Blog

Are you curious about a career as a manufacturing professional? Join us as we outline the journey from classroom education to the factory floor. These valuable insights into the educational and training pathways available can help you take the first steps toward becoming a skilled manufacturing professional in Ontario's thriving industry.

Education and Training

Pursue relevant education from a recognized institution or university, such as a diploma or degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field. Consider enrolling in specialized programs or certifications related to manufacturing processes and technologies, which vocational schools and community colleges in Ontario offer.

Hands-on Experience

Seek internships, co-op programs, or entry-level positions in manufacturing companies to gain practical experience. Participate in hands-on projects and gain exposure to different aspects of the manufacturing process, such as production, quality control, and supply chain management.

Continuous Learning and Skill Development

Stay updated with the latest advancements in manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Consider further education, workshops, or certifications to enhance your skills in areas like automation, robotics, computer-aided design, and lean manufacturing principles.

Networking and Industry Involvement

Attend industry events, seminars, and workshops to network with professionals and potential employers in the manufacturing sector. Join professional organizations related to manufacturing, such as the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, to stay connected with industry trends and opportunities.

Job Search and Career Advancement

Utilize online job portals, company websites, and networking contacts to search for job openings in manufacturing companies across Ontario. Be proactive in seeking career advancement opportunities within your current workplace, demonstrating leadership skills and a proactive attitude toward problem-solving and process improvement.

When you're ready to search for your first manufacturing role, start your search with us.

itec group offers access to competitive manufacturing positions all over Ontario. 

Ontario's manufacturing sector is thriving, but critical positions often remain unfilled due to talent shortages. How do companies find the employees they need in a competitive market? If you're looking for practical strategies for employers to attract and retain top talent, you've come to the right place. By implementing these ideas, you can ensure a steady workforce for continued success.

Working with itec Group

We aim to help you build and manage an agile workforce that fills specialized talent gaps within your organization. Our retention-focused hiring approach allows us to target candidates with cross-functional skills who will excel from the start and can learn, develop, and evolve for your future business demands.

Ontario-Based Employment Experts

We are part of the Ontario community and understand the needs of local companies and candidates. Connecting individuals to organizations in the area is a critical aspect of our business. By living our values, we can connect people who share also your values in the right roles at the right times.

Working with Ontario-based recruiters specializing in manufacturing provides a strategic advantage by leveraging their deep understanding of the local industry landscape, ensuring tailored recruitment solutions that align with the region's specific needs and regulations. This expertise and our established network within the Ontario manufacturing sector enhance the likelihood of connecting employers with highly skilled candidates, fostering efficient and successful workforce placements.

Our Specializations

The team at itec Group specializes in advanced manufacturing and engineering for companies across Ontario. We can place contract or permanent resources to fulfill your workforce needs. Positions we staff for include:

• Application/Sales engineering

• Chemical and material engineering

• Electrical engineering

• Manufacturing and quality engineering

• Mechanical engineering

• Environmental health and safety

• Logistics

• Skilled Trades & Industrial Management

• CNC machining and programming

Connect with Us

The manufacturing industry continues to evolve in advancing, innovating, and pioneering next-generation manufacturing capabilities. Your business thrives on the ability to stay ahead of modernization; our recruitment experience and market intelligence will ensure you have the workforce to do so. Contact us to build your workforce.

For help hiring talented manufacturing professionals in Ontario, give our team a call! 

Just like that, 2021 is coming to an end. As we look back on the year, we can take note of some of the biggest trends in advanced manufacturing and the impact those changes have had on the industry. Before we turn the page on the calendar to 2022, let’s review some of the most significant changes we’ve seen since the start of the year.

The Impact of Digitization on Talent 

Over the last two years, companies have begun digitizing at a faster rate. While the use of more technology in the manufacturing space was already increasing, the pandemic made it more critical as the demand for digitized services increased. Companies embracing technology have plans for increased hiring to lessen the skills gap making employees with the right blend of technical and manufacturing skills in high demand.

Hybrid Work Between People and AI

Work-from-home became very popular due to necessity over the last year, but that has impacted manufacturing a little differently than it has other industries. With a need for in-house employees, not everyone could work remotely. But it did create a broader use of enhanced technology, such as AI, to streamline the work that needed to be done in-house to create a safer environment. Machine intelligence and human employees are now partnering to solve complex manufacturing problems.

Major Struggles with Cyber Security

With increased reliance on technology, companies are also at risk of cyberattacks. The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in the U.S. in early 2021 showed how hackers could quickly gain access to internal systems and create chaos that impacted an entire portion of the southeast United States. Cyber security has to go hand in hand with increased digitization in manufacturing environments to ensure that products, processes, and profits are not at risk.

