The Founders of Cogiscan Reflect on Cultivating Culture and Pioneering Change in Electronics Manufacturing

I first learned about Cogiscan in 2012 when I was working at Saline Lectronics and we installed their system. I was responsible for spreading the message about the improvements Cogiscan’s TTC Platform had for Saline’s traceability offering to high-reliability customers, and I was fascinated by what I learned about the power of software to improve the SMT process. I found working with everyone at the company – from application engineers to sales managers to the c-level executives – to be refreshing and I truly enjoyed the projects we collaborated on together. I idolized how ‘different’ they seemed from other companies in the industry, and I vowed to work there one day.

As the saying goes, the rest is history. I started working at Cogiscan in 2018, and unlike many other organizations that can fall short when you look behind the scenes, they remained true to my original impressions – lead by thoughtful, sincere founders that put people first while still prioritizing progress and innovation.

As with all things in life there are ups and downs, yet Cogiscan navigates these challenges of modern life with grace and authenticity. This is in large part due to the fact that the three original founders (André Corriveau, Vincent Dubois, and François Monette) established these key values in the infancy stages of the company in 1999 (incubating in André's spare bedroom) and continued to demonstrate them daily as the company evolved over the subsequent 25 years.

All three of them will retire from Cogiscan at the end of this year. Below is an interview-style conversation we had about their tenure:

AC: Our first significant PO for a product that did not yet exist! This actually kickstarted our relationship with Juki Europe in 2004 thanks to the development of our RFID Smart Feeder system. Our relationship with Juki continued to expand in the subsequent years and they’re one of our longest partners.

The success story of our SMEMA-traffic cop interlocking solution, the Product Flow Controller (PFC). This small, simple and effective product solved a real and significant gap and continues to be a top solution we sell. It’s a perfect complement to our Track, Trace & Control (TTC) software suite – the software applications within TTC are not enough to simply provide an error, we needed a device to be able to physically stop the line.

VD: The many celebrations over the years with all of our employees and friends – even with our evolution from a small group to a larger group in recent years, we’ve always remained closely knit.
And the early celebrations for some of our first major contracts with big manufacturing companies like Raytheon, and Delphi as well as Juki. When we made it all the way to Asia with the installation of Schneider Electric within the APC division (with multiple sites in India, Philippines and China), and we really felt like that put us on the map!

FM: My favorite memories center around our company events where employees from around the world have gathered in Bromont for a few days of both work and fun! And the many trade shows and business trips around the globe with my colleagues, partners and customers.

VD: Our team and our culture. I had dreams about a “lab” where we could try things in our company to bring human excellence as well as business results. We were not able to make it all the way, nothing is perfect in this world, but I feel incredibly proud of the human-first culture amongst a capitalist world that values egos and the strongest (we never believed the ends justifying the means).

Working to create something that has been purchased and installed in manufacturing facilities all over the world because we offered the best solution for electronics manufacturers.

AC: The ecosystem we have built with other suppliers, both equipment and software vendors, to offer connected and collaborative solutions to end-customers all over the world. Our ability to bridge the technology gaps by offering innovative solutions to solve real-life manufacturing problems (with the aforementioned PFC as an excellent example).

FM: I am most proud of our company having created and brought to market a series of very innovative solutions. Many other companies copied, or were inspired by, our innovative solutions over the years and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. One example is automated MSD Control: today we take for granted that most companies are putting barcode labels with unique ID on their components, in combination with a software solution to manage Moisture-Sensitive components. But, when we started Cogiscan 25 years ago, everyone was still using paper and pen to track exposure time. We invented and patented this concept that is now being used in many commercial and home-grown software solutions.

FM: Over the last 25 years I learned new lessons every single day. If you focus your mindset on continuously improving both yourself and your business, there are learning opportunities to be found everywhere.

One key lesson that stands out: don’t be afraid to try new things and don’t take failures as negative events as they are part of an ongoing learning process. Also, keep “perseverance and dedication” at the center, if you never quit, you can persevere through anything.

AC: Always surround yourself with talented people and don’t ever take your relationships/partnerships for granted. Life happens – people naturally move and leave, and the business environment and goals change too. Do your best to stay connected and quickly adapt.

VD: A company is nothing more (or less) than people coming together with a common goal (shareholders, directors, employees). Be sure to select them wisely for their talent, but also their values and ensure they’re in alignment.

Be curious and aware of what is going on, not only in your industry, but also of new ways of doing things (processes, managing people, new technologies, etc.) Actually, go outside of your industry to learn about these – the power of cross-pollination can be very effective! In every situation, even bad ones, there is an opportunity. Be ready to seize it!

AC: The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we interact with both our customers and partners, we transitioned away from face-to-face meetings and instead relied on more web meetings. This also changed the way we ran the business and interacted with our people.

VD: In 25+ years we’ve seen a few significant cycles, but I will name just these:

• The technology bubble exploded (yes it did!) in January 2001. Five years prior, in 1995, 50% of all electronics assembly was done in North America and 5 years later, in 2005, 50% was done in a single country, China. This had a huge impact on our business plan, and our travel plans as well.

