FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
WORKING PAPER 1
CREATING ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
PROFESSIONALS
Prepared by:
Michael A. Rostek, CD, PhD
Program Director, UOIT Futures Forum
FUTURES FORUM
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING .............................................................................................................................. 4
EMBRACING CHANGE – DURHAM REGION AND UOIT............................................................................................ 6
CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
2/9
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
INTRODUCTION
Advanced Manufacturing will increase efficiency, making manufacturers’ bottom lines
better, but will not mean the manufacturing jobs we have come to know…repetitive tasks
will be replaced by robotics and the types of jobs that will open up from the increased use
of Advanced Manufacturing will require much more education and skills.
Steve Norall, Wall Street Journal, 2013
While the global economy was deeply affected by the economic recession of 2007-09, economic
recovery continues to be slow arguably brought on by prevailing uncertainty - changes in
economic and financial policies, different views about growth prospects, productivity
movements, wars, acts of terrorism, and natural disasters.1 However, long term growth of the
global economy is still expected through to 2030 with increasing internationalization of markets
for goods, capital, services and labour. Further, it is anticipated that this economic growth will be
driven by population growth, improvements in productivity, and greater integration of the global
economy.2
Within this global context, Canada continues to excel with a critical component of its
competitiveness and prosperity derived from the manufacturing sector.3 Further,
manufacturing has been a key driver of Ontario’s economy for more than 150 years.4 In
its traditional sense, manufacturing is a labour intensive mechanical process;
“…essentially the step-wise transformation of raw materials (coming from mainly natural
sources such as underground mines, forests and so forth) into finished goods.5 Through
advancements, primarily in science and technology and convergence of these
technologies, we have witnessed the emergence of advanced manufacturing, a
“…concept that entails both leading-edge methods of manufacturing new and existing
products as well as improved approaches to designing and coordinating operations.”6
Nicholas Bloom, M. Ayhan Kose, and Marco E. Terrones, “Held Back by Uncertainty”, IMF, Finance and
development, March 2013, Vol. 50, No. 1 viewed 18 Aug 14.
<http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2013/03/bloom.htm>.
2
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, “Global Economic Prospects:
Managing the Next Wave of Globalization”, (Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2007): xii, 39, 46.
3
Industry Canada, “Sate of Advanced Manufacturing: A Canadian Perspective”, (Ottawa, Industry Canada, 2012),
2.
4
Ontario’s Centres of Excellence, “Advanced Manufacturing” viewed 21 Aug 14 < http://www.oceontario.org/about-us/focus-on-sectors/advanced-manufacturing>.
5
Olivier de Weck, Darci Reed, Sanjay Sarma and Martin Schmidt, “Trends in Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Innovation”, A chapter submitted to the Production in the Innovation Economy (PIE) study Version 1.1 (Boston,
MIT, 2000), 23.
6
Industry Canada, “Sate of Advanced Manufacturing: A Canadian Perspective”, (Ottawa, Industry Canada, 2012),
2.
1
3/9
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
Indeed, today manufacturing constitutes “…a vibrant, highly innovative and technologydriven industry of the Canadian economy.”7
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
Articulated as a “new industrial revolution”8 or the “democratization of manufacturing”9,
advanced manufacturing represents a shift from traditional labour-intensive processes to
advanced-technology-based processes. It is defined as:
…a family of activities that (a) depend on the use and coordination of information,
automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking, and/or (b) make use of
cutting edge materials and emerging capabilities enabled by the physical and biological
sciences, for example nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology. This involves both new
ways to manufacture existing products, and especially the manufacture of new products
emerging from new advanced technologies.10
Advanced, technology-based processes create new ways to manufacture new and existing
products and this change was largely engendered through the emergence of five major trends:





the ubiquitous role of information technology,
the reliance on modeling and simulation in the manufacturing process,
the acceleration of innovation in global supply-chain management,
the move toward rapid changeability of manufacturing in response to customer needs and
external impediments, and
the acceptance and support of sustainable manufacturing.11
Without increased costs or decreased performance, the trends noted above highlight advances in
manufacturing through tighter integration of R&D and production, mass customization,
increased automation, and a focus on the environment.12
7
Ibid.
