Business

Four easy ways to make your office greener

As more businesses choose to go green and be environmentally responsible, the process can seem a little overwhelming given the plethora of greening solutions. Below are four easy ways to go green in the office, and save money and achieve efficiencies in the process. 1.Eliminate the printing of forms We are all too familiar with filling in office forms. Typically, these are often supplied in a paper format, and completed and signed manually before being returned to their point of origin. The process is both time and resource intensive. According to the National Waste Report 2020, prepared for Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment by Blue Environment Pty Ltd, 5.9 Megatonnes of paper and cardboard waste was generated between 2018-2019 in Australia.1 Paper manufacturing leads to deforestation, increased carbon emissions and climate change. The use of paper can also be operationally expensive for firms. Apart from the cost of the paper itself, once the completed paper forms have been processed, they are usually assigned to the inevitable – filing cabinets and storage facilities – which add to operational costs. Software solutions however, can eliminate the need for paper forms and help your office go green. Common software programs such as Microsoft’s Word allow you to quickly and easily create digital forms. Better still, software solutions such as Kofax Power PDF, let you convert the form into a PDF for greater flexibility and collaboration. Power PDF even converts images into fillable PDF forms. Colleagues can then easily access the PDF form to quickly complete details, highlight data, or leave comments. And the software’s inbuilt digital signature capability lets businesses capture signatures electronically. What’s more, the forms can then be filed electronically and also integrated directly into document management systems. This negates the need for filing cabinets and physical storage […]

Using Cloud ERP to mitigate sourcing challenges in procurement

By Paulo De Matos, Chief Product Officer, SYSPRO Manufacturers continue to face challenges like increased demand, enduring labour shortages and rising direct material costs. Buying better is also simply not enough and manufacturers will now need to answer the call for sustainability in ethical sourcing and focus on investing in supplier partnerships and innovation by accelerating the adoption of digital and analytics. Previously procurement strategies were driven by cost-reduction, low-cost sourcing and relied on single-sourced suppliers, with limited risk management. Now manufacturers have had to reset and focus on digitalisation for strategic sourcing to improve operations and ensure profitability. As industries are working towards rebuilding their supply chains to be more robust, collaborative, and accessible, some procurement strategies are likely to include: The diversification of supply chains by collaborating with local suppliers, developing new delivery strategies, and sourcing from multiple vendors Improved systems for automated procurement and traceability to ensure ethical sourcing Focusing on supplier relationship management strategies Here’s how manufacturers can use cloud ERP to manage current sourcing challenges and maintain competitive advantage: Repositioning the supply chain for strategic sourcing Manufacturers are now having to balance the trade-offs around cost versus risk. Is it still best to find the cheapest raw materials by sourcing overseas and accept the heightened risk of non-delivery? Reports also show the cost of shipping increased by 600 percent in 2021 and the impacts in shipping delays and bottlenecks are widespread globally. Manufacturers should consider repositioning their supply bases by shortening their supply chains and consider dual sourcing strategies to mitigate risk. Through a supply chain portal enabled by a cloud ERP system, manufacturers can obtain increased connectivity and visibility across the supply chain, which allows them to identify alternative sources of supply more easily. With cloud ERP, analytics can be used to improve, classify, […]

Young Talented Male and Female Engineers In a Modern Laboratory Discussing Prototype built with the Help of 3D Printer.

