AI Group

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has backed the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) proposed changes to energy rules. In a statement, Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox, promoted the suggested changes. “Our initial reaction, however, is very positive. Energy users demanded, and the AEMC has responded. There is much work to do before a … Continue reading Industry group backs AEMC changes to demand response rules →

The importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills were highlighted during the recent federal election. With the election over, the sector is now focussed on the opportunities ahead. Manufacturers’ Monthly reports. While the federal Coalition government, in its 2019 budget, recognised the need for greater enrolment of young people – and, in particular, … Continue reading Training the workforce of the future →

Industry 4.0 is here now and threatening to disrupt your business. It’s not too late to prepare; start with your people and up-skill them for an integrated, automated manufacturing supply chain. You’ve probably heard the term “Industry 4.0” bandied about – the fourth industrial revolution, the next thing you need to worry about. An automated, integrated … Continue reading Are you ready for the next revolution? Prepare your people for the Industry 4.0 →

Reports of a deal between the federal government and Centre Alliance on gas prices have manufacturing bodies calling for decisive solutions. A condition of the minor party’s approval of the government’s income tax cut package, Centre Alliance senators have lobbied for reductions in the price of gas, partly through limitations on the export of gas. … Continue reading Industry groups urge for significant reform to gas prices →

Numbers released by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) as part of their ongoing tracking of the manufacturing sector indicate that June was a mixed month for the sector. The Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) While production and exports expanded, other activity indexes contracted, with employment down by 5.5 points, new orders down 2.5 … Continue reading June’s PMI: A mixed month for manufacturers →

In collaboration with the national industry associations of G20 countries, the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has called for action to confront the dissolution of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement system. The WTO established the rule-based framework that Australian manufacturing businesses that rely on international exports and imports depend upon. With Australia’s export … Continue reading Ai Group joins call for stable international trade regime →

The Australian Industry Group’s (Ai Group) Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) has remained in expansionary territory at 52.7 points in May. It marks the 33rd consecutive month of stability and reading over the 50-point mark. Despite its positive streak, the PMI has dipped 2.1 points from the previous month, indicating a slower rate … Continue reading Australia PMI recovery slows in May →

The Ai Group has welcomed Australia’s entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on government procurement. Australia will become the 48th member of the agreement once it joins in May 2019. In April 10, Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox, said Australia’s accession to the WTO government procurement agreement will provide Australian exporters with … Continue reading WTO agreement gives Australian exporters greater transparency →

Manufacturing entered 2019 with a lot of momentum built up over the past 2-3 years. 85,000 jobs were created by the industry in 2018, among the highest of any sector according to the ABS. It has been a period of growth with change, as a new model of manufacturing success emerges from the twin currents … Continue reading This Year’s Model: Priorities for Australian Manufacturing in 2019 →

The Ai Group added its voice to a global business initiative to urge reform of the World Trade Organisation and the rebuilding of trust in globalisation at an annual meeting of the Global Business Coalition, held in New Delhi in mid-February. Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox, representing Australia at the meeting, led discussions on … Continue reading Ai Group supports global initiative to reform World Trade Organisation →

“The federal government should go easy on the brakes in the coming federal budget. It should balance its ambition to return to surplus against the risk of slowing an already softening economy,” Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox, has said. On February 10, Willox expressed his concerns over the risk of slow economic growth in … Continue reading Ai Group: Government should focus on investments generating real productivity growth →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) recovered by 2.5 points to 52.5 in January 2019. This indicates that manufacturing conditions turned mildly positive again in January, after a flat result in December 2018 ended 26 months of continuous expansion (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with the distance … Continue reading Australian manufacturing sees slow but positive start to 2019 →

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI) dropped 1.9 points to 42.6 in December, indicating a fourth consecutive month of decline. Ai Group head of policy, Peter Burn, said sharp falls in residential building activity together with a further drop in commercial construction and a slight dip in engineering … Continue reading Australian construction sector ends 2018 with weaker demand →

The Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) suggests that manufacturing has slipped into negative territory for first time in more than two years. The Australian Industry Group (AI Group) Australian PMI fell 1.8 points to 49.5 in December 2018, signalling the first mild contraction in manufacturing conditions in 26 months. It is the lowest … Continue reading Australian Manufacturing Index indicates slight slowdown in manufacturing →

Ai Group is leading an Industry 4.0 forum, which looks at the challenges, benefits and future of technology in Australia. Industry 4.0 is not just for the “big end of town”, explains Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) chief executive Innes Willox. Helping businesses small and large adopt Industry 4.0 to benefit them and the greater … Continue reading Supporting Industry 4.0 growth in Australia →

WHAT IS PRODUCTIVITY? Productivity is the ratio of outputs produced to inputs used, including labour, capital, resources and technologies. It measures how efficiently all of our inputs are allocated, combined and utilised to produce all of our outputs. Productivity increases if our outputs grow faster than our inputs (or shrink more slowly). Multifactor productivity measures … Continue reading Helping manufacturers thrive with increases in productivity →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) extended its period of uninterrupted growth to 26 months in November, but the readings indicated a slowdown in the manufacturing sector’s growth during the month. The Australian PMI slumped 7.0 points to 51.3 in November. This is the lowest result since October 2017 but it still indicates … Continue reading Australian PMI: Manufacturing recovery slows in November →

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Defence Council has signed MOUs with the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) and the Australian Industry and Defence Network (AIDN National) to collaborate on developing the capacity of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the defence industry. The agreements will see the organisations work closely together in an effort to improve the … Continue reading Ai Group teams up with defence industry advocacy groups to boost SME participation →

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) results show that the manufacturing sector continued to expand in October, extending the index’s period of uninterrupted growth to 25 months. The Australian PMI fell slightly in the month – by 0.7 points to 58.3. Results above 50 points indicate expansion. The … Continue reading Australian PMI: Manufacturing growth remains robust →

Ai Group will lead the rollout of the Industry 4.0 Higher Apprenticeships in South Australia, as one of the first recipients of the grants available under the Skilling Australians Fund and the Skilling South Australia Initiative. The apprenticeships program, developed by Ai Group with Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology, will blend vocational and higher … Continue reading Ai Group gets funding for Industry 4.0 apprenticeship program →