Honda of Canada was recently awarded with $48.1 million in Canadian government grants through the Automotive Innovation Fund (AIF). This is the first time that the program has provided grants; previously the program only offered repayable funding. Through the announcement, further details were provided on the types of projects that will now qualify for automotive…
To stay competitive in the automotive industry, manufacturers must find innovative solutions to differentiate themselves and their products. Investing in new research and technology developments can enable both small and large manufacturing businesses to achieve higher profits, and become more competitive. In support of this ideology, Magna International Inc. has invested in the development of…
In order for Canada to become internationally competitive in the automotive industry, our nation must become leaders in product and process improvements. Leveraging knowledge-based resources such as skilled labourers, researchers, and state-of-the art equipment will help Canadian firms to develop a sustainable competitive advantage. Thankfully, the Government of Canada supports automotive industry competitiveness by offering…
Unifor, Canada’s largest automotive workers’ union, recently approved new 4-year labour deals with General Motors and Chrysler-Fiat Automobiles. The agreements, which also prevented a potential October 10 strike, will secure slight increases to wages and pensions of workers. However, the real gains made through these negotiations come from securing new investments into Canadian production facilities. Negotiations…
New vehicle innovations are reshaping the automotive industry at a more rapid pace than ever before. Global manufacturers are developing new products and processes at an accelerated rate, which is helping the automotive industry to become more efficient and technologically advanced. One of the major trends leading this revolution is the lightening of vehicles throughout…
Automotive businesses are heavily incentivized by all levels of government to promote critical large-scale investments. There are several small business grants and loans that automotive manufacturers can apply for, including the popular Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF). SWODF is a catalyst for business investment in Ontario and recently provided government grants to seven automotive manufacturers…
Sodecia Canada, a globally-recognized automotive manufacturer, has opened a new state-of-the-art technology and manufacturing centre in London Ontario. The new plant was officially opened this week at an event hosted by Sodecia’s local management team, the board of directors, and key management personnel from their corporate head office in Porto, Portugal. At the new facility,…
I’m a big advocate for metrics and key performance indicator (KPI) driven workflows. I believe in the value of data-driven processes, and have seen first-hand the impact of KPI focused process improvement projects. For many manufacturers, the increased use of software systems that document all of their processes has allowed them to identify even more…
The Ontario automotive industry continues to be an intense focus for the provincial and federal governments. Commitments from both levels of government to enable innovation and create a green economy has helped to secure new investments from Canadian businesses, of whom, General Motors (GM Canada) recently announced their expansion in southwestern Ontario. As part of…
New details have been released regarding the Government of Ontario’s commitment to green energy grants and incentives for business. The low-carbon economy that is being proposed by Ontario’s government will seek to raise funds from a variety of carbon-emitting activities and reinvest those funds into the economy by supporting clean technologies. Businesses in Ontario, especially…