RS PRO & Engineers without Borders partner to launch student competition

RS PRO & Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) are running a student competition with a strong focus on environmental, sustainability and social impacts. A call out is being undertaken for university students/groups currently working on engineering projects who want to take their ideas to the next level. RS PRO and Engineers Without Borders Australia are asking these students/groups to enter their concepts into the competition. The prizes are one of five product packs worth $3,000 which includes RS PRO components, tools, and accessories tailored to the project. The five winners will be announced later in the year and entries open early September. The competition criteria include: Socio-technical skills. Sustainable design skills, including the environmental, economic and social impacts. The demonstration of effective communication skills through the design pitch application and outline the teamwork skills of the project. A demonstration of how the fund will help the entrant achieve social, economic, and environmental impacts. Scott Philbrook, Managing Director ANZ for RS, the parent company of RS PRO, says he is looking to support future generations of engineers through programs like this. “The last two years has been a strange and stressful year for the evolution of design and engineering in many sectors,” He said. “The opportunity to submit your concept and potentially be given the tools to build the project is a kick-start for any entrant into 2023. The sustainable and environmental criteria is commensurate with current expectations in the industries applicable to these projects.” Entries are open now and the deadline is Monday 31st October, 11:59pm (AEST). To be eligible you must be aged 18 or over living in Australia & NZ and enrolled in a full or part-time university-level academic, engineering, or technology-related programme. To enter or for more information visit https://au.rs-online.com/web/content/m/rs-pro-student-fund

Australian EV truck manufacturer doubles assembly capacity

Electric truck manufacturer SEA Electric has extended its commitment to the Australian market by doubling the size of its local assembly facility for zero-emission trucks in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong. The company leads the world in terms of a comprehensive range of highly adaptable electric truck options, with its present plant expanding to now cover 8,000m2 on a total site of 15,000m2, giving SEA Electric the capacity to produce eight trucks per day, or up to 2,080 units per annum. Founded in Australia in 2012, SEA Electric released its first electric commercial products in 2017, while last year it launched its new range of medium and heavy-duty electric cab chassis models, distributed and supported by an extensive dealership network. “Australia doesn’t need to search the world to attract EV manufacturers – SEA Electric is proud to be a global leader in commercial eMobility technology, homegrown here in Victoria,” said Tony Fairweather, SEA Electric Founder and CEO. “Since launching our new range last year, we have attracted incredible interest from a wide cross-section of leading companies and government bodies, who seek to improve their environmental sustainability, despite a lack of policy and incentives to fuel growth in the sector on these shores. “The recent change of Federal Government and the subsequent increase in EV activity, has provided SEA Electric with renewed confidence that appropriate policy and incentives maybe close. There are many examples of successful policy in EV progressive countries such as the US that we should simply emulate. “Despite Australian passenger car production wrapping up in 2017, we still have vibrant engineering, development, and manufacturing capabilities, of which we should be proud.” SEA Electric’s existing facility has for the past 12 months enjoyed the benefits of a 100kW rooftop solar array, […]

DIRECTOR-RESEARCH-FOR-ANALYTICS-AND-DATA-MANAGEMENT-LORI-WITZEL-AUS-MN

Manufacturers be prepared: AI will be regulated

By Lori Witzel, Director of Research for Analytics and Data Management at TIBCO. Manufacturers are benefiting significantly from artificial intelligence (AI), which allows for better and quicker analysis of products and processes in addition to automation. The use of AI in manufacturing is now common. Research by the Harris Poll and Google Cloud found that 64% of manufacturers using AI every day and 25% were spending 50% of their IT budget on AI-related projects. Why? AI delivers significant benefits to manufacturers in asset management, predictive maintenance, and anomaly detection, among many use cases, while broadly improving decision-making and providing greater flexibility and agility. As a result, leading manufacturers worldwide are deploying AI, but there are complexities to come. As AI adoption grows, regulation follows. If manufacturers are to continue reaping AI benefits, they must track emerging regulations and align their practices with those in regulatory focus. As you’ll learn, it’s worth the effort. Bringing AI into your manufacturing processes can help you outperform competitors. AI delivers measurable benefits McKinsey & Company undertook an in-depth study of detailed study of manufacturing operations, comparing different organisations’ uses of AI against performance. It found that leading adopters achieved three or four times the impact of average players. In Australia, the metal engineering and fabrication company Sevaan Group is already seeing benefits in the workplace and is realising AI’s enormous potential for metal fabrication and machining, enabling outstanding accuracy and quality for both prototyping and production. For example, AI-enhanced predictive maintenance has reduced machine downtime and improved tracking and data collection for better production planning. Predictive and preventative maintenance is done by analysing large volumes of data gathered from multiple sensors on machinery and factory systems, monitoring temperature, noise, vibration, and other parameters to detect any changes that could be indicative of wear, degraded […]

