The future of manufacturing

Never in the modern era has our state faced a challenge quite like COVID-19. As this unpredictable serpent wraps itself around Queensland’s economy and threatens the health and life of our people, one thing is certain:  things will never be the same. And nowhere is that clearer than how we must power-up and sustain our capacity to manufacture the essentials of life: food, medicine, and protective equipment.

In times of crisis, nations turn inwards. We’ve seen examples of this phenomenon as the pandemic has deepened. Nations gazumping each other to undermine supply agreements. Goods seized at international airports and redirected from one destination to another. Companies banned by executive order from exporting essential equipment, including to traditional trading partners.

Sadly, a pandemic like COVID-19 easily corrodes old and trusted relationships. Governments around the globe are focused on securing the essential goods and services they require to meet the challenges faced by their people, sometimes, by any means necessary.

In this new coronavirus-world, the role our local manufacturing sector plays not only in the well-being of our economy, but in sustaining our way of life, has never been more important.

Economic theories, which elevated lowest cost solutions to supply and demand as the foundation for global trade, resulted in Queensland exporting thousands of manufacturing jobs, and industrial capability, overseas. COVID-19 has demonstrated the weakness of that model and has sent a clear message that all this must change.

When our state is dependent on long and vulnerable international supply chains, the links of which can be broken quickly by forces out of our control, we must radically rethink how and what we make locally.

Nations that have not retained a manufacturing capability, particularly for the most basic of health supplies, like face masks, have left themselves exposed. This has emerged as one of the most serious consequences of the current crisis.

Thankfully, Queensland can always rely on the hard work, ingenuity and determination of its people. These characteristics give us hope and will help us build a stronger future. And our state’s manufacturers have these virtues in abundance.

Our manufacturers have responded magnificently to the COVID-19 challenge, adapting and retooling their manufacturing capability to meet the rising demand, among other things, for the personal protective equipment needed to keep our health system and related industries functioning.

As Queensland's Minister for Manufacturing, I have been inspired by the resilience and ingenuity of companies like Logan’s Evolve Group, who are moving into the urgent production of much-needed face masks, and Banyo’s Triple Eight Race Engineering, who, in around a fortnight, developed a prototype ventilator.

Meanwhile, some of Queensland’s oldest manufacturers, Bundaberg Rum and Beenleigh Rum, are helping to produce hand sanitiser. These companies, along with so many others, are pivoting their production lines to address demand for masks, face shields, gowns, gloves and ventilators. We put out the call, and they put up their hand.

Wars are fought on the frontline, but they are won in the supply chain. Every successful strategy begins with manufacturing and logistics. Every time a new product rolls off a Queensland production line, or a loaded truck leaves a factory or distribution centre, it represents another small victory in our battle against the virus.

We owe a great debt to the frontline health workers who are putting themselves at risk to look after the community at this difficult time. But we should also spare a thought for those Queenslanders working in factories and depots, those who are driving the trucks and stacking the shelves, making sure the products we all rely on continue to be delivered, as we navigate the challenges already upon us.

Our state is behind you, and so is your government, as we use all our resources, including our funding programs, our robotics and manufacturing hubs, and our Buy Queensland procurement strategy, to support you every step of the way.

Working together, Queensland can stare down the menace of COVID-19 and strengthen our manufacturing base in ways that will deliver dividends for our state for decades to come.

*Please note, the header image was taken in 2018 at the Queensland Defence Summit Ipswich.