Smart Manufacturing

Q & A:Craig Charlton, CEO, SugarCRM

How are you finding current business conditions? The lockdowns across Australia may have stunted the growth of the manufacturing industry, but manufacturers have also pivoted their businesses to ride out the challenging environment. They have also responded to rapid change by shortening their supply chain, placing emphasis on JIT (Just In Time), and creating value for their customers. In general, the pandemic has fundamentally changed how we work and live, and has driven accelerated adoption of digital channels, such as eCommerce and social commerce, across multiple industries. In fact, in the most recent report from Essence Global, 71 percent of Australian consumers surveyed are highly likely to buy from social channels in future and 50 percent have already participated in live shopping and conversational commerce. At SugarCRM, we see more effort from our customers in making the (personalised) customer experience their mandate. CRM is now businesses’ primary source of customer data and information; they can manage their goals, workflows, and processes, as well as continuous communications with customers no matter where they are. With the rise of the digital economy, sales, marketing, and service teams are swimming in copious amounts of customer data to interpret and inform personalised, empathic communications. They need capabilities to help them sift through and find customer insights through that data. Capabilities such as AI-driven sentiment analysis are supercharging CRM functions such as sales, marketing, and service interactions with the insight into each customer’s and prospect’s emotional state and intent. And these AI-driven solutions are doing so seamlessly in the background, sifting through massive data sets across customer channels to help teams on the customer front lines identify the next-best actions and opportunities. More businesses are also starting to understand the criticality of sales and marketing to be in lock-step to win business and support growth. […]

How the budget can deliver economic recovery and cleaner, secure energy

Australia’s oil and gas industry has urged the Federal Government to use the 2022-23 Budget to encourage continued investment in secure, cleaner energy. In a plan to bolster the investment environment, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) said development of both the natural gas industry and new technology could drive economic recovery, create jobs and reduce emissions. APPEA’s 2022-23 Federal Budget submission, released today, calls for economy-wide investment allowances for large projects and new technology initiatives cutting carbon emissions; the immediate deductibility of wages and salaries; as well as the removal of barriers to oil and gas project restructuring. The blueprint also includes expanding the Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive (JMEI) for junior oil and gas explorers to secure additional local supply for the future. New net zero initiatives include amending the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to allow for reservoir testing for the examination of CCUS use as well as supporting carbon capture opportunities through acreage releases.  APPEA Chief Executive Officer Andrew McConville said the industry was key to securing Australia’s competitive advantage through its work ensuring energy supply and decarbonising for a cleaner energy future. “This is a plan that delivers cleaner, secure energy supplies while lifting us out of the tough times of the pandemic,” he said. “Australia and its government have a massive, once-in-a-generation opportunity to make policy decisions to provide foundations for the future growth of our economy. “A recent Ernst & Young report found national economic output could rise over $350 billion and create over 220,000 jobs in the next 20 years – but only if the settings are right. “And, of course, our industry will continue to deliver taxation revenue that helps to build the nation’s roads, schools and hospitals.” The full suite of APPEA recommendations to be […]

Panel Building: Everything you need to build and maintain your panel

RS PRO are experts in Industrial Control Panels. And for good reason. They are the control centre of countless industrial operations, and without them production stands still. This guide gives buyers, and experts alike, a quick guide to the ins and outs of control panels. Where to start? Panels are effectively the brains, containing the components necessary to control and manage devices, electrical systems, production plants and industrial machines. They function as the interface point between the machine operator and the production line, and transmit acoustic, visual, and video signals to ensure constant monitoring. The operator input commands can be completely digital (touch screen panel) or physical (buttons, switches) while the output signals (machine side) are sound and visual alarms, and video responses on how the plant is working. From the outside The meters on the outside serve as an interface with a machine-operator and employee. They display energy, temperature, counters, and voltmeters. The ammeters show the numerical values that the panel commands and switch to intervene on the machinery. This can turn the machinery on and off and use sounders & beacons to signal possible problems. The human touch RS PRO now boasts a human-machine interface (HMI) for the first time in its range. A user-friendly and interactive touchscreen panel displays the plant graphically, enabling users to operate and evaluate functionality via the software. The graphic interface can be programmed, and reprogrammed for different functions and in the case of modifications to the plant. Inside the Box A panel cannot exist without an enclosure containing all its components. Known as a wall box even if it does not hang exclusively on walls. The DIN Rail components contain everything from power supplies and contactors, relays, terminal blocks and Ethernet switches, to timer relays and axial fans. Connected by cables & […]

