Business

The role of ERP in ESG performance reporting

By Jaco Maritz, Chief Executive Officer, SYSPRO In a manufacturing business, measuring ESG standards comes down to tracking internal and external Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance standards. ESG has become a determining factor in access to capital and in the decisions made by consumers and B2B customers. So, it’s not surprising that leaders are taking ESG seriously. EY’s 2022 CEO Outlook indicates that 97 per cent of CEOs say their company has a sustainability strategy. What’s more, 28 per cent believe they will gain valuable competitive advantage by becoming leaders in sustainability. However, before CIOs, CFOs and boards consider technology investment, they should be fully aware of the growing role of ESG in reporting and in boosting corporate performance. As corporate strategy rapidly incorporates ESG, digital strategies must align accordingly. For example, a manufacturing company may commit to improvements in water usage in production processes, carbon emissions, the proportion of its products that are recyclable, and wages and working conditions of employees and contractors. Without a technology strategy that supports the collection of high-quality data along the entire value chain, companies will not be able to report data or demonstrate progress against these commitments. ESG in the supply chain Supply chain sustainability shifts the focus from short-term financial considerations to long-term value creation as well as managing the ESG performance of suppliers. By taking these factors into account, sustainable supply chain management not only benefits the environment but also reduces risks, mitigates impacts and realises reputational and financial benefits such as cost savings, brand goodwill and customer loyalty. Companies with strong ESG performance typically have robust governance frameworks, manage social and environmental risks well and have stronger relationships with suppliers. Prioritising supply chain sustainability can reduce general risks for corporations, including minimising operational disruptions caused by environmental and regulatory risks […]

Shed light on connectors

The Amphenol Socapex SL61 Connector is a robust and reliable 19 ins connector. It is a standard cable type for stage lighting and offers a high strength weight ratio. Used for conducting dimmed power from a dimmer to stage lighting instruments, it can also occasionally power other equipment. It is used in film, television and stage lighting to terminate the multi-cable. The 19 pin connector is UL recognised and is supplied with solder or crimp gold plated contacts and SLG version with seven first mate last break ground contacts provide electrical safety. The connector has a reinforced locking ring, and can be operated up to 600V and in temperatures of -40 C to +85 C. ROHS versions are available with black coating (non conductive) and nickel plating (conductive). The split backshell ensures simple maintenance and wiring, while the metallic monopiece backshell provides an IP67 waterproof sealing for outdoor applications. For more information contact Treotham on 1300 65 75 64 or email info@treotham.com.au https://treotham.com.au/connectors/circular-connectors-for-stage-lighting-industry/monopiece-19pin-25amp-400v-ip67

Women in Construction for Int'l Womens' Day. 28th Feb 2023

Meet the women working in construction at the Australian War Memorial

This International Women’s Day the Australian War Memorial is highlighting some of the key women working on the Development project. Representing a variety of backgrounds, skills and experience, these women bring their expertise to this multi-faceted, long term construction project. All three are motivated by the once-in-a-career opportunity it represents. “I love my job. It’s a job that was made for me. Knowing that you’re part of the story of the next generation of this building is pretty exciting,” Rebecca Conway, Project Manager for the new Southern Entrance, said. “It’s important to see the range of opportunities you can get out of a career in construction. Four out of five project managers working on the development are female, which is a great statistic.” Working alongside Rebecca is Philippa Seldon, Operations Manager (ACT) at Kane Constructions and Founder of the Healthy Tradie Project. With more than 10 years’ experience in the construction sector, Philippa brings an empathetic and innovative approach to her work. “The Healthy Tradie Project was borne out of my brother’s suicide. He was a carpenter and following his death in 2009 it was only natural that I gravitated toward supporting those who I work with every day,” she said. “Every Thursday starts with a pre-start movement session. We see smiles, we see laughter and a huge boost in morale on those days,” Ms Seldon said. Hayley Delmenico, an apprentice electrician, is one of the youngest tradies on site. Growing up in Canberra ensured familiarity with the Memorial; the opportunity to be a part of its development was too good to pass up. “I thought it would be really exciting to be able to work with my hands. This is a very significant place for a lot of people and just being able to say that you worked on it and being proud of it […]

Profile: Hailey Dicker, boilermaker apprentice

On International Woman’s Day 8 March 2023, we invite you to meet Hailey Dicker, who lives in Brisbane. Hailey decided to do a trade because she loves working with her hands, creating things with tools and learning how things work. She was the TAFE Queensland Skills Tech school-based Apprentice of the Year 2022. tafeqld.edu.au Hailey is employed at Barcat Fabrication. “I found that I had no interest to go to university and I couldn’t study for long periods of time. I did work at home with tools, building things, and maintenance, and it has now become my passion to be a boilermaker. “A major challenge I have overcome since the beginning of my apprenticeship last year is self-confidence. I didn’t have much confidence being in a male dominated career but as soon as I began, I gradually gained my confidence and created a new perspective. “Whether it came to “not being strong enough” or “Only males can do that”, I proved myself wrong and now can do almost anything a male can do in the workplace and I give everything a crack to the best of my ability. ‘In five years, I see myself working in the mines saving money and gaining a lot of experience to benefit me in creating my own welding and fabrication business in the future. I see myself saving a deposit for a house and setting myself plenty of short term and long term goals for my ongoing career. “My greatest achievement so far is beginning my career as a Boilermaker apprentice. It has been so inspirational and opened up many opportunities for my future. If it wasn’t for support from my family and friends, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am now. “My experience training with TAFE Queensland has been absolutely fantastic. On […]

