Feature

Addressing structural challenges appears a key focus of this year’s budget, with many initiatives tackling the likes of energy transition, housing affordability, skills shortages, childcare and paid parental leave. But what does the new budget mean for manufacturing?

Australian manufacturing company LUYTEN 3D, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW), has unveiled what they describe as Australia’s first submerged 3D concrete printing system alongside a world-first accelerator-free underwater concrete formulation.

Outdated assumptions and stereotypes surrounding manual labour have meant manufacturing has always been one of the most male-dominated industries in Australia. In 1998, the Australian Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency reported that just 25.9% of its workforce was female.

The coronavirus pandemic forced B2B buyers and sellers to curtail physical efforts. But it also opened a whole new world of business opportunities for those willing to make the radical, digital leap.

Digital transformation technologies are experiencing a gold rush in the manufacturing industry, not just in Australia but beyond. However, amid this surge in cutting-edge tech and automation processes, a fundamental element remains crucial: trust.

Australia’s ability to make more world-class products is one step closer to a resurgence with the House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources last month announcing an inquiry into developing a local advanced manufacturing industry, with submissions closing on 30 March. 

Challenges that plagued the manufacturing industry in 2022 are not showing any signs of slowing down, leaving business leaders with the monumental task of dealing with these issues—or at least their remnants— all while pushing innovation, meeting customer demand, and driving operational growth. 

At the recent HUAWEI CONNECT 2024, Zhang Ping'an, executive director of the Board of Huawei and CEO of Huawei Cloud, emphasised the importance of adopting an "AI-native" mindset for enterprises worldwide.

There are a multitude of challenges currently facing the manufacturing sector in Australia, not least managing an ageing skilled workforce operating on a 24/7 shift basis.

Manufacturing is becoming more innovative in the automotive sector, with advancements such as driverless technology and sustainability, particularly with the growing popularity of electric vehicles.