About

Founded in 1974, Muskoka Cabinet Company (MCC) is a leading Ontario-based manufacturer of custom residential and commercial cabinetry with 55 employees. Known for innovation, MCC has developed proprietary ERP/MES software linking production stations to front-office operations, RFID product tracking, robotic-assisted finishing, and the patent-pending SMARTDowel system. Muskoka’s Alfred facility ranks among the most automated woodworking plants in Canada, producing four times the industry average output per square foot. The company continually leverages technology to increase productivity and reduce manual inefficiencies on the manufacturing floor.

Project

The Autonomous Mobile Robots – Part Porter project will develop an AI-driven autonomous mobile robot designed to safely and efficiently move cabinet parts across MCC’s dynamic factory floor. In partnership with Quasi Robotics and Cambrian College, MCC will adapt AMRs with vision-based AI navigation and machine learning to enable collision avoidance and optimal route selection in busy manufacturing environments. The Part Porter will be integrated into MCC’s ERP system for real-time task coordination, eliminating time lost to manual part movement and improving plant-wide workflow.

Impact

The project will result in a validated AMR prototype—the first of its kind in the wood manufacturing sector—optimized for adaptive vision-based navigation. MCC expects a 20% increase in productivity by freeing employees for higher-value tasks, while maintaining all current staff. Commercialization will begin with demonstrations at the 2025 Woodworking Machinery Show and industry tours. Muskoka projects potential sales of 500 units annually, generating $9M USD in revenue and 20–23 new jobs in Ontario. The project also positions Ontario as a global leader in smart manufacturing robotics for traditional industries, showcasing the scalability of AI and automation for productivity and workforce retention.