Gold Coast industrial designer customises wheelchairs to improve lives

Customised wheelchairs and mobility products that were once only available to elite athletes are becoming more accessible to people with disabilities with increased awareness accelerating a growing market, according to wheelchair basketball star Matt McShane. McShane, the Gold Coast-based operator of Proactive Mobility, said the trend was helping change lives. He has combined his industrial design qualifications from Griffith University on the Gold Coast with his lived experience as a person with a disability to create the business. “I help people get fitted in the right chairs and equipment. It’s an enjoyable thing, as I have first-hand experience of how a sports chair can really change a person’s life,” McShane said. McShane is in training with the Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The four-time Paralympic medallists finished fifth at Tokyo last year and have vowed to be back among the medals in Paris. McShane said the combination of tennis star and disability advocate Dylan Alcott being named as 2022 Australian of the Year, and the increased interest in Australia’s Paralympic success was helping drive disability awareness. “Any awareness is good, and it is certainly getting much better,” McShane said. “Technology has also caught up a bit and everyone can have some sort of access to this cool equipment now, not just necessarily the top tier athletes. The same chair that I take to the Paralympic games, you can use at a social level.” McShane said mobility equipment could have a major impact on quality of life for a person with a disability. “When I first got into a chair you were handcuffed to a few different brands and different suppliers,” he said. “People now have more options to choose. With disability, everyone is slightly different as no two injuries are the same. “Customisation is […]

AMW 2022 – Where technology meets innovation

Preparations are well underway for the inaugural Australian Manufacturing Week exhibition, taking place in Sydney in June 2022. Owned and operated by AMTIL, AMW is Australia’s premier manufacturing solutions event. Under the theme ‘Where technology meets innovation’, AMW 2022 will take place at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) in Darling Harbour from 7-10 June 2022. “We’re getting very excited about the way the work on AMW has been going,” says Kim Banks, Head of Events at AMTIL. “The response from industry has been incredibly positive, with the exhibition space already fully booked apart from a handful of stands. This is a really big, important new venture for AMTIL, so we’re really thrilled with the enthusiasm for it that we’ve seen out there.” AMW will occupy more than 9,000 square metres of exhibition space at the ICC Sydney, with more than 140 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes and support services. Six dedicated zones will cover a range of specialised aspects of the modern manufacturing landscape: Additive Manufacturing. Australian Manufacturers Pavillion. Machine Tools & Ancillary Equipment. Manufacturing Solutions. Robotics & Automation. Weld Solutions. While AMW is a brand new event, AMTIL can bring plenty of experience in staging industry exhibitions to ensure the 2022 show will be a success. Since 2000, AMTIL has operated Austech, Australia’s premier advanced manufacturing and machine tool exhibition. The last Austech exhibition – held in Melbourne in May 2019 – was attended by industry professionals from across Australia and around the world, with more than 170 organisations showcasing state-of-the-art manufacturing hardware, software and support services. Going forward, Austech has now been incorporated into AMW, an exhibition encompassing all aspects of the manufacturing industry in Australia. AMTIL took the decision to launch AMW after Reed Exhibitions announced in mid-2020 that it […]

