Technology

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia saw an increase in the sales of recreational vehicles following the implementation of travel bans. This surge put a significant strain on the manufacturing, sales and customer service processes of Jayco Corporation, the largest manufacturer of RVs in Australia.

The construction industry has undergone significant transformation over the past twenty years. Speedpanel, a leading Australian manufacturer of lightweight, fire-rated, and acoustic wall systems, made a groundbreaking entrance in the early '90s, revolutionising the Australian construction landscape.

For business leaders in the Australian manufacturing industry, digital transformation is not just a buzzword—it is a necessity to stay ahead and maintain a competitive edge in operational efficiency. 

Manufacturers are responding to the low-growth environment by focusing on digitisation, ESG and portfolio reshaping, transforming into more digital, resilient, and sustainable organisations.

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.

The manufacturing sector outlook for 2024 remains cautious amidst several challenges. Fiscal tightening, inflation, and geopolitical instability could undermine growth in 2024, and if favourable economic trends start to unwind, the risk of a downturn looms large.  

The manufacturing and distribution sectors have traditionally been slow to adopt business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, but this drastically changed in the wake of the pandemic. 

As the digital realm becomes the centre of transformation in the manufacturing industry, business leaders are increasingly exploring emerging technology and investing in digital solutions, such as e-commerce, to bolster their own growth efforts. 

Aerospace company Sidus Space has recognised additive manufacturing’s capability as a highly effective tool to optimise weight in systems designed to reach space, with the development of a 3D-printed satellite set to launch in 2023.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has enjoyed a steady rise in popularity across almost every industry since its formal inception in the mid-twentieth century.