Opinion

Australian food and beverage manufacturers are producing more product variants in shorter runs as customer and retailer requirements continue to change.

Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase—one that extends beyond digital productivity into the physical world.

Several myths and misconceptions about logistics endure, and deserve to be busted as they can de-rail manufacturers’ supply chains.

Smart manufacturing was supposed to be a technology story. A decade of investment in robotics, IoT sensors, predictive maintenance and AI-assisted production has delivered exactly what it promised on the plant floor. What it didn't come with was a plan for the people leading through that transformation.

Deploying unified physical security technology can help manufacturers minimise expensive downtime.

Australia's manufacturing sector is entering a new phase of digital transformation. Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and connected operational technologies are reshaping production environments, helping manufacturers improve productivity, strengthen supply chain resilience, and remain globally competitive. 

Aussie manufacturers have spent the past three years being told that artificial intelligence will upend everything.

If there is one sector that isn’t shy in adopting technology, it’s manufacturing. From building robotics to deploying those same robots on the production line, manufacturing has often led the way when it comes to adopting cutting-edge technology.

Australia's manufacturing sector is entering a new phase.

Manufacturers across Australia are investing in AI, but its value depends on the quality of the operational data behind it. For example, the National AI Centre found that 43 per cent of Australian SMEs had adopted AI between December 2025 and February 2026, yet confidence and trust remain low.