Australian industrial machinery manufacturers have sharply reduced their inventory levels as businesses respond to uncertain demand, rising costs and pressure to manage working capital, according to new data from Unleashed.

Australian manufacturers should focus on identifying and strengthening the parts of their supply chains most capable of disrupting production and revenue, according to Proxima Australia.

Australian manufacturers need clearer procurement signals, long-term policy certainty and targeted investment if the Federal Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda is to translate into tangible outcomes, according to GME Group Marketing Manager Tony Crooke.

As manufacturers look to extend artificial intelligence beyond data analysis and into physical operations, the focus is increasingly shifting towards systems that can sense, interpret and respond to conditions on the factory floor.

APS Industrial (APS) is expanding its regional presence through the acquisition of Albury-based Control Technologies, a move the industrial products supplier said will strengthen its local service capability and support further investment in warehousing, stockholding and technical support.