THE STATE OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR: BARRIERS, CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In spring 2021 CME-NL worked closely with NGen (Next Generation Supercluster) to develop an applied
research initiative that aimed to illuminate new ways for CME-NL and others to further improve the NL
manufacturing and processing sector with emphasis on advanced manufacturing (AM) adoption. The study
aimed to contribute to the growing body of knowledge emerging from across Canada related to best ways to
help accelerate the growth of AM. Specifically, the project sought to improve understanding of the barriers and constraints to AM (hindering factors) and AM accelerants (helping factors) facing or available to NL manufacturers and processors. It also sought to illuminate new and different ways in which NL manufacturers and processers could be better supported to adopt AM, to lay the groundwork for the development of an NL AM cluster, and ultimately to help to educate and inform decisionmakers and other stakeholders as to the overall importance of AM to the success of NL‘s manufacturing sector and provincial economy. The hypotheses underpinning the project were: some of the factors that impact AM adoption in NL are to some degree different from those relevant to other jurisdictions; and practical actions can be taken to support companies interested in AM in NL and thus improve the overall NL rate of AM adoption. The project used qualitative research approaches and methods. Open-ended interviews allowed a variety of interrelated questions to be asked in a flexible, semi-structured, and conversational manner. Twenty-eight individuals associated with 28 manufacturers and processors of various types and sizes and with varying degrees of AM experience were interviewed.