A night in Brisbane, with Queensland's finest manufacturing minds...
APPMA | Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association
Representing Australia's leading packaging and processing machinery and allied equipment companies
What a night!
Last night's member Dinner in Brisbane was a huge success, as APPMA members gathered in the sunshine state for the first time since COVID braced the world. Hosted at the W Brisbane in North Quay, attendees had the privilege of listening to a panel of impressive QLD Manufacturing experts.
Moderated by, Emeritus Professor Roy Green of 澳大利亚悉尼科技大学 and Chair of ARM Hub (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) - he was joined by experts in their fields; Jacqueline Wilson-Smith , CEO of Sustainable Innovation Company , Will Browne, Professor of Advanced Robotics with 澳大利亚昆士兰科技大学 , ARM Hub (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) and CSIRO , James Windsor , CEO of Fibre King Pty Ltd and Cori Stewart , CEO OF ARM Hub (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) .
What they said...
The panel discussion touched on pressing issues and trends in the area of manufacturing - with key areas of conversation coming through including:
?? Manufacturers need to get ahead of the trends coming through as currently, it is hard for companies to find the infrastructure that will assist them in becoming more sustainable
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"We are finding that companies who work with cobots actually end up employing more people, not less" - Professor Will Browne
?? In the manufacturing of machinery what we are seeing is a significant shift in being able to find the trade skills in areas such as fitting and turning - there is still a need for the craft, even when digitally transforming processes - have governments and the education system let us down here?
?? This is the first time we have had a wide-scale investment in the manufacturing industry, so there's never been a better time to think about taking advantage of these people (governments and hubs like ARM Hub) wanting you to be successful
?? What's the barrier to adoption you ask? The majority of businesses hubs like ARM Hub are working with are SMEs, and they're going about focusing on what needs to be done to operate as an SME (think head down, bum up) - So cluster groups and knowledge sharing (in spaces like ARM Hub) are so important in being able to develop without having to invest and do it all yourself
?? And if you're a larger SME? - Well then cluster groups and knowledge sharing will benefit you as a result of lifting everyone up - so join these networks and reap all the benefits on offer.
The APPMA team were also honoured to welcome Bill Walker , Director of Manufacturing Strategy at the Queensland Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers - who touched on the research they're discovering. The research has shown so far that small business, thanks to COVID being such a disrupter in the supply chain over the past few years, are looking to other small businesses when it comes to cluster development and resource sharing. Bill also touched on the fact that manufacturing as a whole industry is still perceived as dirty and dangerous - we all need to change this narrative. Initiatives that are currently operating in Queensland, such as Inside Advanced Manufacturing allow students and other manufacturers to go inside the sites of some of Queensland’s top manufacturers - this is a great start in being able to transform this idea.
Did you go to the Member Dinner? What was your biggest takeaway from the evening?
Managing Director at INOX Australia | APPMA - Board of Directors | MADE IN AUSTRALIA
2 年An enjoyable night catching up with the Brisbane members. A good night. ??
Managing Director at ELGi Equipments Ltd and Pulford Air and Gas Australia
2 年A great evening at the APPMA Members dinner last night in Brisbane and I found the panel discussion very interesting and the importance of manufacturing locally and the challenges