The Productivity Dilemma – don’t wait for the government
John Luxton, RegenerationHQ Right here, right now New Zealand SME owners are well-positioned to boost productivity within their own operations, even amidst broader societal or governmental challenges in addressing productivity issues. This capacity for internal transformation is critical for driving business growth and setting a benchmark for productivity improvement. Embracing […]
Yes, greenwash matters to manufacturers too!
From March issue NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz ‘Greenwashing is a marketing issue. What it’s got to do with manufacturers?’ A lot, actually. Many consumers (wholesale and retail) want to understand the environmental impacts of the products they buy – and every product is manufactured somewhere. So the claims you make about […]
Clearing the Way: Accelerating Industry 4.0 Adoption through Global Benchmarking
From March issue, NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Adam Sharman, Senior Partner, Dsifer Introduction As organisations look for productivity gains, competitive advantages in agility scalability and sustainability, more and more are looking to technology to support, augment or accelerate their operations. A recent report from Westpac identified that, whilst digital tech adoption […]
Engineering and Manufacturing Cluster identifies key themes: Collaboration and innovation at the forefront
From NZ Manufacturer, March 2024 issue. Southland Engineering and Manufacturing Cluster Manager Brendan Gray. The Southland Engineering and Manufacturing Cluster, a pioneering collective dedicated to transforming Southland’s industrial landscape, has identified key themes within the industry, emphasising collaboration and innovation as primary drivers for growth. Led by Brendan Gray, the […]
“Unlocking Potential: The Role of Digital Skills Training in New Zealand’s Manufacturing Industry”
From March issue, NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz -David O’Connor, Commercial Manager, The Learning Wave In the rapidly evolving landscape of global industry, the New Zealand manufacturing sector finds itself at a crucial juncture. As technological advancements redefine traditional paradigms, embracing digital transformation – and upskilling the digital capability of the workforce […]
If we’re all so busy, why isn’t anything getting done?
From MZ Manufacturer magazine, March 2024 Have you ever asked why it’s so difficult to get things done in business today—despite seemingly endless meetings and emails? Why it takes so long to make decisions—and even then not necessarily the right ones? You’re not the first to think there must be a […]
New Zealand manufacturing – Connecting for prosperity
Paul Clark, Industry Economist, Financial Markets, Westpac Institutional Bank It’s no secret that New Zealand’s manufacturing sector is struggling. Sales adjusted for inflation have been in negative territory for a while, while the much-watched PMI suggests that sector very much in the “bust” part of the cycle. And with the […]
International Women’s Day: Breaking barriers: Paving the way for women in tech
“We’re in 2024 and still talking about women in the workplace. The time is ripe for change. Only then will the tech industry truly be able to excel.’ Isabel Naidoo, Chief People Officer at Wise Despite progress and international efforts in diversity and inclusion, the technology industry remains a male […]
International Women’s Day: Emotional intelligence – the secret weapons women are using to drive change in construction
We speak to three women who are shaking up the construction industry with new ways of thinking. When Melissa Campbell visited a major construction project in central Auckland it was a team of female electricians who were the life and soul of the work site. “They were spectacular,” says […]
International Women’s Day Profile: Kate Ricketts, developer of world first biofluorescent nit treatment
This year’s theme: Inspiring Inclusion Kate Ricketts, a Kiwi mother and entrepreneur has created the world’s first biofluorescent nit powder to improve visibility of head lice during treatment, address the stigma associated with the condition and increase access for vulnerable children. The product, which was recognised with a UN Sustainable […]
IWD Profile: Andrea Broughton, Arotec Diagnostics Ltd
Inspiring Inclusion – International Women’s Day – 8 March 2024 What do you do? I am Workstream Leader for native Human derived antigens that we purify at Arotec Diagnostics Ltd. I manage a team of 8 alongside two other workstreams (Animal Derived and Recombinant Antigens). We prepare highly purified proteins […]
“Inspiring inclusion” in the manufacturing industry
The start of our focus on International Women’s Day Helen Blomqvist, President,Sandvik Coromant – International Women’s Day comment. One of IWD’s key missions is to forge inclusive work cultures where womens’ careers thrive and their achievements are celebrated. This year, the campaign centres around inclusion and the importance of […]
Eight tips to get your sustainability strategy pumping in 2024
From February issue, NZ Manufacturer It’s February and you’ve eleven months to make your manufacturing business more sustainable in the year ahead. These eight tips will help you create (or review) your sustainability strategy – and take action. Becoming more sustainable adds value to your business Sustainable businesses are excellent businesses. They create value in the short and long terms. That’s because sustainability is about much more than the environment. It covers every aspect of your business. (See tip 2 below.) Becoming a more sustainable business will help you reduce costs and risk, strengthen relationships with your suppliers, enter markets and grow market share. You’ll attract talented employees and investment, keep onside with your regulator (if you have one) and build links with local communities. That’s a lot of good reasons to act! A strategy focuses your efforts A strategy helps you tackle the right things, in the right order, to make your business more sustainable. While it’s tempting to focus on activities that yield fast, visible results or to do ‘a bit of everything’, you need to prioritise. For example, if you manufacture a product, tackling your packaging may seem a great place to start. But if your packaging accounts for just 5% of your environmental footprint, there are better ways to use your limited resources. A strategy will help you identify them. Tips to create your strategy Make sustainability part of your business strategy – not an ‘add-on’ Weave sustainability into everything you do so that acting sustainably becomes ‘how you do business’. For example, work with your suppliers to source lower carbon materials and identify risks of modern slavery. Redesign your product to reduce the energy you use and the carbon you emit. Train your team to cut waste and look to your local community when you […]