Australia’s first road made using recycled coffee cups

A suburban road in Penrith has become the first in Australia, to include recycled coffee cups in its construction. The fibres in the cups are a valuable additive that helps create a superior, more durable product, quieter and safer than regular asphalt. The more sustainable asphalt, known as PAK-PAVE™ Roads, has been developed by State Asphalts NSW in conjunction with Closed Loop Environmental Solutions who operate the Simply Cups paper cup recycling program. The development of PAK-PAVE™ Roads was facilitated through the Commonwealths Cooperative Research Centres Program Grant, involving the University of NSW and has been sanctioned by the NSW EPA and Transport NSW. The pilot project for PAK-PAVE™ Roads will take place along a section of Jamison Road at South Penrith, to be followed soon after by a second at Swallow Drive, Erskine Park. These two projects will utilise over 135,000 recycled paper cups including coffee cups, which is 85% of the paper cups collected for recycling in the Penrith LGA in 2022. In addition to the recycled paper cups, the two PAK-PAVE™ Roads will utilise other recycled materials including the equivalent of 1.2 million glass stubbies, together with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement, Steel Furnace Slag. Collectively, these materials will comprise more than 50% of the materials used. Sustainability benefits of the PAK-PAVE™ Roads include: Using recycled paper cups as a beneficial additive Improved pavement durability and crack resistance Improved wet weather skid resistance and reduced noise levels from surface texture Improved durability of Stone Mastic Asphalt allows thinner surfacing of roads; where thickness can be reduced the cost per m2 of pavement is also reduced Less raw materials are required 24% reduction in carbon footprint These PAK-PAVE™ Roads in Penrith are true examples of the circular economy in action, where items that were once destined for landfill have been […]

How Australian manufacturers can position themselves for success in an uncertain economy

Rob Cheesman, General Manager Atturra Manufacturing Softening economic conditions have created a challenging time for many Australian businesses. While JP Morgan in their 2023 Business Leaders Outlook: Australia[1] survey shows nearly half of leaders surveyed expect a recession this year, although right now, most modern economies around the world, including Australia, are managing to avoid this economic reckoning. Indeed, when attention turns to the nation’s manufacturing sector, a somewhat mixed picture emerges. Despite the global economic storm clouds that gathered during 2022, many organisations appear to be doing quite well. To some extent, this situation has been supported by a return to local manufacturing. While the Australian dollar has strengthened recently it is still relatively low. This means locally made products are attractive compared to imports. Mixed conditions ahead According to the February Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index[2], economic conditions are “falling rapidly”. However, if we drill further into these numbers, downstream manufacturing seems to be fairing much better. As 2023 unfolds, there are some key factors that will be worth monitoring. Together, they will shape the next 12 months for the entire domestic manufacturing sector. Five of the top factors are: 1. An ongoing increase in costs During 2022, the majority of domestic manufacturing firms appeared to have successfully weathered a period of inflation. Most were able to either absorb increases or pass them on to their customers. However, things could become a little more challenging over the next 12 months. When the rising cost of raw materials is added to increasing energy costs and wage increases, pressure on firms can become more acute. While most manufacturers should be able to continue to manage costs, ongoing rises could still put pressure on business bottom lines. 2. Staff shortages will ease As is the case for firms in other […]

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Sensing the future of energy

Michael Jary – Managing Director, APAC and EMEA, Sense Energy retailer business models have faced extraordinary pressures for over a decade. Even before the war in Ukraine prompted a global crisis in energy markets, retailers were facing a very difficult environment. An inexorable rise in energy costs, together with regulatory intervention and increased customer churn, have eroded retail margins and prompted several exits. Attempts at diversification to adjacent businesses such as home services have often failed because the necessary competencies can be starkly different. At the same time, grid edge intelligence and real-time, appliance-level load disaggregation are generating huge interest in the energy sector. Advances in technology and AI mean that this long heralded technology is now a compelling proposition. Testament to its potential, Sense has recently closed the biggest funding round yet in the sector – a $127m Series C. With millions of next generation smart meters due to roll out with Sense capability in North America, decision makers worldwide are now giving the technology serious consideration for future rollouts. As more than three million Sense-enabled meters begin to roll out in the US, this technology is now coming to Australia, where it can integrate with local smart meters. This is particularly timely, with the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) proposing 100% uptake of smart meters by 2030. Intelligent decisions made today will build an efficient and effective energy monitoring and management system for the future. The benefits to consumers and the energy transition are clear. Sense intelligence represents a powerful tool for reducing both their energy bills and their carbon footprint. It also reduces the overall cost of managing, maintaining, and balancing the energy system. However, the potential to transform retailer business models is what’s seizing the imagination of the industry. So how does Sense intelligence work? Intelligent […]

