Category: Insights Canada

  • Running harder to stand still: Canada’s productivity trap in 2026

    In early 2026, Canadian businesses produced less output per hour worked for the second consecutive quarter: labour productivity fell 0.5% in the first quarter, after a 0.3% decline in the fourth quarter of 2025, even as hours worked increased. Unit labour costs increased 1.4% in the same quarter, the fourth consecutive quarterly increase, as hourly…

  • Understanding carbon credits: A strategic lever for global ESG

    As global regulatory frameworks become more demanding and stakeholder expectations intensify, carbon credits have emerged as one of the most widely discussed mechanisms in the context of corporate sustainability. Thus, for organizations seeking to achieve carbon neutrality, carbon credits represent both a strategic opportunity and a governance challenge. However, despite their growing relevance, carbon credits…

  • Tariffs are not temporary: how Canadian manufacturers recover margin through Operational Excellence

    For many Canadian manufacturers, tariffs were initially regarded as a temporary disruption — a geopolitical shock that would eventually stabilize through trade negotiations, remission programs, or supplier adjustments. This assumption is becoming increasingly difficult to uphold. Due to ongoing trade volatility and sustained, high input costs throughout global supply chains, tariffs are becoming a permanent…

  • Nuclear energy in Canada 2026: SMRs, federal strategy and a generational opportunity

    Canada’s electricity demand is projected to more than double by 2050, with generation trajectories ranging from 1,000 to 1,800 terawatt-hours1. This is driven by the electrification of major industries and large-scale, energy-intensive initiatives, which are already transforming the country’s energy planning landscape. Nuclear power is increasingly regarded as the only viable, reliable, zero-emission source capable…

  • Food industry trends in Canada 2026: Navigating value, innovation and changing consumer habits

    As Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing sector enters 2026, it faces a paradox that most executives already feel but rarely see quantified: sales are growing while volume is falling. Farm Credit Canada forecasts a 0.8% rise in manufacturing sales this year, yet volumes are estimated to decline by a further 0.7%, marking the fourth consecutive…

  • Operational performance improvement in potash mining

    $20M Capital expenditure avoided $6M Savings +10% Production above nameplate capacity In today’s mining industry, operational excellence is a critical success factor. Volatile markets, capital-intensive assets, strict safety requirements, and increasing pressure to maximize production place significant demands on mining organizations. To remain competitive, mine and mill operators must deliver projects faster, operate assets more…

  • Achieving sustainable growth through continuous improvement at Equinox Gold

    $130M Cumulative value +300 Initiatives implemented company-wide 1000+ Involved employees In today’s highly competitive business environment, companies must constantly evolve to maintain their edge. Equinox Gold, a leading gold producer with operations across the Americas, has embraced this challenge head-on through its commitment to continuous improvement. By focusing on optimizing operations, efficiency, and engaging employees…

  • KAIZEN™ Awards North America 2025

  • Adapting Canadian Manufacturing: The Lean Path to Electric Vehicle Success

    The Canadian automotive sector is experiencing a significant transformation as electric vehicles (EVs) transition from a niche to a necessity. While this shift brings immense opportunities, it also presents a challenge: reconfiguring traditional production systems to meet the fast and flexible demands of EV manufacturing. Lean manufacturing offers a proven path forward. By eliminating waste,…

  • Why Relocating Manufacturing to Canada is the Smart Move for Resilient Supply Chains

    As the global economy changes and adapts, relocating factories has become a key strategy for many companies. Canada offers a unique combination of advantages that can optimize supply chains and increase resilience, since it is one of the most attractive destinations for factory relocation. The country’s proximity to the United States, well-developed infrastructure, and stable…