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Cloud integration technologies enable manufacturers to navigate global disruptions

By Mark Morley, Director, Strategic Product Marketing at OpenText Manufacturers operate complex production processes which are highly dependent on the timely supply of parts from external suppliers. While the manufacturing sector regularly manages disruption from events such as natural disasters (you only need to go back to earlier this year when bushfires ravaged large parts of Australia), the global spread of Covid-19 has severely impacted material flows and the smooth functioning of production facilities across the globe. It is fair to say that global supply chains are experiencing levels of disruption not seen before. According to a recent report from the Institute for Supply Management, 75 per cent of companies are reporting supply chain disruption. To combat this, manufacturers must look for ways to minimise the impact on operations and improve supply chain resilience. Flexibility Organisations that are best positioned to weather these unforeseen circumstances are those who have embraced the cloud. Cloud-based deployments have become essential to managing costs, resources and risk without sacrificing competitive advantage, product innovation or customer satisfaction. When a manufacturer shifts its data from on-premise to the cloud, it also ensures that all business information can continue to be stored securely and accessed globally. CollaborationThe key to maintaining business continuity also lies within the collaborative relationships between trading partners. Cloud-based platforms can facilitate effective communication between trading partners which is particularly beneficial when a global disruption such as the one we are seeing now occurs. Partners can continue to monitor and supervise the execution of dual sourcing strategies and quickly establish the post-disruption condition of a supply chain, providing a significant competitive advantage. In addition, centralised management of all trading partner contact information provides an opportunity to conduct post-disruption assessment of a manufacturer’s supply chain, which leads to better risk assessment and preventive steps for […]

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3M launches webinar series on abrasives technology

The 3M Abrasives System Division are offering a webinar series to industry professionals providing unique insights into abrasive technology and best practices. This three-part ‘Shop Talk’ series commences Tuesday 21st July 2020 and focuses on how businesses can improve efficiencies by adopting innovativepractices and technologies while enhancing operational safety. 3M abrasive expert Nathan Bamford will guide attendees through a range of topics in the series, with the first session focusing on satin finishes on stainless steel, removing welds and deburring without risk of gouging or rounding corners. The webinar series has been developed to provide professionals with the opportunity to upskill and make smart choices for their businesses in the future. ‘At 3M we are aware of how big an impact COVID-19 has had on the industry locally, so we’re keen to share our knowledge on products and techniques to give local specialists and businesses an edge,’ said 3M Abrasives System Division Marketing Manager, Jonathan Small. ‘We hope that by engaging in our short, on-line learning sessions our customers can find solutions to current issues and learn improved methods to operate which may help with efficiencies and on-site safety in the future.’ To register for the 3M Abrasives Shop Talk Webinar series, please visit go.3m.com/ShopTalk_Webinar_AU 3M Abrasives Technology Webinar Series Session 1: Tuesday July 21st, 2020 12:00pm – 12:30pm EST Agenda ⦁ How to achieve a satin finish on stainless steel ⦁ How to remove a weld and take it to a number 4 finish ⦁ How to deburr without gouging or rounding of the corner plate Session 2: Tuesday August 25th, 2020 12:00pm – 12:30pm EST Agenda ⦁ How to save time on your mild steel processing projects ⦁ How to maximise the life of your belt ⦁ Safer alternatives to wire brushes Session 3: Tuesday September 22nd, 2020 […]

Let’s bring production onshore, but it might not ensure supplies

The pandemic has changed the way we think about supply chains, in particular the chains that feed our need for food, medical supplies, and defence equipment. It has led Prime Minister Scott Morrison to frame access to supplies in terms of economic sovereignty. Andrew Liveris, now an advisor to Morrison, and a former Dow Chemical Chief and advisor to both the Obama and Trump administrations, is pushing for re-shoring of critical supply chains. “Australia drank the free-trade juice and decided that off-shoring was okay,” he is quoted as saying. “Well, that era is gone.” But ensuring supplies can withstand shocks needn’t mean bringing production onshore. It might make it harder. Stockpiling isn’t that useful Firms usually talk about managing supply risk in terms of resilience or robustness. Robustness is the ability to continue supplying during a disruption (for a while we didn’t have this with toilet paper). Resilience is the ability to get supplies back to normal in an acceptable time frame (which we had with toilet paper). For critical supplies, robustness is the most important, but it hard to achieve for entire categories such as “medical equipment”. There, stockpiling is of limited use. The United States has a stockpile of oil, enough to fill half of its car tanks. Canada has a vault of maple syrup, called a “strategic reserve” – about 80,000 barrels worth. But when it comes to stockpiling “medical equipment” we might put a lot of effort into stockpiling ventilators, for example, only to find that the next emergency requires something different, or a different type of ventilator. And it’s hard to stockpile fresh food. We are exposed at choke points Face masks and food illustrate the risks. Half of global facemask production is concentrated in China. China’s factories closed during its lockdown at the time global demand simultaneously soared, resulting in a major shortages. Australia is one […]

If architecture is the canary in the coalmine, the outlook for construction is appalling

-Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Adelaide. Architecture suffers before building does. A survey of more than 450 architecture practices conducted by the Association of Consulting Architects finds that two thirds have lost more than 30% of their revenue, and eight in ten have had projects cancelled or put on hold. Six in ten are relying on JobKeeper. Half have cut pay or working hours. Three in ten have stood down or sacked staff. Only 15% believe they have enough work to see out the year. In total, the survey finds more than A$10 billion of projects have either been cancelled or put on hold, just among those responding to the survey. John Held, the National President of the Association of Consulting Architects says unless there is a more effective stimulus package for construction, the government will need to consider extending JobKeeper beyond its expiry in September to prevent the loss of many normally-viable architectural practices. Without a pipeline of projects, a substantial rise in unemployment across the whole construction sector will result Dr Peter Raisbeck, an expert in the building and construction industry at the University of Melbourne, says two thirds of architects in Australia are small businesses employing less than five people, operating on small profit margins. Widespread insolvencies amongst these vulnerable firms would be catastrophic The design professions – architecture and engineering – are the canary in the coalmine for the wider construction industry. If those professions are in a slump now, construction itself will most probably be in big trouble in three to six months. A window on the future The findings are reinforced by forecasts prepared by the Australian Construction Industry Forum. They show that while engineering construction on projects such as motorways and public transport is likely to hold up reasonably well, residential and non residential construction, […]

Tiwai Point to close

Melbourne : Rio Tinto will start planning for the wind-down of operations and the eventual closure of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) following the conclusion of its strategic review which has shown the business is no longer viable given high energy costs and a challenging outlook for the Aluminum industry. As a result, NZAS has given Meridian Energy notice to terminate the power contract, which will end in August 2021, when the wind-down of operations is expected to complete. The strategic review concluded that the smelter, which has made Rio Tinto an underlying loss of NZ$46m in 2019, is not economically viable due to energy costs that are some of the highest in the industry globally, coupled with a challenging short to medium term aluminum outlook. Extensive discussions with a wide range of interested parties have failed to secure a power contract that will enable the operation to become both competitive and profitable. During the next 14 months, NZAS and Rio Tinto will work closely with partners as detailed planning is undertaken to wind-down operations, and eventually close the smelter. Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios (pictured) said “We recognise the decision to wind-down operations at NZAS will have a significant impact on employees, the community and our customers. “It is not a decision we have made lightly and without significant careful consideration. It is very unfortunate we could not find a solution with our partners to secure a power price reduction aimed at making NZAS a financially viable business. We will therefore terminate the power contract and move to close the operation. “We are committed to working with our partners as we progress through detailed planning towards closure and we will do all we can together with the government to find ways to support the Southland community.” NZAS […]

How Australian firms can embrace lean manufacturing for improved competitiveness

The Covid-19 pandemic has created innumerable challenges for Australian business. However, it may also have created opportunities for some sectors, including the Australian manufacturing sector. Long beleaguered, this sector has the potential to compete more successfully if manufacturers can pivot successfully to new approaches and adapt quickly to changing market conditions, according to Konica Minolta. The Covid-19 crisis has exposed the risks Australia faces due to over-reliance on products from overseas. Australian manufacturers are making less and less of what Australians want and need, and the sector has been in decline since the 1970s. With political and market sentiment turning towards the value of Australian-made goods, now is an ideal time for manufacturing firms to reposition themselves, innovate, and take advantage of any targeted industry strategy embraced by the government. However, to do this, Australian firms will have to overcome one the biggest challenges of all; the relatively high cost of manufacturing in this country. Compared with Australia’s Asian neighbours, local manufacturers must contend with higher costs for energy, labour, and material. This makes it even more important for them to embrace lean manufacturing ideals and find ways to improve efficiencies throughout their processes. Matt Hunter, innovation product manager, Konica Minolta, said, “One of the key trends transforming manufacturing is the requirement for shorter product runs with faster turnaround. Customers are looking for the ability to customise and even individualise products at the same price-point as mass manufacturing. While this may seem impossible, new and emerging technologies are paving the way for this to become a reality.” 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a key technology that is helping manufacturers bring this dream to a reality. Useful in both prototyping and end-use parts, 3D printing can let manufacturers create products very quickly at a very low cost. When […]

Perfect Synergy of planning delicately places 30m crane into vital WA power role

The new Konecranes Turbine Hall crane, with nearly 30m span, had to be installed in a tight space, and was delivered swiftly and safely, with outstanding cooperation between Synergy and Konecranes Western Australia’s largest electricity generator, Synergy, has installed a new Konecranes 50t CXT double-girder Turbine Hall crane at its Kwinana facility as part of a series of upgrades designed to provide ongoing reliable and affordable energy to its customers. As the world’s leading supplier of cranes to the power industry, Konecranes has designed its Turbine Hall cranes to require less maintenance, and perform reliably over a longer life cycle. Made from only the best quality steel, each crane has overload protection and fail-safe operator controls for optimum safety and reliability. Synergy is owned by the Government of Western Australian and is a major retailer of electricity, with more than one million residential, business and industry customers across the State. “We opted to engage with Konecranes due to their history, market share and reputation in the crane manufacturing and service industry. As a Government-owned power generation company, ensuring a competitive quote was key factor in our decision to select Konecranes,” said Mr Steve Owen, Mechanical Engineering Officer, Gas Turbines and Distributed Generation – Asset Support, Synergy. Konecranes’ Turbine Hall cranes are designed to set new benchmarks in safety and performance. “As WA’s leading energy generator and retailer, delivery of reliable, affordable energy is Synergy’s focus, and choosing reliable partners like Konecranes plays a major role in this service,” said Mr Owen. “Other key benefits Konecranes provided us with were local fabrication, a simple construction process and the ability to meet Synergy’s strict guidelines and demanding deadlines for the installation,” he said. “Additionally, due to Konecranes’ geographical proximity to Synergy’s sites, emergency breakdowns can be acted upon with minimal disturbance to […]

