Industrial classification in the Canadian Census of Manufactures: Towards less art and more science

Abstract

Proper industrial classification of establishments is fundamental to the achievement of useful industry statistics. This paper describes an automated procedure used by Statistics Canada to verify industry coding in the Census of Manufactures. The edit is seen to have had a positive effect on measures of industrial homogeneity – although there does seem to be room for changing the timing of establishment transfer. As industrial classification becomes more of a science – and less of an art – it can also become increasingly automated.