Developments

“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 making every voice heard. Despite progress in gender inclusivity, the underrepresentation of women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields still persists. According to a 2023 report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce. Looking across the world, the MIT reports figures to stand at 24% in the United States, 17% in the European Union, 16% in Japan and 14% in India. Driving the shift While the STEM gender gap remains apparent, there are several factors at play that could bring about better inclusivity. Manufacturing stereotypes are moving away from perceptions of dirty, dangerous environments. As industry embraces digitalisation, the rigid, manual jobs of the past are being replaced by roles centred around innovation, collaboration and problem solving. The growing focus on experimentation, flexibility and hybrid working is making manufacturing a more modern and inclusive place to work for all. Changes brought about by the pandemic have invited a greater sense of flexibility, with an uptake in digital tools further fostering a more inclusive culture. There is also increasing recognition of the benefits of an inclusive workforce. According to a Wall Street Journal report examining diversity and inclusion among S&P 500 companies, “diverse and inclusive cultures are providing companies with a competitive edge over either peers”. What’s more, a pre-pandemic McKinsey report Delivering Through Diversity showed companies in the top quartile of their rankings for successful gender diversity on their executive teams were 21% more likely to have above-average profitability. For ethnic […]

Engineering and Manufacturing Cluster identifies key themes: Collaboration and innovation at the forefront

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 Cluster is working to transform Southland into a united industrial hub for the engineering and manufacturing sector. Dean Addie, Chair of the Southland Engineering and Manufacturing Cluster, underscores the importance of collaboration within the industry, stating, “Our core objective is to ensure sustainable growth in engineering and manufacturing throughout the region. By fostering collaboration among industry players, we showcase the incredible capabilities of our region and empower our regions to bid for large engineering and manufacturing contracts with confidence.” The cluster is an initiative introduced from Just Transitions; a government supported initiative to develop an economic road map for Southland as it navigates the uncertainty of the future of New Zealand Aluminium Smelter. The Cluster has an important role to support local contracting firms to transition from reliance on NZAS business and participate fully in new economic opportunities, while also supporting existing major industries. Brendan Gray, Southland Engineering Cluster Manager, expressed his enthusiasm for supporting the engineering community, saying, “It has been enlightening working with industry, understanding the needs and desires of the engineering and manufacturing community to fully support their transition and growth into a new era of business opportunities.” The cluster’s recent findings highlight a true desire within the industry to collaborate and work together, coupled with an understanding and acceptance of the need to innovate, pivot, or change to foster growth. In an exemplar of collaboration, five key players within the Southland engineering community are joining forces to explore new energy opportunities. They will be attending a symposium next week to delve into collaboration potential and opportunities for the region, further […]

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 […]

Harnessing the Power of Biogas: A Sustainable Opportunity for Industrial Manufacturing

From February issue of NZ Manufacturer -By Insa Errey While renewable energy has been making strides in various sectors, the potential of biogas in revolutionising industrial manufacturing remains largely untapped in New Zealand. This article explores the opportunities and benefits of exploring the opportunities of biogas in industrial processes. Biogas production involves the anaerobic digestion of organic materials such as agricultural residues, food waste, and wastewater. This process utilises microorganisms to degrade the organic material into methane. A byproduct from anaerobic digestion is digestate which can be utilised as biofertilisers. Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Biogas utilisation has multiple advantage in reducing a site’s greenhouse gas emission. First, anaerobic digestion prevents the release of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere. By capturing and utilising methane as biogas, greenhouse gas emissions from waste decomposition can be reduced. Secondly, biogas can be cleaned, known as green gas or biomethane. It can be used directly in on-site as process heat, reducing the need to purchase the required gas for heating from external parties and offering a cleaner alternative with lower carbon emissions. Waste Valorisation: The industrial sector generates substantial amounts of organic waste from processing residues that can end up in landfills or council wastewater treatment facilities. Biogas production provides a valuable solution by converting these waste materials into valuable energy and fertiliser resources. This waste valorisation not only reduces the environmental impact but also promotes a circular economy approach within the manufacturing process. Producing certified biofertiliser can contribute to increasing food production. Cost-Effective Energy Source: Biogas can serve as a cost-effective energy source for industrial manufacturing. By harnessing locally available organic waste, sites can create a steady and reliable source of useable energy, reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Energy Independence: Most manufacturing sites rely heavily on external energy sources, making them […]

Transforming Supply Chain Planning: How to create resilience, efficiency and agility

