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Solving the tech sector skills shortage – How diversity and inclusion benefit industry and the N Z economy

By David Downs, Chairman of the Hi-Tech Trust New Zealand is in the grips of a major skills shortage with a wide variety of industries struggling to fill key roles. A recent report from NZ Tech (the technology industry group) shows the technology sector has a matched skills shortage of approximately 5,000 jobs in the digital tech space, with similar shortages showing up across the advanced manufacturing sector. Availability of skilled staff regularly features as one of the top growth constraints for New Zealand technology firms. But despite this dire predicament, a large part of our population remains cut off from training and upskilling as they are unable to access, or afford, the training ‘on-ramp’ to the high quality jobs the tech sector can offer. Regional New Zealand, lower socio-economic groups, and in particular, Māori, Pasifika and women are most affected. It’s shocking how few people from these cultural and demographic backgrounds are represented in the tech sector, despite years of handwringing and efforts to address the issue. As well as being socially just, increasing access and diversity is also economically smart. All the evidence shows that talent is evenly distributed across the population – but opportunity is not. We need to address the issues which stop full participation in technology careers and to maximise the talent pool. Imagine if we have our next Ernest Rutherford, Beatrice Tinsley or Peter Beck, living in New Zealand at the moment – but he or she is blocked from ever realising that potential because they can’t afford childcare, or the bus fare. Post-Covid-19 we need access to the widest set of skills we can, to help transform our economy and maximise the country’s potential. To this end the Hi-Tech Trust is putting its weight behind the effort to significantly boost inclusion and diversity, […]

D&H Steel – manufacturing in the construction game

-by Lisa van Beurden D&H Steel Construction is an Auckland-based structural steel contractor with its fingerprints over many of the largest structural steel projects nationwide. For almost 50 years it has led innovation in the steel industry, from being an early adopter of welded beams and on-the-ground erection techniques to, more recently, driving quality management systems in fabrication. The company straddles manufacturing and construction. “While we are a structural steel fabricator for the building industry, we consider ourselves a manufacturing operation as 70 percent of our work is undertaken in our workshop facilities,” says D&H Steel managing director Wayne Carson. Looking ahead at the next 12 months, D&H Steel has a very strong order book, of which some is a function of pent-up demand spilling over from COVID-related lockdowns and slowdowns, says Carson. Beyond that Carson says that there is less certainty but COVID and other market influences have led industry players to focus more on financial sustainability. “The industry is giving greater consideration to risk and making firmer decisions,” says Carson. “We have a more robust market as a result.” COVID has had other impacts. For the last few months, D&H Steel has been very disrupted by the effects of COVID, more than expected, especially around the shipping and supply of product, says Carson. As a result, the company has had to take a more conservative approach to procurement processes. “Just-in-time procurement has been shown to be very high risk across all industries so we’re having to carry higher stock levels, and having to allow for longer lead times to procure job-specific materials. “It means we need to get started on projects earlier than previously, which, in turn, means an earlier commitment from clients to get the procurement process underway.” D&H Steel has retail customers that are accelerating new […]

Waste: The Enemy of World Class

-Ian Walsh, Managing Director, Intent Group Limited Most practitioners of continuous improvement and “lean” thinking will explain the approach to world class as making value flow by eliminating waste and continuously improving processes, practices and systems to support this value. Over the last few months, we’ve been made aware of the impending crisis in the horticultural sector – a crushing volume of produce languishing on the vine (or branch) due to a shortage of pickers. Can you imagine putting all your energy, labour, fertiliser, sprays, pruning and thinning practices over a whole year and then watching helplessly as some, or even worse, most of your crop ending up as just worm food? What an incredible waste, and yet this is what the industry has faced. Clearly, this was not the intention of the orchardists; had they known this would be the case, they would have managed their orchards to reduce the costs, efforts and waste. The problem stemmed from the lack of available labour to pick the crop. When we went into Covid lockdown last year the harvest was nearing or had reached completion. The emerging problem of lack of labour, due to border restrictions on Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers, was highlighted and well documented. Yet in a period of nearly 12 months we were unable to put a process in place to avoid this waste. The assumption appeared to be that there would be enough labour freed up from other sectors to fill the gap. With the unemployment rate climbing, mostly through cuts in the tourism and hospitality industries, surely there would be enough people crying out for any employment opportunity they could get? The reality is this was not the case. Firstly, you’d have to be willing and able to pick fruit. Our nation’s experience over […]