John Coten, “A Revolution in the Making: Digital technology is transforming manufacturing, making it leaner and
smarter—and raising the prospect of an American industrial revival”, Wall Street Journal, 2013 viewed 21 Aug 14 <
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324063304578522812684722382?mg=reno64wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424127887324063304578522812684722382.ht
ml>.
9
Ibid.
10
John P. Holdren, Eric Lander, Shirley Ann Jackson and Eric Schmidt, “Repiort to the President on Ensuring
American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing”, (Washington: President’s Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology, 2011), ii.
11
Stephanie S. Shipp, et al, “Emerging Global trends in Advanced Manufacturing”, (Alexandria, Institute for
Defense Analysis, 2012), iv.
12
Ibid.
8
4/9
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
More specifically, a recent MIT study identified that research trends in support of advanced
manufacturing tend to cluster into seven manufacturing areas:







Nano-engineering of Materials and Surfaces,
Additive Precision Manufacturing,
Robotics, Automation and Adaptability,
Bio-manufacturing/Pharmaceuticals,
Distributed Supply Chains/Design,
Next Generation Electronics, and
Green Sustainable Manufacturing.13
New models to enhance manufacturing research should be fostered through industry/academic
opportunities as well as maximizing available private and public research funding. Within
Canada certain trends have become prevalent which may provide a foundation for future
industry/academia engagement:




Increased Agility. The emphasis here is not just on technologies that enhance
productivity and flexibility in existing large scale manufacturing processes. Within
Canada large manufacturers are using multiple locations for critical operations to avoid
supply chain interruptions and raise their responsiveness and dependability, adapting
production volumes based on customer demand and profitability and varying production
mixes [i.e. Auto: maximizing multiple plant capacity].
Mass customization capacity. While there is indeed promise with programmable
manufacturing processes that do not rely on capital‐intensive tooling and fixture, mass
customization is driving new investment in manufacturing facilities.
Market Niches. In Canada offerings include specialized products or ability to provide a
customer solution that can focus on product or services; [i.e. Auto: catering to Canadian
climate], and
Innovation (process, organizational, product and marketing). Technologies that are truly
enablers of classes of products that do not yet currently exist. In Canada, for example,
“[a]cross industries, many manufacturers have implemented advanced production
technologies in their efforts to reduce total landed cost in aerospace, motor vehicle and
motor vehicle parts industries.”14
Olivier de Weck, Darci Reed, Sanjay Sarma and Martin Schmidt, “Trends in Advanced Manufacturing
Technology Innovation”, A chapter submitted to the Production in the Innovation Economy (PIE) study Version 1.1
(Boston, MIT, 2000), 28.
14
Industry Canada, “Sate of Advanced Manufacturing…, 10.
13
5/9
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
Identification of these trends provides an expected future within the advanced manufacturing
industry and a foundation for exploration of cooperation and collaboration in the immediate
future. As concluded in Industry Canada’s recent Advanced Manufacturing report:
The research also presents important linkages between emerging business models in
manufacturing, investment in production facilities, and innovation and advanced
technology adoption. These connections can help inform a continued dialogue between
businesses, governments and academia.15
Perhaps the most significant advancements within the manufacturing sector lie within the deeper
future perspective known as Industry 4.0.16 While still very much in its conceptual stage, the idea
that manufacturing processes will become optimized and largely controlled by themselves is not
that far off into the future. Characterized as a fourth revolution for automating manufacturing
processes, Industry 4.0 is more intelligent making “…use of miniaturized processors, storage
units, sensors, and transmitters that will be embedded in nearly all conceivable types of
machines, unfinished products, and materials, as well as smart tools and new software for
structuring data flows.”17
EMBRACING CHANGE – DURHAM REGION AND UOIT
Manufacturing is critical to Canada's prosperity, provides high-quality, well-paying jobs, and is
an important contributor to strong economic growth in Ontario. While Ontario firms have
competitive advantages in some knowledge-intensive sectors, they lag competitors in innovation,
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) adoption, productivity and market
diversification.18
“A thriving manufacturing sector is vital to Ontario’s future because it drives productivity
advancement, investments in research and development, and trade.”19 Further, it is well
known that the world’s strongest economies have a significant manufacturing base.
