Chapter 3: Advanced Manufacturing And Supply Chains

The risks associated with a globally integrated supply chain were realized during the pandemic, as health crises forced a prioritizing of domestic concerns for governments around the world. For many countries, including Canada, a new domestic focus for both governments and manufacturers has emerged in response¹.

For manufacturers, the increased prioritizing of domestic capacity comes at a time when the sector in Canada—largely comprised of small- and medium-sized businesses—was already focused on progressing advanced manufacturing practices, digitization and intelligent supply chain mandates. According to a recent report from REMAP, a government-backed refined manufacturing association, "[t]he global competitive landscape that was responsive to digitally-enabled SME manufacturers before the worldwide pandemic has only intensified Canadian SMEs' need to invest in adopting transformational technologies."².