07 May 2010

The recent Greening your Supply Chain conference held at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Loughry Campus, Cookstown demonstrated how “green policies” can increase efficiencies and reduce costs in the agri-food sector. The conference was well attended by a wide range of delegates from across the agri-food sector within Northern Ireland who heard how to make savings while adopting a “green approach” throughout the supply chain. Ciaran Doherty of W.D. Irwins bakery commented that “it was good to see something so relevant targeted at the food industry”

Samantha McCloskey (Envirowise) presented an overview of Environmental Management systems, potential barriers, accreditation systems available and the benefits which would accrue. Garrett O’Sullivan (Cafre) and Damien Kane (O’Kane Poultry) gave a practical insight into the implementation of the Five S’s of lean manufacture, stressing the importance of teamwork and getting input from all workers in the process.  Drew McCoubrey (Quality Manufacturing Systems) demonstrated how software applications can be used to monitor efficient use of resources in the factory. The conference ended with a talk by Trevor Knipe (NISP) who demonstrated how his organisation helps companies form symbiotic relationships with one company’s waste being another’s raw material thus creating a win win solution.

The conference was organised by students on the full-time MSc Communication course.  Speakers and delegates were full of praise for the excellent professional conference that the students had prepared. The students would like to extend their thanks to all the speakers, exhibitors and delegates who contributed to the event, with a special word of thanks to Tesco who supplied the tasty lunch.

Josephine McCanny and Tom Mayers from Carbon Zero NI, exhibitors at the conference, pictured with Communication students Stuart McKinley (Dungannon) and Mairead McKenna (Cookstown)

Mathew Quigley and Gavin Lee from the Innotech centre demonstrate some of the “green solutions” provided by their company to communication student Siobhan Curtis (Wexford)

Speakers at the recent Greening your Supply Chain conference pictured with the full time MSc communication students who organised the conference. Speakers seated - Drew McCoubrey (Quality Manufacturing Systems), Garrett O’Sullivan (Cafre), Samantha McCloskey (Envirowise) and Trevor Knipe (NISP). Communication students l-R Ellie McCallion (Belfast), Rachelle Coyle (Arboe), Anny Ung Clegg (Belfast), Mairead McKenna (Cookstown), Emma Crawford (Ballygawley), Stuart McKinley (Dungannon), Joanna Martin (Portstewart), Sara McKendry (Magherafelt), Siobhan Curtis (Wexford) and Judith Pickering (Magherafelt)

Drew McCoubrey (Quality Manufacturing Systems) and Samantha McCloskey (Envirowise) assisted by communication students Emma Crawford (Ballygawley), Stuart McKinley (Dungannon) and Siobhan Curtis (Wexford) prove that green initiatives can also cut costs for agri-food businesses

John Fay (Cafre Director) and James O’Boyle (Head of College Services, Cafre) congratulate Communication students Emma Crawford (Ballygawley), Rachelle Coyle (Arboe) and Mairead McKenna (Cookstown) on the successful Greening your Supply Chain conference