Advanced manufacturing creates jobs in design, advertising, customer service and global
marketing.”20
15
Ibid, 11.
Katrin Nikolaus, “Self Organizing Factories”, Pictures of the Future” Spring 2013, viewed 15 Oct 14
<http://www.siemens.com/innovation/apps/pof_microsite/_pof-spring-2013/_html_en/industry-40.html>.
17
Ibid.
18
Government of Canada, “Advanced Manufacturing Fund” viewed 22 Sep 14
<http://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/01859.html#p11.1>.
19
Ontario PC Caucus White Paper, “Paths to Prosperity, Ontario: Advanced Manufacturing for a Better Ontario”,
Preamble, July 2013.
20
Ibid.
16
6/9
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
Durham Region has long been a centre of traditional manufacturing in Canada, with particular
strengths in the automotive (e.g. General Motors), aerospace (e.g. Messier-Dowty) and
automation (e.g. Siemens) sectors. As technology and other enabling tools have become more
sophisticated, Durham's manufacturers have moved to implement increasingly advanced
methods, technologies and structures for developing and delivering their manufactured product
to market.21
Durham Region is considered a peri-urban or “rurban” area and it is projected that these areas
will grow faster than city centers as they provide cheaper land for housing and manufacturing.
Indeed, metropolitan regions will spill over multiple jurisdictions creating mega-regions. By
2030, there will be at least 40 large bi-national and tri-national metro regions one of which could
be the Durham Region.22
Durham Region is well known for the strength of its manufacturing sector which is
continually undergoing rapid diversification. Durham is endowed with a young, skilled
labour force. It has all the utilities, transportation and social infrastructure associated with
modern metropolitan communities. The single most significant economic factor for the
Region has been the dramatic increase in residential development.23
The rise of the "advanced" manufacturing sector has created opportunities related to both the
strengthening and deepening of traditional manufacturing activity in the Durham Region;
highlighting some of the fundamental factors that are necessary for a vibrant manufacturing
industry which includes access to low-cost or high-skill labour (or both); proximity to demand;
efficient transportation and logistics infrastructure; availability of inputs such as natural
resources or inexpensive energy; and proximity to centres of innovation.”24 Although there is
already acknowledgement of an increased level of skills found within the Durham Region labour
force25 a key factor in strengthening a prosperous advanced manufacturing sector is easy access
to innovation and STEM based education centres such as University of Ontario Institute of
Technology (UOIT) which provides ready and easy access to knowledge, expertise and
resources.
21
Advanced Manufacturing In Durham, viewed 22 Sep 14
<http://www.iminonline.ca/regions/durham_region/about>.
22
National Intelligence Council, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds, (Washington: Office of the National
Intelligence Council, 2012), 28.
23
Regional Municipality of Durham, “Overview of Durham Region”, viewed 23 Sep 14
<http://www.durham.ca/default.asp?nr=/corpoverview/overview.htm>.
24
James Manyika, et al, ‘Manufacturing the future: The next era of global growth and innovation”, (Washington:
McKinsey Global Institute, 2012), 4.
25
Advanced Manufacturing In Durham, viewed 23 Sep 14
<http://www.iminonline.ca/regions/durham_region/about>.
7/9
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
Further, a key policy priority for advanced manufacturing is education and skill development and
one of the key concerns for the manufacturing industry is access to talent. Indeed, McKinsey
Global Institute predicts a “…potential shortage of more than 40 million high skilled workers by
2020.” While many manufacturing companies will be busy competing for talent, there will also
be an increase need to access innovation centres. Some manufacturing industries have built
apprenticeship programs which create an employment pipeline direct to the manufacturing
company (i.e. Siemens). In this vein, UOIT as a STEM-based university is exceptionally well
placed within the Durham Region to capitalize on this trend. Not only should UOIT link direct
with manufacturers, they should also prepare the next generation workforce and reach into the
public/private schooling system with a view to encouraging state-of-the-art co-op/apprentice
programs which will see UOIT cultivate its future student population before they walk through
the doors.
