Manufacturing is changing quickly across North America. The Advanced Design and Manufacturing Expo in Montreal, Nov. 13 and 14 will take a close look at the transformation. Advanced technology is impacting both manufacturing and its supply chain.

Alain Berard, director of new business development and international affairs at the Port of Montreal, will explore the transformative strategies and cutting-edge technologies that are redefining supply chain management in the region. In the keynote session, Empowering Quebec’s Manufacturing Future: Innovations and Resilience in Supply Chain Management, Berard will explore the effects of the digital transformation on Quebec’s supply chain.

Digital tools will enhance transparency and efficiency

The presentation will delve into how Quebec's manufacturing industry is harnessing digital tools such as AI and blockchain to enhance transparency, efficiency, and adaptability within supply chains. Berard will examine case studies that showcase successful implementations of these technologies, highlighting the region’s role as a leader in supply chain innovation.

Additionally, the discussion will address the critical importance of resilience, especially in the face of global disruptions such as pandemics and geopolitical shifts. Attendees will gain insights into the best practices for building robust supply chains that can withstand and thrive amid these challenges.

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Ultimately, this keynote aims to empower Quebec’s manufacturers by providing actionable strategies for leveraging innovation and resilience to secure a prosperous future. Berard believes attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the industry and how they can position themselves at the forefront of this evolving landscape.

We caught up with Alain Berard to get a more detailed look into the changes coming to manufacturing and its supply chain.

What are some of the supply chain best practices manufacturers are using to bolster their supply chains?

Alain Berard: Diversification of supply chains through multiple ports. Concentrating Asian trade through the West Coast is a recipe for stock outs and disruptions. Especially when the Port of Montrel’s Asian trade has grown so significantly over the last decade.

If manufacturers want a lower carbon footprint, they should attempt to keep their product, their feedstock, on the water as long as possible. Longer length of haul on the water usually means lower carbon emissions.

We take the long view. Political and supply chain disruptions happen; your supply chain should have enough resilience and diversity to protect you from short term shocks in the market.

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In Quebec’s manufacturing sector, have companies been eager to adopt digital technology? Or has there been resistance?

Berard: Our experience is that there is not much resistance, but the cost of digitization is a barrier. Not only is digitization capital intensive, it requires manufacturers to use their best business human resources to make it successful. If the business is not fully involved, digitization will never be successful.