CEO’s Messages

QMI Solutions CEO’s message - March 2013

Manufacturing requires a significant, genuine commitment

There has been much going on in the manufacturing industry space since my last message.

In February, the Federal Government announced its Plan for Australian Jobs – a $1 billion investment to boost Australian innovation, productivity and competitiveness based on two strategic initiatives:

  • a new Australian Industry Participation Authority to help businesses build internal capabilities and external connections to win work on major projects. To support this initiative the government proposes to enact al legislative framework to require major industrial projects worth $500 million or more to implement plans which give local industry opportunities to win work on a commercial basis
  • an investment of more than $500 million in establishing up to ten Industry Innovation Precincts to stimulate business innovation and growth in areas of Australian competitive advantage

This renewed emphasis on the important link between manufacturing, innovation and jobs is both timely welcome. At the time of writing a Manufacturing Innovation Precinct has been set up in Victoria which will have locations in both Melbourne and Adelaide and another Precinct related to the food sector will also be headquartered in Melbourne.

Given the priority of the plan to encourage greater participation of local suppliers in major projects and the presence of many resource-related projects in Queensland, we are working on linking with the Federal Government’s program to establish a local ‘spoke’ in the Innovation Precinct network hub.
And serendipitously, the Federal Coalition has identified manufacturing as one of the five key pillars of the national economy so as we move closer to the notional September Federal election, we will be looking for more precise detail of their commitment to the manufacturing industry.

It is worth recalling that in the lead-up to the US elections last year, the manufacturing industry gained significant momentum as an enabler for the US economic recovery. President Obama continues to pursue this strategy and is urging Congress to provide over $1 billion to 15 manufacturing hubs across the nation. With manufacturing making up approximately 12% of the economy, the Obama administration recognises that the contribution of this key industry is vital for job creation and flow-on economic benefits.

Also since my last message, QMI Solutions has celebrated an important milestone – the 20th anniversary of its establishment on 5 February. We are going to celebrate this milestone in the way we know best, which is by giving back to industry. We will be releasing 20 White Papers over the year which will tackle some of the key challenges and opportunities for the manufacturing sector. In this vein we have recently released two papers on the topics of Additive Manufacturing and Capability Drivers in Queensland Manufacturing. You can view these White Papers as well as the other activities, including our competition to win a 3D printer, which are all part of our 20th anniversary celebrations at: www.qmisolutions20.com.au.

Additive Manufacturing is a hot topic in industry at present and we conducted a very successful forum on this topic with over 170 attendees in collaboration with Griffith University, CSIRO, the Advanced Manufacturing CRC, Massey University and Materialise Europe. The technology is not only being taken up by the manufacturing industry but is also being used in medical applications and by designers and artists from various backgrounds.

Other upcoming White Paper topics include; Business Model Innovation, the Key for High Performing Workplaces and the Path to Sustainability. You can keep up to date with the release of our White Papers by subscribing to our email newsletter here.


David Harrison
QMI Solutions CEO

 

Archives:

CEO’s message – January 2013: QMI Solutions achievements
CEO’s message – September 2012: Why we do what we do
CEO’s message – June 2012: Manufacturing competitivenness
CEO’s message – March 2012: Future of manufacturing