Adding Value—Canada as a Platform for Global Manufacturing: Competitiveness in Canadian Manufacturing

Manufacturing is a key element for a healthy economy and represents the single largest business sector in Canada. Although the sector has begun to recover from the international recession of 2008–09, it still faces many challenges and has yet to attain pre-recession levels. Fierce pressures on the manufacturing sector demand increasingly nimble, service-oriented, and specialized manufactured goods. In this changing world, maintaining competitiveness is essential.

Through a comprehensive literature review, a series of interviews with manufacturing and competitiveness stakeholders, and conference proceedings, this report examines Canadian competitiveness in manufacturing. The report identifies three broad themes that work to impact competitiveness and contribute to an innovation ecosystem: human capital; government policies, investments and influence; and the Canadian physical environment. 

This report presents a clear picture of forces that impact competitiveness in the Canadian manufacturing sector. The goal is to set the stage for further understanding and discussion around competitiveness in the Canadian manufacturing sector.

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