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Articles
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R&D programs announced for auto parts sector |
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Precarn Inc., Ottawa, ON and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) have announced awarding $1.5 million to fund three research and development projects in the Canadian auto parts industry.
The funding, which has been awarded to three collaborative teams of Canadian researchers at companies and three universities in Ontario, will be augmented by $2.1 million levered through participant funds, for a total project value of $3.5 million.
The funding was provided under the Collaborative Auto R&D Program which was created in May, 2007. The program targets smaller automotive parts suppliers to deliver operational prototypes of significant innovations in the auto parts industry. The joint program is administered and funded by Precarn, a not-for-profit company representing a national network of corporations, universities, colleges, research institutes and government partners engaged in the development of enabling technologies.
The three projects include the development of an automated scanning system that detects dings and dents in automotive bodies, a failure diagnosis system of drive components, and a robotic welding system that uses a six-axis robot to modify moulds.
“We’re particularly pleased to award the funding to Canadian automotive parts suppliers in order to enable them to advance their research and development agendas,” Paul Johnston, president and chief executive officer of Precarn, said in making the announcement. “These innovative projects are designed to develop advanced technological solutions that improve productivity and lower costs in the automotive manufacturing sector.”
The automatic ding and dent detection project will develop a working prototype of an automated laser scanning system for the detection and identification of deformations introduced to automobile bodies during the assembly process. The system will scan automobiles as they move on the assembly line and detect dings and dents (deformations) and subsequently identify the deformations visually on the body surface for in-line repair, significantly speeding up the production and inspection process. Led by Neptec Design Group Ltd., Ottawa, ON, the project partners include the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, and Honda Canada, Alliston, ON.
The second project will see the development of an auto component failure prediction system. The testing of components designed for car engines is a very complex task. Parts that are driven by the engine’s crankshaft experience great strain during their life, so understanding their durability before failure is crucial. The new auto component failure prediction system will use a combination of hardware and artificial intelligence tools to simulate the environment engine components will experience to help the design of more robust products. Led by Quanser Consulting Group Inc., Markham, ON, the project partners include Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, and Litens Automotive Group, Woodbridge, ON.
The third project involves developing a multi-layer robotic TIG welding designed to follow a 3D contour. With car models changing from year to year, specific automotive parts are re-moulded to create new looks. The current process to update the parts requires the steel moulds to be heated to 700°F and then, a skilled welder must operate in a hot environment for many hours. This is not only a time-consuming and uncomfortable task, but also requires the manufacturer to commit significant human and financial resources. This project will develop a unique robotic system that automatically welds the parts, working on a three-dimensional surface. With this new technology, welding jobs that may have required more than 20 hours to complete could be done two to three times faster, with greater accuracy. Led by Tool-Tec Welding Inc., Oldcastle, ON, the project partners include University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, and Omega Tool Corp., Oldcastle, ON.
“We are delighted to be working with Precarn on this collaborative venture,” said Gerald Fedchun, president of APMA. “The APMA and our members recognize the critical importance of innovation in this sector to maintain our competitive advantages.”
precarn.ca
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Government should leverage investments to enhance opportunities for business |
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Canadian government should leverage public investments in transportation equipment and infrastructure to enhance opportunities for Canadian manufacturers and exporters who are facing an increasingly difficult competitive situation, according to a recent policy paper released by Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME).
“By leveraging these investments, governments in Canada would level the playing field to international standards for transportation equipment and infrastructure manufacturers in Canada, reduce business uncertainty by forcing clear, full and open competition for all contracts, and help government effectively address the legal and political controversy surrounding sole-source contracting,” CME President Jayson Myers said in releasing the policy paper. “Canadian governments need to catch up and follow the lead of our main trading partners in that regard. This responsibility should be shared by all levels of government in a joint commitment.”
The rapid rise of the Canadian dollar, growing offshore competition, the slowdown in the U.S. economy, and the accelerating pace of technological innovation have all put increasing pressure on Canadian manufacturers and exporters in recent years.
“In this context, it more imperative than ever for governments to make sure that domestic manufacturing and exporting companies benefit from a globally competitive business environment. Moreover, businesses expect their governments to create policies which support their competitiveness, establish rules and regulations which provide them with equal footing, and apply these rules in an even and systematic way.
