a tour of the Central Transfer Station.

Leveraging Technology

Until four years ago, MJM had twenty two accounts, and recently this number started to grow exponentially. This was due to the use of technology, specifically search engine optimization (SEO) marketing and social networking. However, ICT was integrated into the company over the last twenty one years. This is the major difference between this company and a similar company in Trinidad and Tobago that the IIEM students visited. An additional difference is the manner in which they embrace change. This factor is clearly highlighted in many of the examples given by the company such as the focus on SEO marketing and development of downstream industries, including a rack company. The machinery and plant layout are similar between the Trinidad company and MJM.

The factor attributing to the acceptance of technology by MJM is due to the time the company was exposed to it. MJM started using an IT manufacturing control system twenty one years ago; only nine years after the company was started. In this regard, the company was now establishing themselves and was willing to embrace new practices. Many operations in the SME sector in T&T do not have access to technology at start up, and when at later stages, younger minds attempt to introduce it, there is resistance to alter long established traditions. This is now seen as critical for survival in the current global market.

We saw energy, enthusiasm and openness to change at MJM – all of which were essential ingredients in their recipe for success.

Authors: Davina, Rishi and Makesi Photo: Abigail Liverpool

No fairy-tale story…

The successful growth and development of MJM manufacturers over the years is no fairy-tale story. Mr Mijares, the founder , explained that hard work, persistence, dedication, adaptability and innovation were some of the ingredients necessary to move a business concept to a highly profitable venture. The IIEM students listened attentively to him as he shared his experience.

Authors: Davina, Rishi and Makesi

IIEM International Study Tour (Third day 13-08-10)

Today’s event was kick started with the group being lost which added to adventure of the trip. After stopping and asking for the directions we made it to the intended destination, MJM Manufacturing. This company is a privately owned, small business founded by Michael J. Mijares (MJM) in 1979. The group joined up with Ms. Joanna Ross, the Consular Officer from the Office of the Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago in Miami. Upon entering the company’s premises we were warmly greeted by Mr. Mijares. He gave us an overview of the company’s history and then we proceeded to tour the plant. Walking through the facility, Mr. Mijares gave detailed explanations of the various machines and the items being produced. All the departments were explored and a few of the staff members were introduced. The students then presented Mr. Mijares with a token of appreciation from UTT.

The visit was concluded with a group photo taken with Mr. Mijares and his son, Mr. Alex Mijares who is the Director of Operations. The IIEM group then made their way back to the hotel. Here reflections were made on the day’s events with respect to the objectives and themes of the study tour. The session was then concluded with a briefing from Ms. Ross on the mandate for trade promotion of the Consulate in Miami.

Authors: Rishi, Davina and Makesi Photos: Abigail Liverpool

Use of SolidWorks® at MJM Manufacturing

SolidWorks® is computer-aided design (CAD) software that utilizes three dimensional (3D) solid modeling to assist in the creation and development of designs. MJM Manufacturing is in the business of high precision sheet metal and metal machining. This company utilizes computer numerical control (CNC) technology to produce their products. The use of SolidWorks® eases the transition of the product from a drawing to an actual physical product. The software has increased the company’s productivity and flexibility. This is achieved by the software capabilities in generating the simplest and efficient manufacturing process for the product, thus reducing time and materials. The capacity and capability to make adjustments in response to customer requests at minimal cost is also a source of competitive advantage.

We also observed that the software was also used to support the data management system. This made it easy to access product drawings over the company’s intranet, thus reducing the need for unwanted paper drawings. In Trinidad and Tobago SolidWorks® is taught to engineering students at the undergraduate level both at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and also at the University of the West Indies. It is not used in any of the manufacturing companies for production purposes. Many these companies only consider the high initial investment into the software and are conscious of the added value that this software can bring to their operations.

Authors: Rishi, Davina and Makesi

IIEM International Study Tour (second Day 12-08-10)

Today the first visit was to the University of Miami, College of Engineering. We were greeted by the Dean of Engineering and the Director of Admissions for the University. The company had a briefing and then proceeded to tour the engineering labs. The graduate students, Laboratory technicians, and the research assistants gave detailed explanations of the current research endeavors. After visiting the labs the company then proceeded to the main student area which included the Launch Pad (A center for entrepreneurial activity for the university community). At this point the IIEM group enjoyed lunch at the campus food court. The afternoon was spend exploring the FIME (Florida International Medical Exposition) which showcased the latest medical supply and services developed by various wholesale distributors. The evening was completed by group sharing of observations and reflections with respect to the learning objectives of the international study tour.

Rishi, Davina, Makesi

Snapshots of Day 2!!

This is only one shot of many that depicts the scenic campus of the University of Miami. The campus has many of these lush spots that urge students faculty members or guests to just stop for a moment and forget the troubles of the day, or clear their mind in order to motivate their research.

The sleek forest green car though slightly dirty is solar powered. The engineering department built this vehicle. The car may look a bit dilapidated in this picture but was at one point working and functioning as any factory manufactured car, and is much loved by the department and is looked upon with pride.

At the University, multidisciplinary research is encouraged. There are numerous projects currently being conducted by the engineering department, which intersect other areas. These include medicine, IT, neuro science, biomechanics etc. These departments collaborate which results in innovative industry relevant research. Here a PHD student explains his research in tissue engineering.

Manufacturing Lab

The manufacturing lab at the University of Miami had similar equipment to the lab back at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Each lab contains a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling Machine, Lathe, Rapid Prototyping (RP), and 3D scanning capabilities. However at the University of Trinidad and Tobago there is the presence of an AI and Controls lab for conducting research on robotic use in manufacturing, and also surface and cylindrical grinders for high tolerance machining.

Innovation on display!

The students witnessed innovation on display in the form of an advanced wheel chair at the FIME Internation Medical Expo. The chair is electronically powered with an additional feature which allows the user to transition from a seated to a standing position. The functionability of this wheel chair was tested by one of our IIEM students.