Half of the workforce is due to robotics

The maker of aircraft components found in the Airbus A220 and Bombardier Global 7500 has invested more than $30 million in robots and systems at its Boisbriand plant to stay competitive.

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“Without our machines, we would have double the number of employees, because today one person operates six machines,” says Rui Cabral, vice president of industrial strategy at Abipa.

“It takes a lot of manpower that Quebec doesn’t have,” he continues.

At the entrance of the Basses-Laurentides company, we do not compromise on security. After passing through the factory gates, each visitor’s photo is taken to produce a self-adhesive badge, which must be worn in steel-toed shoes.

Inside, more than 130 are clustered among robots that chisel, cut and drill pieces that end up in planes.

Without these high-performance robots, it would take at least 300 people to complete the task.

“repetitive tasks”

In Quebec, almost half of the companies do not incorporate any or almost all digital technology into their operations, according to the most recent Quebec Industrial Barometer by Saus-Marché Industrie Québec (STIQ).

“Only 3% of the smaller ones are very advanced in their integration process”, it is underlined.

While many SMEs are still reluctant to automate their operations, Abipa is an exception.

At a time when some fear the arrival of robots in factories, Rui Cabral, general manager of Abipa Boisbriand, debunks the job-stealing robot myth.

“There are boring, unchallenging, repetitive tasks that robotics can do better and make maintenance easier,” he explained.

Its unionized workers, who earn in the twenties an hour, take pride in handling state-of-the-art toys, he says.

“Instead of operating a manual machine, they become operators of robotic systems. It values ​​their work. It changes their skills,” adds the leader.

Around him, his matching workers become software experts. Gone are the days of mechanically performing the same gesture all day and sometimes being complacent in their careers.

With Meticulous, employees manage dozens of stations with small islands, keeping an eye on the grain to ensure the quality of the tools.

At the end of the cleared driveway, Rui Cabral shows us his Star Machine. It’s called “Shorai,” which means “future” in Japanese, according to the manufacturer.

Talent Hunt

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), with more than 44% of businesses unable to carry out their normal operations due to a lack of employees, even manufacturer Abiba must work hard to find the skills it needs.

“The hunt is on today. There is a lot more turnover than 10 or 20 years ago. Before, we chose; Now it’s an employee,” agrees Rui Cabral.

“We mobilize them to interest them and provide them with professional challenges,” he says.

At the end of the factory, in the laboratory, Alexandre Falardo programs the machine that inspects the pieces, monitoring the quality of the pieces.

“I make sure the first part we have is right before starting large-scale production,” concludes the man, who has worked there for 15 years.

►More than 71% of companies believe that digital technologies are a very or very important priority, says the Quebec Industrial Barometer.

• Employees: 400
• Foundation: 1982
• CIO: Jean Blandin
• Head Office: Boisbriand
• Sales: $100M (2022)
• Factories: 6
  France (4)
  Morocco (1)
  Quebec (1)
• Majority Shareholder: Solidarity Fund QFL
• Second Shareholder: Ludovic Couillaud
• Third Stakeholder: Georges Coulad
• Markets: Machinery, nacelles, structures, equipment, cabin interior
• Sectors: Commercial, business and military

Source: Abipa