The Canadian manufacturing landscape is being dramatically impacted by inflation, climate change, and geopolitical strife. Port slowdowns, rising container costs, and substantial lead times—along with the ongoing lack of port workers, shipping crews, and road and rail drivers—are making logistics and distribution harder, slower, and more expensive. There’s also less industrial space available in urban hot spots. But this is making way for new opportunities to innovate and transform the manufacturing sector.
Manufacturers are looking to diversify their supply chain, whether that means sourcing from multiple international markets or closer to home, and to develop strategic partnerships that can help them find value throughout the supply chain. With so much time spent sourcing inputs and optimizing operations, ‘just in time’ production methodologies are swinging back to ‘just in case.’ Digitalization will be critical to mitigating supply chain risk and enhancing sustainability going forward, but a healthy supply chain also requires focusing on ESG as a strategic imperative.
Manufacturing companies are also turning to technology to stay competitive, become more sustainable, and even take part in the circular economy. They’re producing more data than ever in smart, connected factories. And they’re tasked with managing that data, as well as automating processes and introducing machine learning and artificial intelligence into their processes. But this requires upskilling employees to take on more strategic roles. By adapting and evolving, they can move from being reactive to becoming proactive and predictive.