• The pandemic, which was probably the biggest change for the business and me personally. We all went home and met only on computer screens. We did not know how long and how deep an impact this would have on the industry…until governments started pouring money! But this totally changed the way consumers make decisions, and it eventually trickled to our industry too. Actually, we are still living the ripple effects (inflation, interest rates, etc.). At the same time of the pandemic, I was working on the acquisition of Cogiscan to iTAC Software AG with the Dürr Group. This compounded the impact on me personally and how to best lead Cogiscan.

FM: Fast-changing socio-economics and the ever-increasing rate of new technologies, combined with different crises like the worldwide pandemic, all contributed to create a stimulating and challenging business environment to say the least. There was never a boring moment in the past 25 years!

For me personally and professionally, the challenge has been to take a step back from all the noise and information overload to reset and focus on what is most important for me. This includes my personal relationships with my family, friends, colleagues, customers and business partners. I find myself happiest when I find the right balance between fulfilling my own aspirations and helping the people that I care about.

VD: Electronics is everywhere and will continue to be in more places – meaning our industry will continue to grow. At the same time, as an industry, post-2001 we’ve put all our eggs in the same “low-cost countries” basket. The pandemic and supply chain disruptions we lived show that single sourcing is not a good idea for true resiliency. This is why “near-shoring” is accelerating, even if we’ve been talking about it for more than a decade and will require electronics manufacturing to incorporate more automation to transform into smarter factories. I believe we’ll continue to see more investments in innovation, similarly to what we used to see in the 1990's, before the bubble burst and the run to low wages.

The pandemic and the intense natural disasters we’ve experienced in the past few years will most probably repeat themselves in the coming years due to climate change. This will have multiple impacts on our society, but also on our economic and political systems and the global geo-political situation. I believe this should encourage our industry to prioritize supply chain resilience and near-shoring.

FM: I have made many predictions over the years and most of them did not materialize as expected. The only thing I can predict is more unexpected changes. The key to survive and thrive is to embrace change as an opportunity to grow, both for Cogiscan and the wider industry.

FM: I see only good things in the future for Cogiscan. After 25 years under the leadership of the original founders, this is the right time for a new generation full of energy and new ideas to take the company to the next level. I look forward to watch from a distance what they will accomplish over the next 25 years, and I am convinced that this will exceed all my expectations!

VD: Every change brings opportunities. Our new leadership team will have the opportunity to shape the company, how Cogiscan does things and what to focus on, and naturally these should reflect their own views. Although the company has good processes in place, changing the way things are done in some aspects could yield very positive results.

AI will revolutionize a lot of things in the near future. Cogiscan should embrace this for its own processes, and also to develop new solutions. We will likely see more and more start-up companies that have no technical and historical baggage that will offer light and good solutions using AI.

AC: That the 3 founders won’t be in the way to get things done !! LOL!! We brought our own flavor for many years and helped bring the company to where it is today. Change can be stimulating! And now is the time for the new management’s team to bring their own flavor and bring the company to the next level.

VD: That you have designed new ways of doing things that enabled you to accelerate things while keeping Cogiscan’s value of well-being alive. And that you are starting to reap these changes by receiving a tremendous amount of orders from new customers!

FM: I am excited to see all the things that you will do differently from the past 25 years and how this will open new opportunities for Cogiscan. I hope that one year from today, I will be invited to a nice dinner to celebrate the huge success of your first year!

FM: I feel good, after 25 years in the same company I have a sense of accomplishment and also a need to do something different. I feel like this is the beginning of a new chapter in my life, starting from a blank page to enjoy what I expect to be the best years of my life.

AC: I do not understand what retirement means. For me, it is simply a new phase of my life and an opportunity to do something completely different.

VD: Retirement used to be about stopping work at 65 because the life expectancy was only 68! I think retirement should now be redefined…something like “I am retiring from Cogiscan”; not simply retiring. Meaning there is something after retirement from Cogiscan. What is that something? Not sure. I am excited to discover it though.

VD: Well, let’s begin by qualifying my retirement: I will retire as the CEO of Cogiscan. I will still be involved with Cogiscan after that to help the new team in place, as long as I am bringing value.

I also plan to take the first year to reflect on what’s next for me. One thing is for sure, whatever I get involved in will be because I feel I can bring value and make a meaningful difference.

AC: I will pause for a while to decide how to use my time the best way possible. I have multiple interests in different areas, including real estate, investing, clean energy, volunteer work or being involved in a charitable organization… likely even sailing, design work…etc.! Clearly having ideas has never been a problem for me and I look forward to a new and productive phase of my life.

FM: First, I want to take some time without making any major commitments – taking the time to enjoy the freedom of doing what I want when I want. I already have a list of small projects and activities, including new things to try and to learn. I am realistic and I suspect that I will not have enough time to do everything on that list and that is fine because I also need to relearn the art of relaxing and doing nothing (once in a while).

I know that over the coming years things will probably not happen exactly as planned, so I leave every option open. I will pursue whatever activity or project that will allow me to stay happy and fulfilled.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved with Cogiscan over the past 25 years, starting with the two other musketeers who became like my brothers, Vincent and André. The complete list is simply too long to mention specific names, but it includes all investors, consultants, employees, partners and customers. And of course, my family, friends and other people that I met over the years who influenced me throughout my career and led me to the point where I was willing and able to take on that crazy leap of faith 25 years ago. Thank you all most sincerely.