By Linda Drisdelle, Pinchin
Manufacturing is a $620 billion industry in Canada and represents at least 12% of GDP, according to the trade association Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.
This sector is faced with a number of economic challenges, all of which impose risk and uncertainty. The United States economy is quickly recovering; however, some Canadian manufacturers are not only finding it difficult to maintain export volume, but face the problem of competing against U.S. imports on their home turf.
The price of oil is less than $60 per barrel and, although this provides relief for Canadian manufacturers looking to be competitive in foreign markets, the same is true for U.S. companies exporting to Canada. Electricity rates in Ontario are nearly double those facing manufacturers in Ohio or Michigan. The ripple effect of the lower Canadian dollar has not yet offset these higher operating costs, making Ontario fair game for U.S. exports.
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To remain competitive in many markets, Canadian manufacturers are looking to cut costs and streamline their operations.
Environmental compliance
Environment Canada and the provincial Ministries of the Environment take care of the environment through regulations and guidelines, all of which require compliance by Canadian manufacturing. The requirements to balance the needs of the environment against the need for a healthy manufacturing industry demand a delicate dance by government.
The result is generally a myriad of exceptions and updates to various regulations, all requiring expertise and navigation in order to discern whether any one plant is compliant. For instance, in Ontario, there are many approval pathways, but because the approval process can take months to years, it is in the best interest of all parties to make the best compliance decisions at the start of a project. Making the wrong choice can have considerable cost implications, particularly if abatement projects such as noise control are triggered.
The rate at which regulations change makes it difficult and expensive for industry to maintain sufficient expertise to cover all requirements in-house.
This is where Canada’s consulting industry can help. A good environmental consultant can offer relief to Canada’s manufacturing sector and provide guidance and solutions to permitting, reporting and abatement problems on multiple issues. Engineers, technologists and scientists working in the consulting industry spend considerable time and expense to remain current, both in their fields of expertise and in the regulations that apply.
Using an environmental consultant offers manufacturers the ability to focus on running their business while their consultant helps them with the best recommendations to remain compliant.
In order to provide effective service to manufacturing clients, a consultant needs to offer guidance in many more fields of environmental concern than in the past. For instance, a client could approach a consultant because they want advice on how the addition of a new machine would affect their operating permit. On inspection of the site, the consultant could provide guidance on the types of machine the client should purchase, in order to avoid future permitting problems relating to noise.
Excellent value could then be provided by the consultant if, while at site, they notice a land development sign being posted in the lot next door, a grinding operation nearby causing a potentially hazardous environment, or a sheen on a water body. All these warning signs could trigger discussions with the client about the land-use planning strategy, the hazards of explosive dusts and the obligations around stormwater runoff. Although the consultant may not be an expert in all these fields, being able to recognize them and then direct the client to those that are, provides the value manufacturers need.
So what does this mean for Canadian environmental consultants? Highly technical and smart graduates are generally drawn to consulting as a means to hone their skills in various areas of technical expertise. These employees provide the technical horsepower to consulting organizations. Over time, their technically sound solutions and advice provide credibility to the organization. The end result is a reputation in the industry as being a great consultant.
