The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub said it is contributing to efforts in supporting the adoption of artificial intelligence in Australia’s manufacturing sector, in line with the government’s expanded $73.3 billion National AI Capability Plan.
According to ARM Hub, manufacturers stand to benefit from the government’s AI initiatives, but success will depend on how effectively companies can manage and integrate their data.
ARM Hub cited research from MIT and the Wharton School indicating that while 82 per cent of enterprise leaders use generative AI weekly, sectors such as banking and technology report higher returns on investment (83–88 per cent) compared with manufacturing at 75 per cent.
Cori Stewart, ARM Hub CEO and Founder Professor, said that gap reflects the reality of manufacturing operations rather than a lack of interest or capability.
“The technology works fine. But if your data lives in five different places with three different versions of the truth, no AI tool will magically fix that,” Professor Stewart said.
“We see this every day across Australian manufacturing businesses – fragmented data and legacy systems make it harder to unlock AI’s real value.”
The organisation said the National AI Capability Plan will be supported by the government’s AI Adopt Program, which has committed $17 million to four AI Adopt Centres, including ARM Hub.
According to ARM Hub, the centres provide Australian businesses with practical tools, training, and access to experts to support the adoption of AI technologies.
ARM Hub noted its AI Adopt Centre in Brisbane is already demonstrating how structured, accessible data can lead to tangible improvements in manufacturing productivity.
“Businesses often assume AI adoption requires a massive transformation project,” Professor Stewart said during her keynote address at the Gladstone Engineering Alliance Major Industry, Energy & Manufacturing Conference in October.
“Our approach breaks it into manageable steps. Pick one problem that matters to your business. Solve it. Then build from there.”
Professor Stewart said ARM Hub’s model focuses on helping manufacturers become “data ready” before deploying AI tools. The process emphasises quality data organisation, small pilot projects with clear ROI, human involvement, and continuous performance monitoring.
“This approach makes AI achievable for manufacturers who may not have in-house data science teams,” she said.
ARM Hub will be available to speak with business leaders at The Business Show Australia on 6 November at ICC Sydney to discuss practical strategies for AI and data integration in manufacturing.
Since its establishment, ARM Hub said it has worked with more than 300 Australian companies through its Data and AI-as-a-Service platform, manufacturing scale-up support, and targeted accelerator programs.
