Advanced Manufacturing Sector Challenges Discussion

Jun 28, 2024

Lecture Notes: Discussion on Advanced Manufacturing Sector Challenges

Introduction

  • Purpose: Discuss challenges and opportunities in the advanced manufacturing sector.
  • Host: Jason, located in Northwest Territories.
  • Participants: Eclectic group of business leaders.
  • Focus: Supply chain issues, value creation, innovation, and international partnerships.

Current Major Challenges

General

  • Supply chain disruptions: Conflict in Ukraine, trade tensions, demographic changes, and logistics bottlenecks.
  • Transition from supply chains to value chains: Involves innovation and partnerships.

Individual Perspectives

Kevin Fernandez, Macrodyne

  • Company: Largest hydraulic press manufacturer in North America.
  • Challenges: Disruptions in electronics and robotics supply; capital goods infrastructure issues.

David McNaughton, Palantir Technologies

  • Company: Focuses on real-time data integration for complex supply chains.
  • Challenges: Lack of data from supplier’s suppliers; geopolitical and logistical disruptions.
  • Solutions: Better understanding of supply chain complexities through data aggregation.

Barry Hunt, Prescient

  • Company: Engineer infection prevention technologies and PPE production.
  • Opportunities: Increase domestic production of critical products like PPE.
  • Challenges: Regulatory restrictions, labor shortages, and ongoing healthcare impacts like long COVID.

Louis Antoine, DeepSight

  • Company: Develops AR software for knowledge management in manufacturing.
  • Focus: Addressing labor and skill shortages.

Gary, CarboCrete

  • Company: Cement-free concrete producer.
  • Opportunities: Carbon-negative products and leveraging slag and CO2 injection.
  • Challenges: Supply chain issues and skilled manpower shortage.

Eric, Saskatchewan Industrial Mining Suppliers Association

  • Focus: Supply chain constraints and opportunities in mining and nuclear fuel sectors.
  • Challenges: Labor shortages and high transport costs.

Mitch, Mosaic Manufacturing

  • Company: Develops 3D printing solutions for factory floors.
  • Challenges: Scaling production and overcoming early adopter risk for customers.
  • Opportunities: Reduce manufacturing costs and lead times through parallelization and automation.

Billy Rideout, Exergy

  • Focus: Additive manufacturing and supply chain resilience in heavy industry.
  • Challenges: Capital-intensive installations; ensuring reliable parts supply.

Sean

  • Role: Works with smaller companies to help them grow and manage their businesses.
  • Challenges: High costs associated with nearshoring and labor shortages.

Future Prospects and Strategies

Onshoring and Nearshoring

  • Data Insight: Onshoring hasn't yet significantly changed import figures for Canada.
  • David’s Perspective: Long-term opportunities for Canada despite protectionist U.S. policies.
  • Barry’s Insights: Importance of procurement and collaboration between government and industry.

Specific Opportunities

  • Louis Antoine’s Perspective: Shift in vocational training to just-in-time training using advanced tech.
  • Gary’s Focus: Great potential for carbon-negative products, looking at both old and new solutions for supply issues.
  • Eric’s Perspective: Canadian resources and minerals as strategic advantages.
  • General Consensus: Canada's unique advantages in resources, talent, and geopolitical stability.

Conclusion

  • Call to Action: Continued collaboration among industry, government, and academia essential to leveraging opportunities.
  • Networking & Next Steps: Encouraged mutual follow-ups and leveraging the discussed opportunities.