“Government funding, specifically in the case of infrastructure and mass transit projects, is one of the tools that governments have at their disposal to foster domestic economic development. This approach is well-established and desirable for any economy which endeavours to support the development of a strong and dynamic domestic industry. This is why many countries use this approach,” the policy paper says.
In particular, the report singles out the U.S. in this regard. “Highway, road, airport facilities, and mass transit infrastructure projects are
governed by laws, bylaws and policies which maximize economic benefits for U.S. domestic companies and, by the same token, support the development of the local manufacturing industry while allowing competition that is based on fair rules for all vendors.”
According to the policy paper, the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement also doesn’t guarantee that Canadian manufacturers and exporters automatically
have access to infrastructure and mass transit projects which are funded by the U.S. government. “Even though Canadian exporters take part in certain projects which are funded by governments in the U.S., several contracts or sub-contracts are reserved for companies which are in the U.S. In spite of NAFTA and the WTO’s Agreement on Government Procurement, which provide fair treatment to signatory nations when granting certain contracts, the U.S. government succeeds in promoting manufacturing on U.S. soil while respecting these agreements.”
For example, the CME points out that restrictions exist regarding a manufacturing presence in the U.S. for all projects funded by the U.S. government
in the sectors of mass transit, airports or road construction. These policies, the report states, are designed to maximize the impact of government funds on U.S. industry.
“However, Canadian companies do not benefit from the same support from their own governments, even though Canada has economic development goals which are similar to those of its main trading partner, and even though it is important for Canadian companies to have support that is similar to
the one obtained by foreign companies from their governments in order to be competitive on a global scale. Too often, international agreements to which Canada is a signatory have been estimated to be restrictive regarding the actions it can take, to the point where it is powerless.
“However, Canada does have a scope of concern that is does not use, to the detriment of companies that choose to design and manufacture their products here,” the report states.
For instance, the CME notes that both provinces and states are not subject to NAFTA. “Several U.S. states use government procurement
to maximize domestic economic benefits. In Canada, because of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), provinces cannot do the same; they must give free access to their government procurement for all Canadian companies. They can therefore use government procurement to support Canada’s
economic development, but not of their province specifically.”
In order to maximize Canadian domestic economic benefits of government procurement, the CME makes several recommendations . For one thing, the CME urges that the federal government and the provinces implement every measure possible when funding projects to stimulate economic development, in accordance with standards imposed by the international agreements to which Canada is a signatory; that the federal government apply rules and regulations favouring Canadian content when it funds infrastructure and mass transit projects under its authority, or under the authority of provinces and municipalities; and that provincial governments also use funds invested to develop and renew infrastructures as
economic development levers.
cme-mec.ca
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Manufacturers benefit from examining customer loyalty |
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 by Thomas R. Cutler
Whether a sense of loyalty develops often depends on one particular dynamic: a customer’s relationship with the salesperson. A team of academic marketing professors, including one from the University of Missouri-Columbia, found that customer loyalty toward the salesperson -rather than the products and services tied closely to the seller-can inspire greater sales. This finding is often negative for the manufacturing business leaving the company more vulnerable.
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BDC makes a difference to Canadian manufacturers |
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 by Jerry Cook
It’s fashionable to talk about maintaining a strong customer focus and making a difference within your customer base but very few private sector or public institutions have taken it to the level that the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has.
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Glueckler measures success in global market with automated welding cell |
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by Jerry Cook
 Barrie, ON-Competing in the global automotive marketplace has never been easy and isn’t likely to get any easier in the future. However, a recently installed advanced automation cell is now giving Glueckler Metal Inc., Barrie, ON a significant edge in the fiercely competitive global auto market.
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Norquest achieves multiple benefits from multitasking |
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 Enhanced flexibility, improved quality, and a reduction in setup time
are only some of the benefits that Norquest Industries Inc., Edmonton,
AB has realized from the recent installation of a Mazak Integrex 400ST
Mark-IV multitasking machine.
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Tax, financial incentives help Canadian firms expand into Niagara County |
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 by Jerry Cook
A number of Canadian firms have taken advantage of various programs offered by the Niagara County Centre for Economic Development (NCCED) to expand their businesses into the United States.
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