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The performance of the Australian manufacturing sector improved slightly in December, but remained in negative territory. December was the second month in a row of contraction in the Australian manufacturing sector, with the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) recording a figure of 48.3 points. This marks the first time since … Continue reading December PMI shows impact of economy on manufacturing →

The jittery national economy has led to a downturn in manufacturing productivity. In the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Statement on Monetary Policy, the bank outlined how GDP and employment levels have played out in each industry, up to June 2019. While employment has continued to grow, at between 2 and 3 per cent throughout 2018 … Continue reading RBA figures point to productivity challenges →

The performance of the Australian manufacturing sector has dipped into negative territory, with the November Australian Industry Group Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) falling to 48.1. The figure was 3.5 points below the October figure and was the lowest reading since August 2016. Calling for the federal government to take greater action on lifting … Continue reading Manufacturing PMI indicates sector contraction →

Thinking about outcomes when supplying can lead to innovation, explains Innes Willox, CEO of Ai Group. Outcomes-based procurement has attracted significant attention over recent years both internationally and across Australia. It has, for instance, been incorporated into Queensland’s Procurement Policy which now requires Queensland government agencies to pursue opportunities to develop innovative supply solutions, either … Continue reading Using innovative approaches to deliver value for money through outcomes-based procurement →

Establishing and maintaining health and safety in the workplace requires genuine commitment from an organisation – and that starts with your leaders. Ai Group explains. It is obviously good business practice to run a safe operation in your workplace – but organisations can only achieve good outcomes if there is clear leadership from the senior … Continue reading Safety leadership at every level →

The Australian manufacturing sector has remained in positive territory for the month of October, with the Australian Industry Group Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) coming in at 51.6. This indicator of expansion in the sector remains positive, despite a 3.1 point drop from the previous month. According to Ai Group, an earlier-than-expected boom in … Continue reading Food and beverage keeps manufacturing positive →

The benefit of industry-based work experience for students has been reconfirmed via a new report from CSIRO Data61’s Ribit. Ribit, a platform which connects tertiary students with jobs in the digital, STEM, research and business fields, found in its report “Higher Education and Employment In Australia” that course-integrated work improves graduate employability, while increasing graduate … Continue reading Industry placements found to improve job outcomes →

Industry 4.0 could be the way that the Australian manufacturing industry transforms to remain globally competitive for the rest of the 21st century. Encompassing a wide range of processes and technologies, selecting five key aspects of this wave of change can enable manufacturing businesses to select the Industry 4.0 pathway that is most applicable to … Continue reading The top five technologies of Industry 4.0 →

Queensland has marked the Month of Manufacturing in its state by highlighting the capabilities of the manufacturing sector in that state. Manufacturing has grown in Queensland over the past decade to be 19.3 per cent of the national total, according to Minister for Manufacturing, Cameron Dick. “Queensland continues to be a leading manufacturing state because … Continue reading Queensland a sunny state for manufacturing →

The trade war between the US and China presents both challenges and opportunities for Australian businesses, writes Innes Willox. While it is often said there are no winners in a trade war, the current impasse between the US and China is having mixed and some unexpected impacts on Australian businesses. Ai Group members are telling … Continue reading Australian winners and losers in US China trade war →

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a dreary global outlook for the world economy, and the fate of manufacturing lies at the heart of future projections. Noting that slowdowns in manufacturing around the globe has been part of sluggish growth in 2019, the sector that is of most concern is the automobile manufacturing industry, … Continue reading Australia bucks global manufacturing downturn →

Addressing issues of mental health in the workplace require an understanding of the causes and symptoms of illness. Ai Group explains why employers must account for the mental wellbeing of their workforce. There is little doubt that mental health has been an emerging issue for Australian workplaces for some time. In 2009, it was claimed … Continue reading Mental health at work – Is your business in the right head space? →

Australia’s competitive edge in technology has fallen, dropping to 14th place in a survey of 63 developed nations. With the adoption of technology a key way for sectors including manufacturing to increase productivity, Australia’s fall in competitiveness in technology issues is an area of concern, according to those pushing Australia forward in this field. The … Continue reading Australia slipping on digital competitiveness →

The Australian manufacturing sector has picked up again after a run of slower months, rising 1.6 points in the September Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI). Employment and new orders rose, buoyed by growth in the food and beverage and machinery and equipment sector. In addition, manufacturers who supply the mining and defence sectors reported … Continue reading Employment and new orders drive positive PMI →

During a day of robust discussion, delegates, speakers, and panellists came to grips with the skills crisis confronting the Australian manufacturing industry, and what can be done to overcome this. Manufacturers’ Monthly reports. Setting out the question that would go on to frame the skills discussion at the National Manufacturing Summit, Gayle Tierney, Victorian Minister … Continue reading Preparing the workforce for the skills of the future →

Workplace bullying is unfortunately too common. Ai Group explains how to identify the signs and take action. “I would end most days in tears – I felt utterly alone and like I was losing my mind. In the end I was too ill to work. I’m amazed I lasted as long as I did.” These … Continue reading Meet Australia’s seven worst workplace bullies →

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) climbed again in August, for the second month in a row. After rising 1.8 points above July levels, the index read 53.1 in August. According to Ai Group, the stronger numbers were driven increasing production and rising exports. The Australian PMI bucks … Continue reading Australian PMI continues positive position →

During the panel discussions as part of the National Manufacturing Summit, one topic that never strayed far from the lips of speakers was the issue of skills. With the focus of the summit set by the opening keynote speeches, panels of industry representatives, peak organisations, and educational providers discussed how to get the right mix … Continue reading National Manufacturing Summit: Minding the skills gap →

Australian steelmaker, Bluescope Steel, has announced that it will invest almost $1 billion in its Ohio, US steel mill, North Star. Bluescope will expand its US production facilities by 40 per cent, and hopes that the expansion will be completed by 2023. One of the drivers of the expansion into the North American market is … Continue reading Bluescope to invest a billion in US production →

With Australian apprenticeship and traineeship numbers falling to a ten year low of 259,385 in 2018, chief executive of Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Innes Willox, wrote to federal and state governments ahead of their meeting in Cairns on August 9. With global economic uncertainty and digitalisation driving the transformation of industry, Willox argued that … Continue reading Drop in apprenticeship numbers necessitates action: Ai Group →