July 6, 2020

The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce - Connecting Students with  Rewarding Technical Careers 

For Immediate Release

Moncton, NB – The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is launching a program aimed at generating awareness and helping students understand the immense career opportunities within the advanced manufacturing sector.

Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 refer to the growing use of smart technologies in factories around the world, including the digitization and automation of manufacturing processes.

Careers that encompass robotics, the industrial internet of things, virtual reality, 3D printing and artificial intelligence are just a few of the areas where students can find exciting and well-paid jobs.

“Advanced manufacturing has led to technically advanced factories and has opened up numerous career opportunities for students interested in a technical environment. This is an exciting time for youth, who are naturally tech-savvy to work in a changing and fast-paced industry,” said Sheri Somerville, CEO of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce. “Manufacturing today is a rapidly developing sector, driven by technology and employing highly qualified and well-paid workers.”

The program consists of animations and infographics that help students understand what types of careers in advanced manufacturing they are well suited for.

Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald is the President and CEO of Holland College and also represents Atlantic Canada on the federal government’s recently formed Future Skills Council. “Manufacturing is not what it used to be, we are no longer talking about manual labour and in many cases tablets and smartphones have replaced large and heavy machinery”.

Dr. MacDonald added, “As the demand for highly skilled labour continues to grow, educational institutions may need to revisit their curricula and make any changes necessary to better align the needs of the labour market with the career aspirations of students. Keeping educational programs relevant and up to date with the latest technological trends is essential and a priority for us at Holland College”.

Ms. Somerville added, “When students are choosing their future career paths they should definitely consider a career in advanced manufacturing”.

This bilingual pilot program is funded by ACOA and is focused on the Atlantic Provinces.

For more information: ForgeAheadAtlantic.com

Media Enquiries

Tracey Stephenson
506.866.8516

February 26, 2020

The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce launches pilot program to introduce business owners and students to opportunities in advanced manufacturing

For Immediate Release

Moncton, NB – The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is launching an Atlantic Canadian pilot program aimed at helping business owners adopt smart technological solutions, and helping students understand the immense career opportunities within advanced manufacturing.

Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 refer to the growing use of smart technologies in factories around the world, including the digitization and automation of manufacturing processes.

By adopting Industry 4.0 solutions, companies can boost productivity and competitiveness, reduce operating costs and improve the quality of their products and processes. Companies around the world are benefitting from advanced technologies but Atlantic Canada has been slow to embrace this transition.

“Atlantic Canadian manufacturing companies risk losing global competitiveness and will fall behind if they do not embrace advanced manufacturing,” said Sheri Somerville, CEO of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, “manufacturing today is a rapidly developing sector, driven by technology and employing highly qualified and well-paid workers.”

“Our company has benefitted greatly from implementing advanced manufacturing technologies,“ said Apex Industries CEO, Keith Parlee, “with the expanded demands being placed on manufacturers today, you have to be willing to make the tough decisions to invest in things like automation, robotics and artificial intelligence.” 

“It has been assumed by many that these types of activities lead to fewer jobs.  Our experience is that by giving our teams the opportunity to work with new technology, we are actually in a far better position to grow the number of jobs, because by doing so, we improve our ability to compete across global markets,” said Mr. Parlee.

Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald is the President and CEO of Holland College and also represents Atlantic Canada on the federal government’s recently formed Future Skills Council. “The world of work is changing, and students need to be equipped to seize the opportunities this presents,” said Sandy. “Graduating students should consider careers in advanced manufacturing when evaluating future options. Industry 4.0 has opened up numerous exciting career opportunities for students interested in a technical environment.”

Advanced manufacturing does not have to be complex and costly, in fact there are many off-the-shelf solutions that are easy to implement and will generate a clear return on investment. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has many programs that support companies as they take advantage of this opportunity and make the transition to advanced manufacturing processes.

This bilingual pilot program is funded by ACOA and is focused on the Atlantic Provinces.

Media Enquiries

Tracey Stephenson

506.866.8516