July 2, 2008

CCA Board Meeting

Export Development Canada plans to map construction supply chain

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

Export Development Canada (EDC) plans to map the construction industry’s supply chain in order to help Canadian construction find new business efficiencies.

“We want to go in detail and look at every piece of the puzzle,” said Marie-Claude Erian, sector advisor, infrastructure and environment at EDC.

The supply chain research project has received support from the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

The EDC is reaching out to CCA member companies to participate in the research by providing information about the supply side of their businesses.

This supply information would remain confidential, but the research’s conclusions would be made immediately available to those who participate

Erian explained at a recent meeting of the CCA International Business Committee that the research would catalogue supply chain management issues, challenges and initiatives.

Understanding these components can only help a company’s growth.

“You have to be cost effective in your business and in your supply chain,” she said.

“Your close collaborations with suppliers help to ensure quality and pricing.”

Identifying product and service gaps in the industry’s supply chain could help companies circumvent problems they may never have encountered yet, such as port strikes or significant import/export delays, said Erian.

The EDC has conducted supply chain research for the forestry industry and it looked at stops along the supply process such as professional services, transportation, warehousing, logistics, import and export controls, customs brokers and core supply chain.

Erian said that understanding the construction industry supply chain will also help the EDC better understand the realities the industry operates within and how it can help.

The EDC would also like to develop an on-line directory and exporter network of Canadian companies looking to participate in projects worldwide.

This directory could improve match-making Canadian capabilities and interests with possible international opportunities, explained Erian.

There currently is no database that consolidates exporters of goods and services along the infrastructure and construction supply chain.

Building a database that interfaces with each construction association across Canada is necessary to try and streamline the information available to international interests.

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