From February issue of NZ Manufacturer -Chris Foord, Partner, Argon, New Zealand Post Pandemic we are seeing an essential change in how businesses review their supply chain strategy with a focus on integration and forward-looking planning. Advanced Planning Systems (APS) are at the heart of digital transformation when looking to improve operations management. Companies in Australia and New Zealand have traditionally lagged in investment in this area. However, with the market maturing and good options available for small to large organisations, it is worth considering the opportunity. The benefits of implementation that we usually observe are: 20% reduction in working capital 3% reduction in COGS 6% reduction in Logistics costs 10-20% improvement in forecast accuracy Improved customer service What necessitated companies to modify their supply chain planning? The global pandemic has fundamentally altered the landscape of supply chain planning. Prior to the pandemic, supply chains were focused on creating efficiencies based on a just-in-time model, with inventories kept intentionally low. Businesses relied on backwards looking data to evaluate decisions, and adjusted plans on most recent events. However, the global pandemic caused businesses to reconsider this approach, with inventories now seen as a buffer to unexpected disruptions, leading companies to consider moving to a just-in-case model. The result has led to a recalibration of how businesses consider suppliers, capacity, and inventory, with the focus now centred on resilience, efficiency and agility through the supply chain. How are companies refining their strategies and approaches? The key change has been businesses embracing sales and operations planning (S&OP). S&OP is an integrated planning process that aligns demand, supply, and financial planning, and is managed as part of a company’s master planning. Rather than just a supply chain process, embracing S&OP results in planning coming to the forefront of the business as the business planning […]

The year of digital transformation

From February issue of NZ Manufacturer -Adam Sharmer, Senior Partner, Dsifer If 2023 was the year of Generative AI, 2024 looks set to be the year of digital transformation. A recent survey of manufacturers found that 70% of those surveyed planned to increase spending on digital transformation in 2024. This is perhaps no surprise as organisations continue to review their operations to improve production efficiency, optimise supply chain and leverage data and analytics to shift to predictive, rather than reactive planning and improvement disciplines in response to high production costs, supply chain instability, workforce challenges and data security concerns. As industries transition towards Industry 4.0, defining a comprehensive digital manufacturing strategy is crucial, yet 42% still collect most or all of their data using non-digital processes and 63% collect less than half their data using digital processes. Through our engagement with organisations in New Zealand and the UK, we have identified 10 factors that are critical to the success of digital transformation. Clear Business Objectives Before diving into the world of digital manufacturing, it is essential to establish clear business objectives. Whether the goal is to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, or accelerate time-to-market, having a well-defined purpose will guide the entire strategy. Understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of the organisation lays the foundation for a tailored and effective digital manufacturing approach. Data Management and Integration In the digital era, data is the lifeblood of manufacturing. Efficient data management and integration are critical components of a successful strategy. Organisations need to invest in robust systems that can collect, analyse, and leverage data from various sources such as sensors, machines, and enterprise software. This enables real-time decision-making, predictive maintenance, and improved overall visibility into the manufacturing process. Technology Infrastructure Building a strong technology infrastructure is essential for implementing digital manufacturing […]

Small is our Superpower

From February issue of NZ Manufacturer “AMA is committed to working collaboratively towards a system that works smoothly and supports a sustainable, prosperous future.” -Catherine Lye, CEO, Advanced Manufacturing Aotearoa (AMA) New Zealand has a strong manufacturing sector, but it could be better, stronger, more productive. Technology is a key enabler. When it comes to boosting productivity in the manufacturing sector, small is indeed New Zealand’s superpower. Despite New Zealand’s size, our manufacturing & tech sector has capitalised on this characteristic to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. “New Zealand’s small market allows us to develop and market-test in a small scale before scaling up to export to larger markets. Manufacturing onshore means we have more control over quality and our IP, and we support local suppliers, which all helps grow the economy.” Nick Coubray, CEO (New Zealand Advanced Manufacturing Report 2023). Our manufacturing and tech sectors have many great individual players, but we lack the coordination necessary to realise their full potential. New Zealand needs growth. New Zealand needs companies that are going global and internationalising, growing prosperity and potential for all NZ. But we could do better. Through modernising our manufacturing, we can continue to foot it with the best in the world. “Buckleys is embracing Industry 4.0 with its ongoing investment in CNC machines which are bigger, faster, more accurate, and can process more than one job. Continued development with senior operators on their use of digital tools is an ongoing programme, ensuring the investment is fully realised. Additionally, the business has purchased an enterprise resource planning system, enabling better data-driven manufacturing and processing improvements. This digital investment enables Buckley Systems to maintain its growth trajectory.” Arron Sands, CEO. There is opportunity for enhanced production through improving coordination and awareness across manufacturing, tech, agritech, aerospace, and energy. Silos […]

