• Colleges and universities are graduating people with specialized knowledge, but lacking a wider understanding of business skills.
• Canada lacks critical educational programs in manufacturing management, Lean manufacturing and other continuous improvement methodologies, manufacturing engineering, design, and global business development.
• Engineering and trades training programs in schools are underfunded in relation to more academic or research-intensive programs.
• Educational curricula and equipment used for training are often out-of-date – and are expensive to upgrade.
• The education system is viewed as doing a good job in developing “thinkers” but is not performing as well in graduating people who can do things. Both educators and students need more practical experience and a better understanding of modern manufacturing. But, safety regulations make it very difficult to bring students into companies to heighten their exposure.
• Manufacturers and educators are not working very effectively together to ensure that innovation and business skills are a relevant or useful part of the curriculum.
• Manufacturers are often unaware of the education and training programs that Canada’s colleges and universities have to offer.
• The lack of college and university extension programs in rural areas of the country makes it difficult to attract or retain skilled people.
• The term and curricular structure of educational and training programs in colleges and universities often make them difficult to access for manufacturers or workers seeking to upgrade skills but who do not have the time or the resources to invest in long-term, general programs.
• The lack of mutual recognition of academic and professional credentials in Canada restricts the mobility of skilled people as well as their educational and training opportunities.
• More customized educational and training programs are needed from both colleges and universities – focusing intensively on specific topics and delivered over a short period of time.

Recommendations for Action

Manufacturers must work more closely together with colleges, engineering, and business schools to identify their future skills requirements, and to shift perceptions away from manual skills to the more technical and knowledge-intensive skills associated with automation.

Primary and secondary schools must meet world class standards for the instruction of reading, writing, mathematics, and sciences.