EcoStruxure solution meets Mataura Valley Milk’s requirements

Building the world’s best nutritional business is the ambitious goal that New Zealand dairy company Mataura Valley Milk set out to achieve in August 2016. Now the company’s milk production plant is an impressive accomplishment that comfortably justifies its early ambition. Mataura Valley Milk is now benchmarking innovation and performance for other milk plants. Situated north of Gore at the bottom of the South Island, the state-of-the-art facility was delivered on-time and within budget, an impressive achievement for a greenfield project. “To achieve our goal, we knew that choosing only the best people, partners, and infrastructure was crucial,” says Brent Robinson, Mataura Valley Milk’s Projects Manager. “The success of the project was a consequence of meticulous planning and strategy. We sought out and hired the most skilled staff; we chose construction partners with proven expertise; we purchased best-in-class plant and equipment; and we partnered with industry-leading suppliers and fabricators.” Schneider Electric was one such expert partner that delivered its EcoStruxure solution, tailored to Mataura Valley Milk’s strict requirements for a fully connected and integrated facility with real-time visibility of every process. Connectivity At Mataura Valley Milk’s core is its dedication to customers. “We must have agility around what we produce with no sacrifice of quality. Producing nutritional products is a complex, high reward approach so the plant must be nimble and our expertise unmatched. To confidently make these decisions, visibility and trust in our data is crucial” says Robinson. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Plant solution delivers and provides context to live, real-time data on every process at the plant through AVEVA’s System Platform, Batch Management and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software. In short, Mataura Valley employees receive any data they require immediately and know they can trust it. Goal Mataura Valley Milk wanted to build a business that could quickly tailor production […]

Circular Economy Awards launched in Australia & New Zealand

A new awards program, The Circle Awards, will celebrate and unite the businesses, organisations, projects and people shaping the circular economy in Australia and New Zealand. Established by The World’s Most Rubbish (TWMR) in partnership with NSW Circular, The Bravery, and Urban List, The Circle Awards aims to spotlight products and services adopting circular practices that span all aspects of our day-to-day lives. It also aims to grow awareness of the sustainable options available to more people, not just the ones who are already looking for them. In contrast to our current ‘take-make-waste’ linear model, a circular economy is regenerative by design. It’s about rethinking the entire approach in order to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems. Keeping resources in use for longer, and in a perpetual loop, or circle, reduces environmental impact and protects precious natural resources. Nick Hoskin, Co-Founder of TWMR and The Circle Awards said, “Many consumers and brands are already contributing towards a more circular world, sometimes without realising it. While we’re hearing the term ‘circularity’ or the ‘circular economy’ more than ever, the understanding of what this means, both in theory and practice, is limited.” “The Circle Awards showcases tangible examples of circularity in action, demonstrating to people that we can consume more consciously without compromising on quality, cost or experience. In fact, circular design thinking is behind some of the most interesting products and services on the market as a driving force for innovation. The result can be a far superior experience because every aspect in the process has been carefully considered to deliver the best possible outcome,” explained Nick. Importantly, The Circle Awards is here to recognise and celebrate those making progress in this space, not just those doing it perfectly or on a […]

Revamped 2021 Diversity Awards NZ open for entries

Significant changes to the Diversity Awards NZ for 2021 recognise the increasing maturity in workplace diversity and inclusion programmes in Aotearoa. Entries are now open for this year’s awards and Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Maretha Smit says the programme has a new format and new categories. “Over the past three decades, the conversation about workplace diversity and inclusion has matured to the extent that our collective perspective of excellence has become more refined, with multiple opportunities to showcase innovative approaches in respect of specific dimensions of diversity. “Through an extensive literature review over the past six months, Diversity Works New Zealand has developed a comprehensive framework of the specific organisational factors required to build inclusive workplaces. “We wanted to ensure our awards programme aligned with that framework.” The Diversity Awards NZ, now in their 24th year, offer organisations an opportunity to showcase a variety of innovative people initiatives and publicly commit to being held accountable for tangible progress in building work environments where everybody is safe to bring the best version of themselves. This year there will be four award categories for private and public sector organisations to enter – Leadership Award, Diverse Talent Award, Inclusive Workplace Award and Mātauranga Māori Award. The judges will be able to recognise large organisations with more than 100 employees and small to medium organisations with fewer than 100 employees in each category. All winners in these categories will be eligible for the Supreme Award. In addition, there will be an Impact Award open to private sector and charitable organisations whose core business it is to facilitate the provision of more equitable workplace opportunities. Previous Supreme Winners include the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Vector Limited, the New Zealand Defence Force, Real Journeys, New Zealand Police Winners are chosen by an […]

