While it is widely reported that Australian manufacturing is “out-dated” and on the decline, research suggests the public values the industry more than expected. Steven Impey reports. Analysis around Australia’s attitude towards manufacturing has revealed a startling misconception about the industry. Despite a culture that is consistently told that the sector is in decline, an investigation … Continue reading Changing public perceptions of manufacturing →

Manufacturers’ Monthly spoke with Ted Dohrmann, managing director at Dohrmann Consulting based in Melbourne, about the importance of ergonomics in a potentially hazardous workplace in an industrial setting. Ergonomics is the science of fitting work to people. Humanising the design of each industrial process wherever humans interact with it needs to be a critical part … Continue reading Putting worker safety first: why ergonomics matters →

A scalable distributed control system (DCS) solution is helping an Australian joint venture develop and commercialise a new carbon management technology aimed at reducing global CO2 emissions. Mineral Carbonation International (MCi) is an Australia-based start-up whose mission is to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of mineral carbonation as a sustainable industrial solution for carbon … Continue reading Comeback for carbon →

As the world of manufacturing becomes more integrated, the role of robotics is changing the shape of the factory floor. Steven Impey takes a look at the effect it will have on the Australian workforce. Depending on which literature the industry insider goes by, the impact that robotics will have on the factory floor of … Continue reading Rise of the machine manufacturer →

Following the announcement by Defence Industry minister Christopher Pyne that Australian companies will have an opportunity to capitalise on the international F-35 joint Strike Force Program, Steven Impey takes a closer look at what manufacturers can hope to gain from the government’s massive defence budget. As billions in federal dollars continue to pour into Australia’s … Continue reading Putting Australian industry on an upward trajectory →

In light of rising energy prices, questionable security and ever-changing policies, some manufacturers are turning to renewables to ensure reliable production, writes Stephanie Stefanovic. As energy prices continue to soar, manufacturers are increasingly being pushed out of Australia. The Federal government seems to believe reducing wholesale gas prices is the answer, with Prime Minister Malcolm … Continue reading Renewables light the way to success in manufacturing →

With the number of large scale cyber-attacks on the rise around the world, Australia could be next and the manufacturing sector is at risk. Tim Wellsmore, director of threat intelligence and consulting for Mandiant at FireEye, shares his thoughts on this issue. It is no secret that Australia’s cyber-security environment is seriously wanting. The recent … Continue reading Why manufacturing in Australia is in the cyber cross-hairs of hackers →

At a time when the Australian car industry is on its knees, manufacturers are using links in the motorsports industry to drive automotive technology in a new direction. Steven Impey discusses opportunities the race world is offering innovators on the factory floor. Putting a car on the racetrack takes patience and precision while maintaining neck-break … Continue reading Can elite motorsport hand Australia’s automotive industry a new gear? →

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s 2015 National Innovation and Science Agenda was a call to arms for Australia’s research and industry sectors to collaborate and drive our economy. One and a half years on, you’d be excused for thinking a few pages of notes were missing from Budget 2017. Specifically no comment was made about the … Continue reading Budget 2017: a glimmer of support for innovation and advanced manufacturing →

Victorian Manufacturing Awards 2017 was presented in the Crown Palladium and rewarded the best Manufacturers in small, medium and large businesses. The theme for the event was centred around Australia’s drive towards growing advanced manufacturing – a concept that is gaining traction among many Australian manufacturers, especially the SMEs. The opening keynote address by Jake … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing to be a focus: Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards 2017 →

With the move towards newer technologies for increased productivity and sustainability, the Australian industrial sector has lots of catching up to do with Tier 1 manufacturing countries. Steven Impey speaks to several key manufacturers for their thoughts. What is next for Australia’s machine tool makers? For several millennia, materials have been dug up and turned … Continue reading Issues and Insights: Weathering the winds of change →

Last month during the Energy Productivity Summit that featured prominent international industry leaders giving their thoughts on energy management and sustainability issues, Manufacturers’ Monthly caught up with Rod Naylor, Executive General Manager – Growth, Veolia Australia and New Zealand, to get his thoughts on the energy issues the country is facing and how Veolia’s plans fit … Continue reading Australia’s energy conundrum: Interview with Veolia’s Rod Naylor →

Cities built on coal and steel can act as the bedrock for mobilising advanced manufacturing across Australia, according to an industry champion. Leanne Connelly, co-founder of the manufacturer Me3D, is based in Wollongong, where her company makes student-friendly 3D printers which schoolchildren as young as seven are now learning to operate. She also notes Newcastle, … Continue reading The Wollongong legacy: How 3D printing can support traditional manufacturing →

More than half of business workers believe remote working with improve productivity levels within their business, according to a new study.  Varying an employee’s work environment helps them to concentrate and allows more daily duties to be completely without interruptions.  The survey was commissioned by global workplace provider Regus, which has office space across Australia, … Continue reading Mobile workforces ‘improve productivity and wellbeing’ →

The Industry 4.0 led industrial environment is seeing another wave of automation and roboticisation of manufacturing processes, even beyond the extensive developments we have seen to date. Robots that talk to one another, robots that are increasingly autonomous and apply AI to decision making in more ways than ever before. Organisers from National Manufacturing Week … Continue reading NMW 2017: Artificial Intelligence And Autonomous Robots →

Digital mediation platforms and trends such as the circular economy will profoundly change the way manufacturers operate, believes supply chain expert Jan Godsell. Brent Balinski spoke to the Warwick Manufacturing Group professor about how this could look. The Industry 4.0 narrative is generally focussed on what takes place within factories. This is a bit of … Continue reading The next industrial revolution will reinvent supply chains →

When it comes to the local aerospace sector, Boeing Australia is finding it’s all up, up and away for both domestic defence as well as commercial aeroplane components manufacturing. Branko Miletic asked the celebrated planemaker what’s on the horizon. Manufacturers Monthly (MM): When it comes to aerospace engineering, is it the military or civilian sectors … Continue reading Boeing flying high in a thriving local market →

Two years ago the Morris Group of companies was at a turning point. The Newcastle-based manufacturer found that the mining turndown, mixed in with some archaic manufacturing practises, was affecting its profitability. The group specialised in a range of products and services for the mining and other industries, such as temperature sensors, electronic componentry and … Continue reading How Lean Manufacturing Saved An Electronics Company →

Today’s most progressive manufacturers are pinning their survival on working smarter than their competitors. With pressure is increasing from all sides – competition, customers, and stakeholders – manufacturers now face the reality of embracing digital technologies and collaborative working models. These four sessions highlight the emerging trends and technologies helping Australian manufacturers remain competitive: A … Continue reading NMW To Discuss Future Trends →