Unpacking the channel’s role in securing Australia’s utilities

By Bryan Stibbard, Director – Channels and Alliances AN/Z at Palo Alto Networks The recent electricity market wobbles have unveiled a level of fragility among some of Australia’s largest utility operators that have surprised many, but this is nothing compared to the potential problems presented by the cyber threat landscape. Operators of utilities and other critical infrastructure around the world have increasingly been targeted by malicious actors, and Australia is not immune from this trend. As recently as April this year, the cybersecurity authorities of Australia, the US, Canada, New Zealand and the UK advised critical infrastructure organisations to implement immediate measures to protect against Russian state-sponsored and criminal cyber threats as the war in Ukraine raged. Not only have such threats demonstrated the rising role that so-called Industry 4.0 technology is playing in the lives of the country and its people, they have also opened a new door of opportunity for channel partners in the local market. It’s no secret that cyber security has quickly become a big ticket item for channel partners around the country. Over the past two years many managed service providers (MSPs) have found themselves building out managed security services in addition to their core offering in order to meet evolving customer demand in this area. With the emergence of Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution, marked by the incorporation of connected ‘smart’ equipment – even more opportunities are emerging for partners willing to embrace cyber security as a source of growth for their businesses. There are legitimate security challenges resulting from the rise of Industry 4.0 technology in industry. Industry 4.0 businesses are highly automated, digital first businesses. This means any disruption to their digital systems, especially from a cyber incident, can have a material impact to the organisation as a whole. Operational […]

Adelaide smart street furniture manufacturer eyes expansion

An Adelaide engineering company has further plans to tackle the global market with an export-friendly line of smart furniture and modular buildings. Since the COVID-19 lockdown, Specialised Solutions has seen strong demand for its line of off-grid park benches and shelters and its modular buildings. Worker and supply shortages in the building and construction industry and councils zeroing in on renewable energy projects are behind the demand for its cutting-edge products. Brad Riddle, the company’s national business development manager, said Specialised Solutions were now eyeing more opportunities on a global scale. Riddle said the company has distributors in the United States and New Zealand but said there is “strong interest” from European and Middle Eastern markets. “We are working on an export version of our products,” Riddle said. “We’re still working on that, but it will be a little more transportable and more modular. “A number of our products are larger and made of aluminum and steel and so we need to look at transport efficiencies to ensure that we can still be competitive in the international market.” Based out of the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide, South Australia, the company has been manufacturing its Sedi line of smart furniture for the last three years. The original outdoor bench has since spawned bins, bike racks and heaters harnessing their power from the sun. Designed by JPE Design Studio, the furniture is made from steel and sustainable timber and, using a small battery, can provide Wi-FI, lighting and charging ports to people. Riddle said the company saw increased demand for the unique products during the COVID-19 lockdowns. “I think COVID-19 has put a new focus on public spaces and councils are looking for innovative ways to deliver in those spaces, and our products fit within that perfectly,” Riddle said. “We’ve also seen large public […]

