Message From The Editor
Lessons from the past for future challenges
It's hard not to think about science fiction when you see the themes of this issue. We are fortunate to live at the heart of these technological changes, and the industry leader we present to you in this issue reminds us of how important it is to be open and receptive to change. Indeed, a few days after his retirement, John Sencich agreed to share with us his vision of the industry from yesterday to today and the challenges ahead. John was a mentor to key people in our industry. For me, he was a loyal reader and advisor. Thank you. Good reading!
Line Goyette, Managing Editor
linegoyette@kerrwil.com
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Changing Scene
- Nexans Energy Division Names Ryan Gates as Regional Sales Manager for BC
Ryan Gates recently held the position of Sales Manager at Unit Electrical Ltd. a manufacturer of enclosures, medium and high voltage switchgear and substations…
- Westburne Joins The Future Is Yours Career Expo
Westburne was both a participant and sponsor of the February 8 expo in Saskatoon, which drew hundreds of Indigenous youth to connect with employers, learn about education opportunities, and build skills…
- Beghelli Promotes Michelle Zeiger to Central Regional Manager
Michelle Zeiger has worked for Beghelli for the past seven years as GTA Sales representative and Luce (Lighting) specialist…
- Northwinds Corporation Joins Viscor
Northwinds is now Viscor's representative covering Northern and Southwestern Ontario…
- Attend 1 of 4 Safety Innovation Summits Across Canada
Schneider Electric's Electrical Safety Innovation Summit brings together experts from different industries to present and discuss the latest trends in electrical safety…
- EFC Scholarship Program Sets New Record with $156,250 in Funding
This year Electro-Federation Canada will award $156,250 across 62 scholarships supported by manufacturers, distributors and associations…
- Standard Signs Vendor Management Inventory Agreement
Standard has entered into an agreement with TrueCommerce - Datalliance and will use its platform to provide vendor managed inventory (VMI) added value services to Standard's strategic customer base…
- Electrical Cable Supply (ECS) Appoints David Baah as Director, Global Supply Chain
In this newly created role, David Baah will report to Tom Artinian (VP & GM) and assist the senior management team in both Canada and UAE…
- Stelpro Enhances Its Sales Team
Gilles Lalonde has been promoted to the position of Sales Manager, and Maxime Galarneau joins Stelpro as a sales representative, electrical distribution. Olivier Lamoureux was appointed sales representative, electrical distribution, for Laval and Lanaudière territories last October…
- EFC Welcomes New Member: Agence AMR
Agence AMR works closely with end manufacturers and electrical suppliers, providing its customers with global representation throughout the province of Quebec…
- AD Reports Record Breaking Member Sales of US$37.3 Billion in 2017
The contractor and industrial products wholesale buying/marketing group reported record-breaking sales of US$37.3 billion across 12 AD divisions. Total company sales grew by 10%...
- Philips Earns BGIS 2017 Supplier Innovation Award
Connected lighting solutions have earned Philips Lighting the BGIS 2017 Supplier Innovation Award…
- Schneider Electric Listed in the 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index
Schneider Electric is among 104 companies included in the 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. The index provides a unique barometer of gender-equality performance across all industry sectors worldwide…
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Opinion
Amazon's Achilles Heel
By Rick McCarten
Amazon relies on one thing: people visiting their website who know what they want. If additional services are required to make the purchase, the Internet sales fail to meet customers' needs. That may sound small, but it is not. Henry Ford once said that if you asked the customer what they wanted at the turn of the 19th century, they would have said a faster horse, not an inexpensive automobile. Now, if Amazon had been around at that time, it would not have taken them long to get "Models As" up on their website, but there would have been a period when customers needed instruction, servicing and repair. This is a sweet spot that Amazon or any online retailer will have trouble occupying.
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Peers & Profiles
Quiet Strength: Two Words that Best Describe John Sencich
By Line Goyette
I've known John Sencich since CEW began publishing. He agreed from the outset to be part of the newsletter's Editorial Board. His contribution was regular and sustained. Always present to answer my technical questions, and refer me to the right person for additional information as needed. Always available despite his role as senior leader of an influential company. I asked him before he left to give us his thoughts on the industry and the direction in which we are heading.
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Marketing
Making Sense of the Rapidly Changing IoT Lighting Market, Part 2
By David Gordon
The recently released Bluetooth Mesh standard was developed with lighting as a target application, but many commercial lighting manufacturers are currently developing or supporting their own proprietary or existing Zigbee mesh ecosystem until Bluetooth Mesh is field proven. Zigbee is an open standard, and with more than one hundred million devices deployed, in theory sensors, switches, and lights can interconnect independent of fixture manufacturer. Bluetooth also has compatibility built-in, but researchers have raised concerns that Bluetooth Mesh's communication algorithm, combined with heavy sensor integrated luminaires, could generate extreme heat and so much data that it overloads a network.
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New Technology
Artificial Intelligence Gets Smarter
By Heather Clancy
Stephen Hawking fears it. Elon Musk begrudges it. Mark Zuckerberg embraces it. There is no shortage of smart people willing to offer their sometimes dire, sometimes optimistic opinions about how humankind's future will be reshaped by computers and software using some sort of artificial intelligence (AI). If there's one thing upon which the naysayers and yeasayers agree, it's that AI is already more real than many people realize. A whopping 70% of the companies surveyed this year by Forrester Research plan to use some form of AI by the end of this year.
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Cybersecurity
Protecting Connected Devices Against Cyber Attack
By CSA Group
The rise of cyber related attacks on Internet of Things (IoT) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure has made it increasingly vital to have cybersecurity protocols in place to support functional safety and safety-related solutions in commercial or residential buildings and industrial processes.
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The Internet of Things
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Cybersecurity and Manufacturing
By CSA Group
Industrialized nations are being influenced by transformative forces creating what many are calling "The 4th Industrial Revolution," also referred to as Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Smart Manufacturing. Companies all over the world are investing in this digital industrial future in an effort to establish themselves as a leader in IIoT enabled productivity. Indeed, these heavy investments—in developments such as analytics software, machine learning capability, and 3D printing—can help ensure industry can set new expectations for the speed and cost of manufacturing.
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Economy
GDP Rose 0.4% in November
Real gross domestic product increased 0.4% in November, with widespread growth across industries as 17 of 20 industrial sectors increased. Goods-producing industries rose 0.8% after declining 0.5% in October. November's gain was mainly due to increases in the manufacturing and mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sectors, partly as a result of restoration in production capacity. Meanwhile, services-producing industries rose 0.3%, led by the real estate and rental and leasing, wholesale, and retail trade sectors.
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Economy
Value of December Building Permits Rebounds 4.8%
Canadian municipalities issued $8.1 billion in building permits in December, up 4.8% following a 7.3% decline in November. The increase stemmed from higher construction intentions in the residential sector. Across Canada, all components climbed in 2017, up 10.4% from the previous year, led by the multi-family dwelling component. Construction intentions for single-family homes led the rise in December. Municipalities issued $2.8 billion (8.9%) in permits for single-family dwellings, the largest month-over-month increase in 2017.
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Economy
Electrical Wholesale Median Salary by Job
Among electrical wholesale employees, branch managers and outside sales representatives lead in average salaries.
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In The Next Issue
Optimizing the customer experience
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The Electrical Stock Market
Track the stock market performance of 25 publicly traded electrical equipment suppliers and electrical wholesalers. Updated weekly.
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Careers
Time for a Change? New Job Openings
Access the latest job and career opportunities in Canada's electrical industry today. New listings posted regularly.
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