Investment in new Yawei sees Jmar expand capabilities and customer base

Shepparton based Jmar Engineering was founded by Mark and Janice Hooper and recently celebrated 25 years in business. Its ongoing success is based on a commitment to providing outstanding customer service, staying abreast of local trends and ongoing diversification. Through its precision turning and milling equipment, Jmar specialises in component manufacturing, repairs and maintenance across a broad range of industries including a considerable amount of ‘reverse engineering’; fabricating components and parts that customers may have previously bought from overseas suppliers, whom in many cases are now defunct or uncontactable due to COVID-19. In addition to component manufacturing, the company has been a supplier to the agricultural industry for almost twenty five years with a unique product called the Christopher Dairy Bails; a retrofit product suitable for herringbone dairies that allows the farmer to feed in the bail at milking time. Jmar have also heavily invested in 3D modeling which has been a great sales tool given they can now provide customers with an accurate representation of the concept design prior to actual full-scale production. Nearly all of Jmar’s business comes from around the Goulburn Valley area within a 50km radius of Shepparton. Expanding its sheetmetal and cutting capabilities with a view to obtaining more local work was what prompted Mark Hooper to originally invest in a fiber laser. “Our original laser proved a huge success in securing us heavier and more voluminous work and expanding our customer base – particularly those companies that had previously sent work to Melbourne or Sydney,” Mr Hooper said. “We ended up becoming a contract cutter and it was this that prompted us to invest in an additional Yawei fiber laser. We were struggling to keep up with the work and we couldn’t afford to let our customers down; this second machine ensured we could […]

First US sale for AI petri dish scanner

The Australian manufacturer of an artificial intelligence instrument to scan the contents of petri dishes has made its first US sale.Andrew SpencePrint articleRepublishNotify me Based in Adelaide, health technology company LBT Innovations told investors it had completed the sale to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. The APAS Independence technology uses an algorithm to detect bacterial colonies and incorporates computer vision to hasten the time required to detect infections in samples from patients. The sale was made by LBT’s 50 per cent joint venture company Clever Culture Systems and follows its first European sale, made to German clinical laboratory Labor Dr Wisplinghoff in October 2019. The APAS instrument is based upon LBT’s intelligent imaging and machine learning software and remains the only US FDA-cleared artificial intelligence technology for automated imaging, analysis and interpretation of culture plates following incubation. In a global first, the technology has been connected to HCMC’s Lab Information System through Data Innovations middleware. Establishing this middleware platform will support future APAS installations with Data Innovations existing customer base. Data Innovations has installations in about 65 per cent of US laboratories. HCMC is a medium-sized clinical lab, processing about 500 specimens a day including 300 urine plates for analysis. Over the past two years it has been operating as a centre of excellence for APAS, supporting the development of new analysis modules. HCMC Director of Microbiology Dr Glen Hansen said the ability to automate the reading of culture plates with APAS had increased lab efficiency and motivated staff. “It has been a real pleasure to work with the teams from LBT and CCS over the past two years,” he said. “Their commitment and excitement towards the technology is obvious and I look forward to continuing the collaboration into the future.” LBT Innovations CEO Brett Barnes said HCMC’s status […]

Waterco buys Automated Pool Products

International water treatment and swimming pool equipment manufacturer and merchant, Waterco Ltd. continues to invest in Australian innovation by acquiring leading distributor of hardware for the domestic pool market, Automated Pool Products Pty Ltd (APP) – home of the iconic Kreepy Krauly. The move bolsters Waterco’s extensive range of filtration, sanitisation and heating equipment while consolidating its position as one of the industry’s last remaining Australian-owned and operated companies. “Purchasing APP, or Autopool as it’s known, is part of our strategy to strengthen Waterco’s market share, especially in Western Australia and Queensland,” explains CEO and Chairman, Soon Sinn Goh. “Autopool’s established brand name, excellent market reputation and digital transformation will enable us to offer comprehensive pool and spa solutions to customers throughout Australia.” General Manager Grant Craig, who will continue working for Autopool, says he’s excited to partner with Waterco. “It is pleasing that Autopool will continue on as normal,” he says. “We will maintain our existing locations and with our existing team of professional staff. It is an exciting time for Autopool to join with Waterco and we look forward to continuing to provide high-quality products and service that we have become known for.”

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