RegenerationHQ Perspective – Unpacking Productivity in New Zealand

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer – A view by John Luxton Productivity has long been a buzzword in political and economic discussions in New Zealand, often presented as a simple solution to complex problems. However, I am deeply unimpressed with people who rattle off the word “productivity” with no more thought behind what it actually means than “woke”. I believe it’s crucial to understand that productivity encompasses far more than what surface-level conversations suggest. Simplistic, bumper-sticker answers do not suffice when it comes to a topic as nuanced and multifaceted as productivity. Understanding Productivity – Productivity, in essence, is about maximising outputs while minimising inputs. It’s a measure of how efficiently resources like labour, capital, and technology are used to generate goods and services. A look at the world’s most productive countries – Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, Singapore, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Hong Kong reveals a variety of approaches to achieving high productivity levels. The USA is in that mix, but with the size and scale of their economy, there is less for us to learn from their example. Myths and Realities – Common rhetoric blames unproductive workers, excessive taxation, and bureaucratic inefficiencies for low productivity levels. However, a closer look at the top productive countries shows a different story. These nations excel in areas like macroeconomic stability, resource utilisation, open trade, and advanced economic structures. Key Factors Driving Productivity – Several factors are critical to driving productivity in a national economy: Macroeconomic Stability – Low inflation and realistic interest rates create a stable environment for business planning. Natural Resources – Efficiently utilised resources significantly contribute to productivity. Open Trade – Free trade enhances productivity through diverse product/service offerings. Economic Structure – Moving away from agriculture toward a more diverse economy. Access to Capital – Essential for business growth and […]

Landmark carbon reduction project powers ahead

From February issue of NZ Manufacturer magazine. www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Around 70% of world’s steel is produced from iron ore reduced in blast furnaces. Most of the remaining 30% is produced by minimills, which recycle scrap steel using electric arc furnaces – a proportion set to grow as companies seek to decarbonise their operations. Work is underway at New Zealand Steel to install an electric arc furnace: a move which will shrink the carbon footprint of its Glenbrook steel mill and place the company at the leading edge of low emissions steelmaking worldwide. As the company gears up to celebrate 60 years since it was founded, this crucial upgrade will secure steelmaking – and the corresponding jobs it supports – in New Zealand for the long term. Announced in May 2023, New Zealand Steel’s electric arc furnace (EAF) project will reduce Glenbrook’s carbon footprint by 800,000 tonnes each year and the country’s total annual emissions by 1% from day one. The carbon reductions – equivalent to taking 300,000 cars off the road permanently – will come from replacing the steel mill’s existing oxygen steelmaking furnace and two of the four coal fuelled kilns. Chief Executive New Zealand and Pacific Islands Robin Davies described the project as “a pragmatic response that not only sustains our critical domestic steel supply, but also provides a collaborative approach with public and private sector players to be world leaders in lower emissions steel.” The company is on track to be producing lower carbon steel as soon as 2026, having continued to hit project milestones such as the completion of a feasibility study, beginning to prepare the site for installation and the signing of new project partnerships since the May 2023 announcement. Already users of technologies such as robotics, automation, wireless sensors to collect real-time data and […]

Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization

by Ed Conway Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. These fundamental materials have created empires, razed civilisations, and fed our ingenuity and greed for thousands of years. Without them, our modern world would not exist, and the battle to control them will determine our future. The fiber-optic cables that weave the World Wide Web, the copper veins of our electric grids, the silicon chips and lithium batteries that power our phones and cars: though it can feel like we now live in a weightless world of information—what Ed Conway calls “the ethereal world”—our twenty-first-century lives are still very much rooted in the material. In fact, we dug more stuff out of the earth in 2017 than in all of human history before 1950. For every ton of fossil fuels, we extract six tons of other materials, from sand to stone to wood to metal. And in Material World, Conway embarks on an epic journey across continents, cultures, and epochs to reveal the underpinnings of modern life on Earth—traveling from the sweltering depths of the deepest mine in Europe to spotless silicon chip factories in Taiwan to the eerie green pools where lithium originates. Material World is a celebration of the humans and the human networks, the miraculous processes and the little-known companies, that combine to turn raw materials into things of wonder. This is the story of human civilisation from an entirely new perspective: the ground up.

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