Renewed Interest in Green Manufacturing

It’s also no surprise that green manufacturing is still very much on the table. Along with the pandemic, environmental concerns have become a significant issue for many people across Canada and worldwide. Every aspect of a community, from employers to employees and even the residents, have a vested interest in safe and effective environmental protections that will decrease negative impacts on the ecosystem and increase socially responsible sustainability. More green manufacturing also means more exciting job opportunities within the community.

Do you need to hire advanced manufacturing Talent?

Start your search with itec group Recruitment Solutions. Our Talent is Finding Yours.

Are you looking for a long-term career? If you want to work with a booming and constantly growing industry, consider advanced manufacturing. Canada's manufacturing industry is booming, so you may want to know the opportunities, benefits, and more. If you think this might be a good career path for you, check out these details about a job in advanced manufacturing.

The Industry is Growing

Some experts suggest that the industrial revolution is going through its fourth evolution right now. While the early industrial revolution was spurred on by automobile production, today's changes are being brought about by technology such as AI, robotics, and more. Being a part of a growing industry can be an exciting career path.

Innovative Ideas and Technology

The ability to work with new technology and innovation as it is rolled out makes a job in manufacturing very attractive. That means technology skills can help you advance your career over time. From entry-level to management, technology skills can give you an advantage throughout your career.

Opportunities at Every Level

With all of the innovation within manufacturing comes opportunities.  Apprenticeships can provide background experience for those who want to take their careers to the next level. Entry-level positions can be the first step on a path to management, engineering, or more.

Good Pay

When companies talk about a skills gap, they mean that some positions require advanced skills that not everyone brings to the table. But being a part of manufacturing from the ground up means you will be able to earn more as you learn new things while the industry continues to evolve.

Skills Advancement

To get the skills you need to advance your career in manufacturing, you need to be in the thick of the industry. Even entry-level roles give you an opportunity to learn new technology and innovations that take the industry, and your career, to the next level.

Ready to advance your career in advanced manufacturing?

Contact itec group Recruitment Solutions. 

Everyday we receive updates, news and bulletins about what is happening around the world but what is happening here, at home, in the Ontario and Canadian manufacturing sector, to help combat and prevent COVID-19?

The truth is, there is a lot  happening.  Companies are retooling every day to provide the essential PPE and equipment for our healthcare system and workers. Companies have shifted focus away from their core products to make hand sanitizer for the masses. Everyone is doing their part and it’s heartwarming to see us Canadians and our Canadian companies band together during a major crisis such as this.

So, aside from retooling and manufacturing the necessary goods needed, what else is the Ontario and Canadian manufacturing industry doing to prevent the spread? Over the last few weeks I have been speaking with manufacturers all across Ontario, asking them about best practices, unique solutions or other programs implemented to minimize risk to their personnel and business as a whole. Below is the compiled list, however, I know this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to best practices during these difficult times.

Some of this is standard by now, but some of the other preventative tactics may be new and what is needed for you, your employees and your company. If there is anything your company is currently doing that is not listed below please “reply” to this posting with your idea, suggestion or current initiative.

I have also included a number of links to resources available to Canadian businesses at the bottom of this posting for reference. 

We are in this together!
 

Restricted Access & Physical Distancing

• No outside visitors; employees only on site
• Blocking doors open to reduce touching of handles
• 6ft between personnel or workstations
• Stopped all in person meetings
• Only 1 employee in change room at a time
• Staggered lunch breaks or specific amount of people allowed in break room at one time
• No outside items allowed into facility (purses, bags, lunch boxes, etc) to reduce contamination potential
• Individual pre-packaged meals being provided to staff

Sanitization

• All staff required to wash hands upon entering facility
• Lunchroom sanitized every two hours
• Sanitize desk or workstation at start and end of shift
• Increase in cleaning frequencies for whole facility

Scheduling

• 30 or minute gap between shift start and end times
• All capable of working from home have been mandated to do so

Education & Monitoring

• All employees received training through an ongoing educational campaign; how does the virus spread, ways to protect yourself, preventative measures, company procedures and policies
• Monitor any employees and send any employees home displaying signs of COVID-19 or Flu like symptoms
• Staff can voluntarily go home if they request; staff who choose to go home and are not ill may be on unpaid leave (company dependant)

Supply Chain

• Regular communication with supply chain to identify risks, alternate options (if needed), suppliers in trouble (how can you support your suppliers?), 
• Determine which alternative suppliers can act as backups in the event of disruption

Resources:

http://www.chamber.ca/resources/pandemic-preparedness/BusinessPrepGuidePanPrep2020

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/preventing-covid-19-workplace-employers-employees-essential-service-workers.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/guidance-documents/risk-informed-decision-making-workplaces-businesses-covid-19-pandemic.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html#businesses

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/ncov-daily-lit.pdf?la=en