ERP delivers tangible ROI to CEOs of manufacturing and distribution companies

By Jaco Maritz, Chief Operating Officer, SYSPRO As the world continues to adapt, manufacturers and distributors have had to cope with new complexities of doing business. Driven by emerging customer preferences and demanding supplier requirements, the industry has had to shift gear rapidly to enable it to prosper. Customers have become increasingly drawn to eCommerce platforms as global lockdowns opened the opportunity for new digital channels. And while supply chain disruptions impacted business operations, it also opened the door for a new competitive market underpinned by the expansion of product ranges, and the rise of techniques such as additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies. As a result, CEOs have had to think about new routes to market, new products and even new processes altogether. Within this zeitgeist, manufacturing and distribution leaders still have three crucial business priorities top of mind. The business must cut costs while remaining globally competitive, organisational efficiency needs to be improved, and ongoing risks need to be reduced. Many businesses have looked at the benefits of digitalisation in addressing these priorities. ERP has been shown to improve operational efficiency, productivity, and time to value, but there ae still businesses that remain hesitant in making the investment. The key is to understand what sort of ROI ERP brings to the business. Using ERP to gain competitive advantage According to recent SYSPRO research, 29% of businesses felt that their business systems did not provide them with the availability and accessibility to manage the changes that the pandemic introduced. Many businesses still relied heavily on manual processes and spreadsheets. Those who had real time access to data could connect directly with customers and suppliers and address immediate needs and build their business. Real-time access to data is a central factor for manufacturing and distribution businesses to remain competitive. […]

Registrations for AUSPACK 2022 now open

Registrations for AUSPACK 2022, the southern hemisphere’s leading processing and packaging trade event, are now open. The globally recognised, long-running biennial event, which is part of Packaging and Processing Week, is heading back to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 17-20 May, 2022. It brings expanded business sessions and improved online searchable directories to enhance visitors’ ability to tailor and plan their visit. Mark Dingley, Chairman of the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA), which owns AUSPACK, said, “AUSPACK 2022 will showcase a host of global mega trends in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing and packaging industries. “As the first industry expo since 2019, it will be the perfect place for people across the packaging and processing sectors to find solutions to increase efficiencies across their business.” This year, more than 250 suppliers representing hundreds of global brands will be on the show floor, offering visitors solutions that address a range of industry trends and themes. AUSPACK 2022 will allow attendees to see first hand, products that offer enhanced safety, security, automation and cost-saving benefits. The AUSPACK Leaders Forum, from 18-19 May, will offer business owners the opportunity to benchmark as an organisation of the future, gain knowledge and inspiration, and network with like-minded, forward-thinking leaders. Key themes include: future supply chain adapting and diversifying for commercial success future technology sustainability and the circular economy investment and collaboration future workforce The expanded Solutions Theatres at AUSPACK 2022 will give visitors in-depth overviews of technology, solutions and strategies, with sessions covering: supply chain and procurement education preventative maintenance materials and packaging design network security the circular economy the future of manufacturing and warehousing … and more The exhibition floor will also feature an array of new zones: IT & Services, Processing Equipment, Packaging and Packaging Materials, and Packaging […]

Overcoming the security challenges of Industry 4.0

Lani Refiti, ANZ Regional Director at Claroty The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted every industry in very different ways. The need to maximise remote working has been universal, but certain industries have seen demand for their products and services surge; while for others, demand has diminished to virtually zero in some cases. Manufacturers with heavily digitised and sophisticated operations were well-placed to manage both the transition to remote working and the demand fluctuation for their products and services. They were able to rapidly pivot from in-person to remote working, and to spin up production of high-demand goods such as hand sanitisers, personal protection equipment and ventilators. Meanwhile, manufacturers with less sophisticated operations found themselves scrambling to react. The technological capabilities that enabled manufacturers to successfully adapt their operations during Covid-19 can be summed up in one phrase: Industry 4.0, the next generation of manufacturing technology. The concept was conceived in Germany as Industrie 4.0 and made its debut at the 2011 Hannover Fair. It has come a long way since then and means different things in different countries. The Australian Government says, “Industry 4.0 is transforming how businesses operate by connecting the physical with the digital world.” It gives as examples, “Artificial intelligence, advanced automation and robotics.” Industry 4.0 embraces machine-to-machine communication, human-to-machine communication and the idea of a connected ecosystem that links customers, supply chains and production facilities. It enables real-time communication to ensure smooth operation of supply chains, the tailoring of supply to meet demand and, in more advanced versions, the concept of direct control of production according to demand. Industry 4.0 has increased manufacturers’ flexibility, competitiveness and their ability to exploit new market opportunities. Industry 4.0: where IT meets OT However, there is a major hurdle to realising the vision of Industry 4.0, one that manufacturers have struggled […]

