Multivans Recognized for Manufacturing Success
Here at NorthBridge, we love a good success story. Yesterday, FedDev Minister Gary Goodyear and Member of Parliament David Tilson visited Bolton, Ontario to recognize the success of a long-standing Canadian Manufacturer. Multivans Inc. has manufactured FRP, aluminium, and refrigerated truck bodies in Canada for over 45 years. In 2009, Multivans Inc. received $50,000, through […]
Decline in Manufacturing Sales for December 2012
A recent survey completed by StatsCan indicated a 3.1% decline in sales for the manufacturing industry in the month of December 2012. The total manufacturing sales in December was $48 billion. The chart below illustrates Canadian manufacturing sales since 2007 in current dollars. The transportation equipment industry suffered the highest percentage decrease in sales compared […]
Canadian Manufacturing Outlook 2012: Optimism
A recent study indicates a sense of optimism within Canada’s manufacturing sector. The survey, “Canadian Manufacturing Outlook 2012: Push and Pull – Reducing Costs and Investing in Innovation,” is based on input from senior Canadian manufacturing executives and indicates a positive outlook across the industry. According to StatsCan, manufacturing accounts for over 7 percent of […]
Canada’s Strong Manufacturing Performance
The RBC Purchasing Managers Index shows that Canadian factory orders rose in June, inching up to 54.8- its highest level since last September. The report found that both output and new orders rose strongly in June, even with the ongoing eurozone crisis’ dampening effects on the global economy. Manufacturing employment increased for the fifth successive month, […]
CMC Urges Federal Government to Reconsider Changes to SR&ED Program
In a letter to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition (CMC) addressed concerns about recent changes to the SR&ED program. 1. Reducing the SR&ED Investment Tax Credit (ITC) rate from 20% to 15% will directly and negatively affect Canada’s top R&D performers. 2. Eliminating capital expenditures from eligible expenses will significantly and negatively […]
A Third Industrial Revolution Will Take Manufacturing Digital
The Economist featured a special report on manufacturing and innovation. According to Paul Markillie, as manufacturing goes digital, smaller runs and massive customizations will be the key to customer satisfaction. The reshoring of manufacturing into North America may be driven by several factors, including: – The rising costs of transportation from oversea suppliers – The shortening of supply chain […]
Signs of a Recovering Economy
In the fourth quarter last year, Canadian labour productivity experience its largest gain since the first quarter of 1998 (1.4 per cent). As well, manufacturing sales were up 2.4 per cent in January – this was unexpected, as economists had been expecting a 0.6 per cent gain. (Source) So what does this mean for us? […]
A little bit of Northbridge History
We stumbled across an article in an old volume of Exchange Magazine profiling our CEO, Sol Algranti. Before forming NorthBridge, Sol worked in the manufacturing industry for many years, where he learned about the SR&ED program and how to successfully claim for it. Soon he was helping associates and friends put their claims together – […]
What about failed projects?
We often tell people that failed projects are embraced by the SRED program, and sometimes it can be a little hard to understand exactly why. I mean, isn’t the program meant to promote innovation, and to encourage technological development? If so, then why are projects that don’t result in a more innovative product or process […]
10 Quick Tips to Improving Manufacturing Productivity
Productivity is a constant issue in today’s society. With the technological advances of past years, the demand for increased productivity has become very great. Improve your productivity can be simple, by following these ten quick tips. Track your productivity, and note increases and decreases. Many factors can affect the productivity of a warehouse. Anything from […]