Introduction

This hub consolidates every document and data point a Canadian manufacturer (outside Quebec) needs to assemble a complete, underwriter‑ready insurance submission. It aligns with Summit’s manufacturing focus and common coverages such as commercial property, general liability, product liability, business interruption, cyber, builder’s risk, and surety. See: Manufacturing Insurance, Commercial Property, General Liability, Product Liability, Business Interruption, Cyber, Builder’s Risk, and Surety.

Who this hub is for

Canadian manufacturers and fabricators operating outside Quebec.
CFOs, controllers, risk managers, founders, and plant leaders assembling renewal or new‑business submissions.
Distributors or private‑label brand owners with product/completed operations exposure.

How to use this hub

1) Work through each checklist below and mark items as complete. 2) Populate the Intake Data Dictionary table (acts as a CSV‑equivalent). 3) Submit your package to Summit via Contact Us. Summit is fully independent and will shop the market transparently; see How We Get Paid.

Checklist 1 — Core underwriting package

[ ] Expiring policies (full wordings, limits, deductibles/retentions, endorsements)
[ ] Current declarations pages and schedule of locations
[ ] Five‑year revenue by year (CAD), with % Canada/USA/International
[ ] Five‑year payroll by year (CAD) and headcount (FT/PT/seasonal)
[ ] Detailed operations narrative: products, processes, end uses, buyers, and jurisdictions
[ ] Quality control overview: testing, certifications (e.g., ISO), batch/lot tracking, recall plan
[ ] Health & safety: training, incident rates, lockout/tagout, hot work, confined space, contractors
[ ] Supply chain and critical dependencies (key suppliers/customers and substitutes)

Checklist 2 — Loss runs (3–5 years)

[ ] Request carrier‑issued loss runs (on insurer letterhead) for each line of coverage
[ ] Include: policy number; policy period; claim number; occurrence/report dates; cause; paid; outstanding reserve; total incurred; status (open/closed); subrogation/recovery
[ ] Provide explanations for any large or unusual losses and corrective measures taken
[ ] If prior broker is unresponsive, ask the insurer directly and note request dates in writing

Checklist 3 — NAICS & operations profile

[ ] 6‑digit NAICS code (or closest fit) and concise product list per NAICS
[ ] Manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, injection moulding, blending, assembly) and special hazards
[ ] % revenue by product family and by geography (Canada/USA/International)
[ ] End‑use sectors and any safety‑critical or regulated applications
[ ] Outsourced steps and subcontractor controls (contracts, COIs, audits)

Checklist 4 — Business Interruption (BI) worksheet

Use the BI concepts outlined here: Business Interruption Insurance.

[ ] Chosen BI basis (Gross Earnings/Profits) and accounting method
[ ] Indemnity period target (e.g., 12/18/24+ months) with rationale
[ ] Fixed vs. variable expenses and ordinary payroll treatment (included/excluded/limited)
[ ] Bottlenecks, single‑source suppliers, and customer‑dependency exposure
[ ] Critical equipment lead times and alternative production options
[ ] Peak seasonality and any ramp‑up constraints after a loss

Checklist 5 — Property & equipment schedule

[ ] For each location: address, construction type, year built, square footage, protection (sprinklers, alarms), proximity hazards
[ ] Values: building, tenant improvements, machinery & equipment (incl. serials/high‑value items), stock (raw/WIP/finished), and off‑premises
[ ] Safeguards: dust collection, hot‑work permits, flammable storage, surge protection, preventive maintenance
[ ] Utilities/backup power and data/SCADA or OT dependencies affecting production

Checklist 6 — Liability, products & recall

[ ] Jurisdictions sold (Canada/USA/international) and % exports to the USA
[ ] Product lifecycle: design, manufacturing, packaging/labeling, distribution, installation, service
[ ] Testing/QA records and third‑party certifications; warnings and IFUs where applicable
[ ] Contractual risk transfer: hold harmless/indemnities; additional insured and waiver of subrogation provisions
[ ] Recall plan (mock recalls, traceability, response vendors) and desired recall coverage triggers/limits

Checklist 7 — Cyber & operational technology (OT)

Reference: Cyber Insurance.

[ ] Data inventory (PII/PHI/IP), key systems (ERP/MES/SCADA), and remote access methods
[ ] Security controls (MFA, EDR, patch cadence, backups, incident response testing)
[ ] Downtime tolerance/RTO and BI‑from‑cyber dependence on plant systems

Checklist 8 — EDC / Bank Letter of Credit wording

[ ] Exact certificate/endorsement wording from lender/EDC or trade finance counterparty
[ ] Required limits, territories, and special clauses (e.g., 30‑day notice of cancellation)
[ ] Evidence of cargo/stock throughput if requested by lender

Checklist 9 — Vendor & customer COIs (Certificates of Insurance)

[ ] COIs for critical vendors and logistics providers; verify currency of limits and insurers
[ ] Required endorsements: Additional Insured, Waiver of Subrogation, Primary & Non‑Contributory
[ ] Contract alignment: confirm COI matches indemnity/risk transfer provisions

Checklist 10 — Project bonding (if applicable)

If contracts require financial guarantees, coordinate surety and insurance together: Surety Bonding.