Rio Tinto purchases first battery-electric trains for the Pilbara

Rio Tinto has agreed to purchase four battery-electric trains for use in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as part of the company’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. Rio Tinto purchased the four 7MWh FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives from Wabtec Corporation with production due to commence in the United States in 2023 ahead of initial trials in the Pilbara in early 2024. The locomotives, used to carry ore from the company’s mines to its ports, will be recharged at purpose-built charging stations at the port or mine. They will also be capable of generating additional energy while in transit through a regenerative braking system which takes energy from the train and uses it to recharge the onboard batteries. A full transition to net zero emissions technology of its entire fleet of rail locomotives would reduce Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s diesel-related carbon emissions in the Pilbara by around 30 per cent annually. Rio Tinto Managing Director of Port, Rail and Core Services Richard Cohen said delivery of the prototype locomotives will be an important early step for the company on the path toward a decarbonised Pilbara. “Our partnership with Wabtec is an investment in innovation and an acknowledgement of the need to increase the pace of our decarbonisation efforts. “Battery-electric locomotives offer significant potential for emissions reduction in the near term as we seek to reduce our Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions in the Pilbara by 50 per cent by 2030.” Rogerio Mendonca, President of Freight Equipment for Wabtec, said the FLXdrive is ideally suited to support Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation targets. “This locomotive provides the power, fuel savings and emissions reductions to cost-effectively run rail networks in the mining industry. The rapid adoption of the FLXdrive by Rio Tinto and other mining operators demonstrates […]

Why manufacturing needs a new approach to cybersecurity

Article by Robert Nobilo, Regional Director ANZ at Virsec Cyber-attacks continue to be an increasing concern for every industry. But recently they’re becoming a bigger issue for the manufacturing industry than most others. Cyber criminals frequently target manufacturing operations for their ransomware attacks. According to PwC’s Cyber Threats 2020: A Year in Retrospect report, the manufacturing sector and retail sectors shared the dubious honour of being the industries most targeted by ransomware: each accounted for 17 per cent of the total, well ahead of the second sector, technology, media and telecommunications with 10 per cent. The PwC report detailed one ransomware attack on a multinational manufacturer based in New Zealand; “The attack saw the vast majority of its systems encrypted and rendered inoperable, breaking its supply chain, halting global manufacturing and distribution, and putting its banking covenants at risk.” Another manufacturer hit by a cyber attack was local brewer Lion Australia, which also produces dairy products. In June 2020, it was hit by two ransomware attacks within 10 days, forcing it to halt beer production. The attackers were reported to be demanding a payment in excess of $AUD 1 million. Earlier this year, JBS USA Holdings, the world’s largest meat company, was hit by a ransomware attack and, as a result, paid a $11 million ransom. JBS Australia, Australia’s largest meat and food processing company, was disrupted by this attack and forced to close 47 meat processing plants in Australia. With these and other successful attacks, manufacturing will continue to be a high value target of ransomware gangs. The costly impact of ransomware on manufacturing The manufacturing sector is particularly sensitive to the impacts of ransomware and other cyber-attacks on two counts. Firstly, any disruption of day-to-day operations would likely leave a manufacturer unable to meet production demands, resulting […]

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