The Big Makeover : How Digital Transformation is Changing the Face of Canadian Manufacturing

Most manufacturing executives understand that we are entering a period of industry disruption so sweeping that it has already earned the weighty title Fourth Industrial Revolution. The source of this disruption is a wide range of new and emerging digital technologies that have the ability to radically transform processes and even render them obsolete. As Canadian manufacturers contemplate the challenges facing their industry, they would do well to remember Mark Twain’s quip: “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” If manufacturers are to count themselves among the survivors of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it won’t be enough for them merely to talk about it – they too must do something about it.

But where to begin? What exactly are these new technologies, and who is using them? When will they really start making a competitive difference? And what do they mean for the industry? The purpose of this report is to provide some of the answers to these questions. The IT Media Group (ITMG) undertook this research project with sponsorship from Salesforce Canada. The initiative was led by Nasheen Liu, ITMG Managing Partner, and SVP Program Strategy. Primary research, industry polling, executive interviews, and initial content were completed by Dr. Peter Carr of the University of Waterloo. Dave Carey, ITMG VP Content, was responsible for additional research, content creation, and report editing. Content review, final edits, and report production were completed by Jeff Ishii, ITMG Chief Technologist and VP Operations.

This report contributes to ITMG’s mission of supporting and adding value to the executive community in Canada. It is our goal to provide a wide range of opportunities for direct engagement between IT vendors and industry executives, enabling them to share knowledge and opinions, provide thought leadership, build relationships, and engage in a dialogue of benefit to both parties.