Innes Willox

The Ai Group Defence Council Australian says that the local industry has the capability, capacity and determination to meet the Naval Shipbuilding Plan challenge. The Council called for greater recognition of these local capabilities, as well as a more considered debate focussing on a national approach to further building that capability and delivering outcomes. “Australia’s … Continue reading Australia highly capable of meeting Naval Shipbuilding Plan challenge: Ai Group →

According to the Ai Group, Australia’s PMI fell by 5.6 points to 54.2 in September, indicating a deceleration in growth after August’s spike to a 15-year high (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase) at 59.8. Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox said, “This … Continue reading Manufacturing in Australia slows down after record month →

Australian manufacturing recorded its highest monthly expansion for 15 years in August, according to the latest industry figures. The Australian Industry (Ai) Group’s Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) jumped by 3.8 points to 59.8 last month, marking an eleventh consecutive month of growth. “The alignment of the stars continued for domestic manufacturing with the … Continue reading Stars align as Australian manufacturers record strongest month since 2002 →

The Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council (AAMC) has welcomed new leadership into its organisation. It has announced that Mark Goodsell, current Head of Manufacturing at the Australian Industry Group, will take on the role of executive director for the AAMC. AAMC Chair, Mr John Pollaers, welcomed Mr Goodsell’s appointment as part of an important strategy to build … Continue reading AAMC appoints Mark Goodsell as new executive director →

The Australian Industry (Ai) Group’s Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) inched 0.2 points higher to 55.0 in June – a ninth consecutive month of expansion for the manufacturing sector. “Sales, exports and production all lifted and growth was widespread across the sector,” said Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox. There was higher activity in the … Continue reading PMI: Australian manufacturing continues to expand →

The Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) has remained in expansionary territory for the eighth consecutive month in May. The pace of expansion has eased by 4.4 points to 54.8, however, indicating a slower pace of growth than last month. This month’s key findings: All seven activity sub-indexes in the Australian PMI expanded in May, … Continue reading PMI: Australian manufacturing continues on growth streak →

Telstra has reportedly seen its power costs increase by $100 million in the past year, with a senior executive calling on Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos for urgent action to address Australia’s energy crisis. This follows a recent decision by the Federal Court to increase NSW electricity prices by $3 billion over the next few years, on … Continue reading Telstra’s power costs up $100m; company calls for price correction →

In a submission to the Annual Wage Review, the Australian Industry Group (AIG) has proposed a 1.5 per cent increase in Australia’s minimum wage. This equates to an increase of $10.10 per week in the National Minimum Wage and $11.75 per week at the base trade level, according to AIG chief executive Innes Willox. According to … Continue reading AI Group proposes minimum wage increase →

Industry groups in Australia have called on the Australian government to urgently inject funds into the Australian apprenticeship system that is facing considerable structural problems, according to the West Australian.  As reported by the West Australian, the Australian Industry Group and other leading business groups claim that the number of apprenticeships has halved between 2012 and … Continue reading Calls to fix apprenticeship system on life support →

The Australian Industry Group’s (Ai Group) released its February Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) yesterday. The PMI has increased 8.1 points to 59.3 in February. The result is the fifth consecutive month of growth and the strongest result since 2002 (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the increase above 50 showing the strength … Continue reading Ai Group: Australian PMI surges in February →

A new Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) report, Energy shock: No gas, no power, no future?, concludes that Australia’s energy policy risks sending Australian jobs offshore. The report finds that businesses and households will see an increase in costs, wholesale electricity prices are almost doubling and spot prices are becoming more volatile. It also found … Continue reading Ai Group report: energy policy could offshore jobs →

In light of the announcement of the Australian government’s pledge to offer support for auto workers affected by company closures, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) has accused Liberal Senator and Industry Minister Sinodinos of “misleading” auto workers who are likely to lose their jobs when Holden and Toyota close their production lines later this year. … Continue reading ALP claims Coalition is ‘misleading’ auto workers →

Trump manufacturing advisor, Andrew Liveris, has said that any rise on tariffs on Australian goods imported into the US, could have devastating consequences for Australian industry, according to The Australian. Liveris’ comments come as the Trump administration may change tax arrangements that may punish US importers of Australian goods. Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox … Continue reading Trump to slap tariffs; taxes on Aussie manufacturers →

Ai Group has said that there is a reason for optimism despite upcoming closure of the Toyota Altona plant, this year. Toyota announced the official closure timetable of its plant last Tuesday, with 2600 jobs to go when the plant closes on 3 October 2017. Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said that many high-value … Continue reading Ai Group: bright spots on the manufacturing horizon despite Toyota closure →

Manufacturing growth has consolidated in January, according to the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group). Ai Group’s Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) has expanded for a fourth consecutive month, to a reading of 51.2 in January. This figure is down 4.2 points from December 2016 (figures above 50 represent an increase in manufacturing, with the … Continue reading Manufacturing grows over January period →

According to research by Curtin University, corrosion may be costing the Australian economy more than $30 billion each year. Within industrial environments, exposure to things like water, acid or salt causes corrosion of geared motors. This, in turn, reduces the strength of the corroded parts and inevitably means they have to be replaced. In corrosive … Continue reading Corrosion is eating away at Australian industry →

Australian CEOs are cautiously optimistic about their business prospects in 2017 according to the latest Ai Group CEO Business Outlook survey. We are well short of exuberance with expectations tempered by the failure of 2016 to live up to expectations and by the wide array of local and global challenges on the horizon.  The survey … Continue reading Ai Group 2017 CEO Business Outlook Survey – Foundations for Growth →

Start planning now to reap the many benefits of connected manufacturing. There’s been a lot of noise over the last two years around the “Internet of Things,” or IoT. However, more recently a subcategory of IoT, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), has been getting a lot of well-deserved attention. This brings together many key … Continue reading The Industrial Internet of Things: Why you need to get up to speed fast →

Most robots achieve grasping and tactile sensing through motorised means, which can be excessively bulky and rigid. A Cornell group has devised a way for a soft robot to feel its surroundings internally, in much the same way humans do. A group led by Robert Shepherd, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and principal … Continue reading Engineers develop robot with human-like tactile senses →

MTPConnect and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together in undertaking activities to accelerate the growth of advanced manufacturing in the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical (MTP) sector in Australia. Both MTPConnect and AMGC have been established as part of the Federal Government’s Industry Growth Centres … Continue reading Collaboration set to boost Australia’s advanced manufacturing sector →