Rio Tinto seeking applicants for award-winning Graduate Program

Rio Tinto has commenced a recruitment campaign for University graduates from Australia and New Zealand, as it seeks to attract the best and brightest minds across a range of disciplines, including engineering, data science, advanced technology, business and geology. Commencing in early 2024, successful applicants will participate in an award-winning two-year Graduate Development Program designed to prepare graduates to lead, innovate and invent. The company is seeking to recruit approximately 150 Australian and New Zealand-based graduates out of a global program of 300 graduates. Last year, Rio Tinto welcomed 261 graduates globally, with more than half women and 130 based in Australia including 16% Indigenous Australians. During the program, graduates will be inspired by futurists and external thought leaders from creative industries who will seek to spark their imagination and inspire them to tackle problems and create solutions in different ways. Earlier this month, Rio Tinto’s Graduate Development Program won the “Most Popular Mining & Energy Employer” award in Australia’s GradConnection Top 100 Graduate Employer Awards for the second year in a row. Skye Tansley, a Rio Tinto Graduate in Products and Software based in Brisbane, said “I’m proud to be a part of the growing number of women across STEM disciplines. I am excited to be working for Rio Tinto at a time where big changes are going to be made to the way we address our environmental and social responsibilities, and to see the positive effects that these changes are having, both on the business and the wider community. I want a future that I am proud to leave behind.” Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker, said “Our award-winning graduate program provides an excellent launching pad for the next generation of leaders at Rio Tinto. It ensures we have an exceptional pipeline of young talent across our […]

Women breaking down barriers in engineering

Engineering has long been a male-dominated field, but in recent years, women have been breaking down barriers and making significant contributions to the industry. Australian owned and operated Humiscope, who specialise in controlling indoor environments through energy-efficient solutions, is one example of this progress. However, despite the increasing number of women joining the engineering industry, there is still a significant gender gap. According to the latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only 14% of engineers in Australia are women. This is a concerning figure, particularly when compared to the number of women studying engineering at university. In 2020, 22% of bachelor\’s degree students in engineering were women, which suggests that there is a significant drop-off in the number of women pursuing engineering careers after graduation. There are several reasons for this disparity. One factor is the lack of female role models in the industry. When young women don’t see themselves represented in the field, they may be less likely to consider engineering as a career. Another is that many people are unaware of the myriad industries in which engineering can be applied and the diverse avenues that can be undertaken when studying engineering. In celebration of World Engineering Day, Humiscope champions the importance of recognising women in the field of engineering and wants to showcase the three female engineers on its team. Ladan Bage, a mechanical engineer with a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, works on several large projects for Humiscope. Ladan offers practical mechanical designs while always considering a client’s requirements. She specialises in drafting, documentation, mechanical design, reverse engineering, manufacturing, and its supervision. Ladan works closely with Paula Andrea Gil who is a drafts(wo)men, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Drafting and Design and over six years’ hands-on experience. Highly skilled in BIM modelling, Paula […]

Australia’s first beverage carton recycling facility opens in Warragamba, NSW

Packaging waste innovator saveBOARD opened its first recycling facility in Australia this week. Located in Warragamba, Sydney’s southwest, the new $5.5 million facility has the capacity to process up to 4,000 tonnes of materials annually and employ up to 12 local staff to operate the plant. Supported by the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund and the NSW Government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, the facility is the first of its kind in Australia to manufacture construction products entirely from used beverage cartons that would otherwise end up in landfill. This sturdy, lightweight alternative to conventional plasterboard, plywood or particle board is also 100% recyclable. The industry-led project is the first collaboration between Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc in Australia under the umbrella of the Global Recycling Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (GRACE) and is a joint initiative with saveBOARD and its partner Freightways. At the opening ceremony of the facility co-hosted by saveBOARD and Tetra Pak, Paul Charteris, CEO and Co-Founder at saveBOARD, said: “It’s exciting to finally be opening the first saveBOARD facility in Australia, supporting the circular economy to make a real impact to the environment and climate change. This facility will enhance the construction industry’s drive towards more sustainable construction practices, while also showing consumers the importance and value in recycling and opting for recyclable products in their day-to-day lives.” Andrew Pooch, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Australia and New Zealand said: “We’re incredibly proud to be part of this sustainability journey alongside saveBOARD, as we look at even more innovative ways we can convert carton packaging waste into useful applications, and contribute to a strong circular economy. “This is part of our ongoing sustainability commitment, as we look to enable more packaging to become 100 per cent recyclable or reusable, in line with the […]

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