Primary and secondary schools must place greater emphasis on problem-solving, disciplinary, and other basic employability skills. Secondary schools must provide greater opportunities for students in trades training programs and other studies related to manufacturing.

Educational credentials must be awarded on the basis of achievement.

Manufacturers and business associations must become more actively engaged with colleges and universities in designing educational and training programs that are relevant to their business.

Colleges and universities must develop a more integrated interdisciplinary curriculum, combining both technical and business skills.

College and university curricula must include more programs focusing on manufacturing management and engineering, global business, design, industrial automation, innovation management, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Colleges and universities must develop more customized educational and training programs that allow for easily accessible, just-in-time delivery to manufacturers and workers. One option is the development of shorter, more intensive instructional modules that focus on practical business problems.

Manufacturers, colleges, and universities must use new technologies to share on-line training and experience.

Colleges and universities must provide greater opportunities for workers and businesses in rural areas to access their programs.

Colleges and universities must integrate credentialing systems more effectively.

Business associations, Centres of Excellence, and educational institutions must do a better job in communicating educational and skills training capabilities to business and Canadians more generally. There should be a national inventory of skills training programs outlining accessibility as well as content.

Research Granting Councils and Centres of Excellence must give the instruction and training of qualified personnel and the collaborative engagement of industry a higher priority in their assessment of funding for applied research.

Manufacturers must work more effectively with academic institutions to determine and support research programs that are of direct interest to industry.

Manufacturers and educational institutions must work together to ensure that teachers can keep their knowledge, skills, and practical experience current, and that schools, colleges, and universities have access to the latest technologies in use in manufacturing facilities.