New joint research projects under Australia-New Zealand Collaborative Space Program
SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat CRC) announced today the first four new jointly funded space research projects and opened further funding opportunities in partnership with New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The four initial research projects, commencing in August 2024, include research into monitoring methane emissions, enhancing […]
Ten tips to make your business case for sustainability stack up
This information is based on a guide we wrote with the Sustainable Business Council and Kaitiaki Collective. It’s a situation we know many manufacturers face. You want to make your business more sustainable. (Bravo!) You can see the many benefits of manufacturing products that reuse resources, avoid modern slavery and […]
Embracing digital technologies without losing craftsmanship
NZ Manufacturer July 2024 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu Adam Sharman, Senior Partner, Dsifer In an era where digital transformation is reshaping industries across the board, bespoke engineering and machine shops face a unique set of challenges and opportunities. These specialised manufacturers, known for their ability to create […]
Managing Your Online Reputation: Lessons from NZ’s Largest Manufacturers
NZ Manufacturer July 2024 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu In business, first impressions matter. New research by NZ Manufacturer business advisor and Impact PR director Mark Devlin has found many of the country’s manufacturers are failing to manage their online reputation – an oversight that could have repercussions […]
Leadership Development – showing the real return on investment
NZ Manufacturer July 2024 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu David O’Connor, Commercial Manager, The Learning Wave While it is a comparatively easy exercise for businesses to show the Return on Investment on additional plant or machinery, being able to crunch the numbers of the real impact of leadership […]
Productivity is the only game in town!
From July issue NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Ian Walsh, Partner, Argon & Co It is great to see that finally we are talking as a nation about the need to be more productive. Our poor performance in productivity terms is not a new issue or problem, but given the current economic […]
Women Going Places: Breaking barriers: Paving the way for women in tech
Read July issue here: Women Going Places July 2024 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu Isabel Naidoo, Chief People Officer at Wise, New Zealand. Despite progress and international efforts in diversity and inclusion, the technology industry remains a male dominated space. We still see imbalances from graduate intakes, through […]
The Tohu App – how cultural mapping can boost industry growth!
From July issue of NZ Manufacturer magazine www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz By Dr Troy Coyle, HERA CEO Our engineering, construction and manufacturing sectors are struggling to find talent. We need to be far more inclusive so we can unlock the potential of a diverse future workforce and all the benefits they bring to […]
Call for Entries -Master Electricians Excellence Awards 2024
The Electrical Contracting Association of New Zealand (Master Electricians) is putting out the call to its member businesses to enter their best projects and initiatives into the upcoming Master Electricians Excellence Awards 2024. The biennial competition and awards ceremony recognises excellence and achievement of its members within the electrical contracting […]
NZ’s productivity stagnation requires a long-term plan from politicians
– Dennis Wesselbaum, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Otago In the ups and downs of the global economy over the last decade, New Zealand has had one relatively consistent challenge: persistent productivity stagnation. Productivity compares the amount of goods and services produced (output) with the amount of inputs […]
Q & A: Catherine Jones, Chief Executive, Creative HQ
Q: How long have you been CEO at Creative HQ? A: I’ve been at Creative HQ for six-and-a-half years now and in the Chief Executive role for the last four-and-a-half. Being part of an organisation with such a strong track record of impact over the past 20 years is a […]
Schneider Electric Foundation turns 25, calling for projects around the world to apply for support
To mark the 25th anniversary of its foundation, Schneider Electric a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, is launching a global campaign to celebrate both this key milestone and the next generation of young leaders committed to building a fairer, low-carbon-emissions society. Throughout 2024, the foundation […]
Transferable skills the key to unlocking productivity benefits
-David O’Connor, Commercial Manager, The Learning Wave Having had the opportunity to attend a number of industry conferences over the past few weeks and network with a variety of industry players, I can’t help but reflect on the role training plays in the Manufacturing sector. I find myself questioning whether there is a reset needed in order for the industry to see the desired value and outcomes from the training investment. Traditionally, the Manufacturing sector believed that ‘qualifications’ are the currency when it comes to training staff, and while there is a place for qualifications, we need to challenge ourselves on whether we are seeing the outcomes deemed so essential in the current environment through this means of training. The general feeling amongst the industry at the moment is that there is a need to lift productivity, create a more dynamic workforce and work on the softer skills which ultimately create a more engaged and efficient organisation. Unfortunately it’s commonly agreed that the current qualification based training is not hitting the mark. With increasing commentary about the need for NZ Manufacturers to invest and adapt to smart technology it has been encouraging to hear the conversation evolve into the importance of investing and developing in smart human capital as well. We need to start talking about how we create smart people, and in doing so create a NZ wide training approach that prioritises skills development and transferable skills , creating a team who are fully engaged and adequately equipped to meet the evolving demands of today’s work. Focussing on transferable skills in critical areas like leadership and problem solving, rather than task based, role specific skills is the step change the industry needs. Not only will this result in positive productivity and engagement benefits, but will no doubt improve employee […]