Issue 19, June 2006

Do you have an interest in the health of Australian manufacturing?  The recently released Australian Industry Group’s April 2006 report, Manufacturing Futures – Achieving Global Fitness, provides many insights. To access the summary and full report versions click here.

Not unexpectedly, the report found that the local manufacturing industry is increasingly facing challenges due to three main factors, namely:

• Globalisation;

• Increasing competition from China and

• The strong Australian dollar.

One-third of the 800 companies surveyed had concerns about Australian manufacturing prospects.  Furthermore, one-third of manufacturers have not identified new strategies to cope with the increasingly competitive environment!

The priority strategies identified as being implemented by companies in order for them to remain globally competitive include:

• Deriving increasing income from new products

• Using more imported components

• Outsourcing more offshore

• Investing more on skills acquisition.

Furthermore, according to the report, Australian manufacturers will need to have several or all of the following characteristics in order to be successful in the emerging environment.  They include:

• A belief in their capacity to compete against overseas companies, here and overseas

• A global outlook and desire to be world class operators

• A focus on continuous business improvement, striping out waste, etc

• Rapid adoption of new technologies and investing in the capital intensity of production (ie through automation)

• Investing in skills capabilities of staff

• A well-developed supply chain

• A focus on product design and innovation that will deliver quality products at world competitive prices

• Development of niche markets with a strong customer focus and support package.
   

Cetec recently delivered the Industrial Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Program also known as Industrial Hospital for the Cities of Monash and Kingston.  This project, which aimed to better understand the 'state of health' of the SME manufacturing industry, and involved interviews with these manufacturers, found many similar views with amongst the participants.  Click here for more information.
 

 

Select another article from this issue:

	Diesel Exhaust and Environmental Health
	Why you need a Chemical Inventory System
	Green Building Council of Australia Rating Tools
	Innovative technology for monitoring trace level compounds in soil and air