[ ] Current work on hand, WIP schedules, and bank/bonding letters
[ ] Three‑year financials and backlog details; largest jobs completed

Intake Data Dictionary (CSV‑equivalent template)

Use this single table as your “intake CSV.” Populate one row per location/fleet segment as needed and attach addenda for long lists (equipment, drivers, SKUs).

Field	What underwriters expect	Example	Required
Legal entity name	Exact registered name(s) insured	ABC Manufacturing Ltd.	Yes
CRA Business Number	For verification and finance checks	123456789RC0001	Yes
Primary contact	Name, title, email, phone	Jane Doe, CFO, jane@company.ca	Yes
Years in operation	In Canada; ownership/management changes noted	Since 2014; MBO in 2022	Yes
NAICS code	6‑digit and narrative of products/processes	332710 – Machine shops	Yes
Revenue (last 5 yrs)	CAD by year; % Canada/USA/Intl	2021–2025 with % splits	Yes
Payroll & headcount	CAD by year; FT/PT/seasonal	$3.2M; 145 FTE	Yes
Locations	Full addresses; construction; sprinklers/alarms	2 plants + DC; NFPA‑13	Yes
Property values	Building, equipment, stock (raw/WIP/finished)	Building $8.5M; M&E $12M	Yes
BI assumptions	Basis, indemnity months, payroll handling	Gross Profits; 24 months	Yes
USA sales %	Share of total revenue; states if material	18%; CA/TX/MI	If any USA
Contracts/COI needs	AI/Waiver/PNC wording; LC/EDC clauses	OEM master service terms	If applicable
Product safety	QA/testing, certifications, recall plan	ISO 9001; mock recall qtrly	Yes
Cyber controls	MFA, EDR, backups, incident response	MFA; daily offline backups	If cyber
Fleet & drivers	VINs, classes, driver abstracts	6 units; 0 at‑fault losses	If auto
Claims (5 yrs)	Loss runs + narrative on large losses	1 fire loss closed; controls added	Yes
Risk improvements	Completed and planned safeguards	Dust collection retrofit 2024	Yes

What insurers look for in Canadian manufacturing risks

Credible valuations (buildings, machinery, stock) and realistic BI periods tied to lead times.
Documented safety and quality systems with evidence of continuous improvement.
Clear U.S. and international exposure management, including contract wording and COIs.
Mature cyber posture for connected plants and ERP/OT environments.
Stable financials and experienced management with learnings from past losses.

How to submit to Summit (step‑by‑step)

1) Assemble all items in Checklists 1–10 and fill the Intake Data Dictionary. 2) Export any tables to your preferred format and attach carrier loss runs. 3) Note any deadlines (contract awards, lender reviews) and target effective dates. 4) Contact Summit and request a manufacturing market submission: Contact Us. 5) Summit validates completeness and identifies target markets (independent brokerage; multiple carriers). See How We Get Paid. 6) Underwriter Q&A and risk engineering may be scheduled (virtual or site visit). 7) Receive options, compare terms/conditions/deductibles; align with General Liability, Product Liability, Commercial Property, and Business Interruption. 8) Bind coverage and issue certificates/endorsements to customers, lenders, or project owners.

FAQs

Q: Do you serve all of Canada? A: Summit serves Canada excluding Quebec. For this page, assume operations are outside Quebec.

Q: How many years of loss runs are required? A: Provide 3–5 years of carrier‑issued loss runs for each line; more if there were major losses.

Q: What if I cannot obtain loss runs from my prior broker quickly? A: Request directly from insurers in writing; document dates and provide interim internal incident logs.

Q: What BI indemnity period should manufacturers choose? A: Match to real recovery timelines (equipment lead times, rebuild, customer requalification). See Business Interruption.

Q: Which coverages are most common for manufacturers? A: Property, General Liability, Product Liability, Business Interruption, Cyber; plus Builder’s Risk and Surety when applicable.

Q: How does Summit get paid and remain independent? A: Summit discloses commissions/fees and has no exclusive carrier arrangements. See How We Get Paid.

Q: Can Summit issue customer or lender COIs and special wording? A: Yes—provide the exact contract or LC/EDC wording and timelines via Contact Us.

Q: Where can I get help during a claim? A: Use Summit’s claims support for guidance and coordination with insurers: Claim Services.

Scope and disclaimer

This resource is designed for manufacturers in Canada (excluding Quebec). It is informational, not legal or accounting advice. Always review actual policy wordings and endorsements against contract requirements before signing.

Manufacturing Insurance Submission Checklists (Canada, ex‑Quebec)