NSW Export Award finalists celebrate economic diversity

New South Wales leading exporters from a range of industries are being celebrated as finalists in the 2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards. Interim Investment NSW CEO Katie Knight said the diversity of the finalists showcases the growing number of NSW sectors and businesses expanding internationally. “I’m thrilled to see the rich diversity of exporters showcased in this year’s finalist list. From industrial robotic automation and high-tech medical devices to Australian native botanicals, all these businesses play a key role in contributing to our state’s $82 billion export economy,” Ms Knight said. “Exports support one in five jobs in Australia so it is vital we continue to support our state’s exporters to expand and thrive internationally. The breadth of this year’s finalists demonstrates the unwavering international demand for NSW’s world-class goods and services.” Now in its 60th year, the 2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards are being delivered in partnership with the Export Council of Australia (ECA), recognising businesses across 13 national categories and 4 NSW categories. Chair of the ECA, Dianne Tipping said the Awards have received a significant number of nominations this year across all categories providing the opportunity to recognise the achievements of NSW exporters who have had to respond to on-going challenges associated with trade including global supply chain and logistics issues. “The calibre of entrants for this year’s Awards is outstanding. We are proud to provide a platform for these exporter success stories to be told and celebrated,” Ms Tipping said. One of the finalists in the Regional Exporter category, Lismore based Australian Native Products Company, is the largest grower and exporter of lemon myrtle in the world, and a first-time finalist. General Manager of the Australian Native Products, Ross Norris said being a finalist in the Awards will help boost the company profile and recognise the […]

Scrubber 50 AI-powered robot revolutionising facility cleaning in Australia

SoftBank Robotics Australia has announced Scrubber 50, developed by Gausium Robotics at ISSACleaning & Hygiene Expo in Sydney. Supplied by GERMii Australia, Scrubber 50 is set to address staffing issues and help revitalise the cleaning and facility management industries in Australia. Scrubber 50 is a fully automated AI- powered floor cleaning robot equipped with a large collection of sensors, including 6 cameras (3D/2D) and a LiDAR sensor, for keeping fall prevention and collision detection. It can automatically detect and avoid people, obstacles, and other objects while cleaning, ensuring no disruption to its service or those around it. The Scrubber 50 runs on a large 60Ah lithium-ion battery to ensure high productivity on a single charge. Featuring a fully integrated working station, Scrubber 50 automatically docks itself to charge its batteries and to empty and rinse its tank so that it’s set up ready to go on next use. It also features an environmentally friendly design with four filters mounted inside the robot that can filter collected waste into fresh water to reuse for cleaning. The new robot requires low level maintenance and is easily monitored by operators through an interactive Fleet Management System that records performance and cleaning reports in real time. Lift integration is a new feature that allows zone cleaning so that Scrubber 50 can clean multiple levels of a building autonomously, making it suitable for use in a range of facilities, including commercial facilities, warehouses, offices, supermarkets, hotels, and hospitals.

Mitsubishi Electric to showcase data analytics solutions at Modern Manufacturing Expo

Peter Drucker’s statement that ‘you can’t manage what you can’t measure’ has quickly become the new business mantra. Reliable, accurate information is imperative to the development of a successful business strategy. Yet collecting the data itself is not enough. “If this is our only focus, we can quickly end up in a world of data overload where we have an enormous amount of data but no easy means of interpreting that data into information to achieve our purpose,” explains Meighan Heard, Executive Director, Commercial and Corporate, Mitsubishi Electric Australia. She goes on to say that it’s what an organisation does with data that makes all the difference to management of operations, goal achievement and overall company results. “Steven Rice puts this nicely in the well-known quote: “I believe that data will set you free. At the end of the day, it’s all about how you turn those pieces of information into insights that will improve your business”. Transforming data into actionable business insights This is where analytics software solutions come into play, transforming large volumes of real-time data (such as that from manufacturing or facility operations) into actionable intelligence. The information obtained from these analytical tools can be used to drive improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality and sustainability. “When this is taken to the enterprise level, the information obtained can be applied to solve common business challenges. For example, expert systems and machine learning can be applied to Big Data, leading to visualisation and reporting solutions for energy optimisation, fault detection and diagnostics, predictive maintenance, SPC quality control, and equipment efficiency,” elaborates Meighan. Mitsubishi Electric provides technology, systems and software to enable companies to collect data, analyse that data and drive helpful insights into their operations and activities. At an enterprise level, the products and solutions provided by the company’s bespoke […]

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