Advanced manufacturing processes will likely be more energy and resource efficient in the
future, as companies strive to integrate sustainable manufacturing techniques into their business
practices to reduce costs, to decrease supply-chain risks, and to enhance product appeal to
customers.
CONCLUSION
UOIT is positioned within a “rurban” area with a well-regarded history as a manufacturing
centre. The cities within the Durham Region must work together as “rurban” areas will exhibit
greater growth than urban centres and Durham Region is not to be excluded.
With the advances in ICT, manufacturing is on the verge of a renaissance and what is emerging
as the fourth industrial revolution. Increased automation, fast and flexible customization, greater
efficiency, less waste are some of the characteristics of advanced manufacturing. As we move
forward, many of these trends will intersect and create new patterns and processes that we have
yet to discover.
Increased automation and greater efficiency will be coupled with fewer jobs across the
manufacturing sector and those that do remain will require persons with greater knowledge and
skills. Preparing the next generation innovators, researchers and workers will require new
approaches which include, among others, developing state-of-the-art apprenticeship programs for
21st century manufacturing, creating opportunities and incentives for older Canadians to remain
vibrant contributors in the workforce, or renewed efforts to expand STEM education and create
greater opportunities to integrate into the workplace.26
26
Adapted from Council on Competitiveness - U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness Initiative: Make an American
Manufacturing Movement (December 2011)
(www.compete.org/images/uploads/File/.../USMCI_Make.pdf)
8/9
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
It can be argued that UOIT may have a unique opportunity to move beyond the traditional
education model in advanced manufacturing by adopting a more holistic approach that bridges
academia, policy and industry in creating graduates who understand the context within which
they translate their ideas and follow through to capabilities in the workplace. By adopting a
comprehensive approach27 to advanced manufacturing curriculum, UOIT can create advanced
manufacturing professionals that can Conceive – Design – Implement – Operate28 complex
value-added advanced manufacturing products, processes, and systems in modern team-based
environments. They will be able to participate in advanced manufacturing processes, contribute
to the development of advanced manufacturing products, and do so while working to
professional standards; in essence, UOIT will create new advanced manufacturing professionals.
UOIT is Durham Region’s largest university which harnesses capabilities in education, research,
process and design primarily, but not exclusively, on a STEM platform. As an agent for change,
UOIT is well placed to harvest the greatest possibilities of the region for an industry that is
driven by advancements in ICT , has land for development and a workforce familiar with
manufacturing. However, speed and flexibility will be paramount for success in advanced
manufacturing and as such work must begin today if we are to build a leadership position for
tomorrow.
27
There has been a growing acknowledgement of the need to practice a more coordinated and holistic approach to
contemporary challenges. To this end, a new form of collective action has emerged known as the Comprehensive
Approach (CA). Such an approach recognizes that the bounds of collective action often need to be extended beyond
core stakeholders traditionally associated with a complex challenge such as the future of advanced manufacturing.
As noted in the Government of Canada’s publication, “Seizing Canada’s Moment: Moving Forward in Science
Technology and Innovation 2014, “…it is a call to action for the players in the Canadian innovation system –
whether they be in the research community, the business community, or different levels of government – to work
together to achieve the goal of making Canada a scientifically and technologically innovative nation”.
capable of leading the world.”
28
The CDIO™ INITIATIVE is an innovative educational framework for producing the next generation of
engineers. The framework provides students with an education stressing engineering fundamentals set in the context
of Conceiving — Designing — Implementing — Operating (CDIO) real-world systems and products. Throughout
the world, CDIO Initiative collaborators have adopted CDIO as the framework of their curricular planning and
outcome-based assessment. See: http://www.cdio.org/about.
9/9