Digital Boost is just that

Manufacturing in the digital age The manufacturing industry is not often associated with social media, digital marketing or website development. With the introduction of the government’s free Digital Boost online learning tool, we caught up with a small Kiwi manufacturing business that is bucking this trend. Haumoana, Hawkes Bay based Raw Concrete Design says that it has benefited from digital upskilling. The business manufactures a range of concrete products including basins, vanities, tables and unique one-off creations such as bars and benchtops for residential and commercial clients. Owner of Raw, Toby Payton, uses concrete reinforced by fibreglass. This removes the need for conventional steel reinforcement, leading to a lighter, thinner and stronger final product. According to Toby, the use of digital tools has been instrumental in his business success. “It is all about streamlining your business and cutting out clutter to try and make life easier.” Toby has successfully used websites, social media and job tracking software to market his products and keep track of projects. With a background in human resources and no understanding of website development, Toby said he decided to build one himself. “It was a big learning curve. But I now understand the backend of it, which means as things need changing, I am able to edit it myself.” He also put a shop on the website to allow customers to purchase online easily. “The website adds credibility to the business – it was a great feeling when the first product sold.” The Raw website uses Stripe, an online payment platform that allows for quick and secure online payments. To market his products, Toby turned towards social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. While Facebook enables a broad range of content, Instagram is focused on image-heavy, content-rich posts. According to Toby, his social media accounts had a rapid […]

Can you spend your way to world class?

-Ian Walsh, Managing Director, Intent Group Limited I was recently reflecting on a discussion with a company that, like a few at the moment, has seen rapid growth due to increased demand for their products. They reviewed their ability to meet this demand and concluded they need to expand their facilities. This makes sense – interest rates are low, banks are keen to lend, so why not invest in new plant and equipment? Indeed, why not? “Have you optimised your current plant and equipment?” was my response – even if capital is readily available, why spend it if you can meet your needs with what you already have? In my experience many companies don’t know their true process potential or capacity. Obvious moves such as crewing all shifts and running through breaks have not been implemented, let alone proper debottlenecking and flow improvements. These combined efforts can lead to significant increases in throughput (in many cases 2-3 times) and avoid the need for investment altogether. There’s an assumption that by buying new equipment all the problems will go away and a warm rosy glow will shine on the business – this is rarely the case. Not unless you have deeper pockets than your competitors can you outspend them to world class! I think back to discussing equipment with the plant manager of a world class facility in Japan. He explained to me that they hate new equipment, that they know and understand their existing equipment, and with it they are already stable and performing. Their competitive advantage wasn’t in buying new equipment, but instead innovating and operating with their existing equipment better than anyone else. Contrast this with most companies where they assume the first day of new equipment will be the best, and every day after their investment diminishes […]

Food and beverage led economic recovery highlights the importance of Foodtech Packtech show in 2021

Locally and globally the environment, freight, food safety, traceability and security are becoming increasingly relevant to consumers and governments. As people ask where their food came from, food and beverage manufacturers need support and expertise to ensure that they meet the demands of buyers and legislators alike. It is times of intense change where a trade show spanning decades provides vital support to the industry by showcasing new technology, products, solutions and know-how. Meeting industry specialists is essential to helping you innovate and stay relevant through New Product Development and Process Improvement. Running from April 13 to 15 at ASB Showgrounds the co-located Foodtech Packtech and Materials, Handling and Logistics Expo give visitors the opportunity to meet over 200 new and existing suppliers in packaging, ingredients, logistics, machinery, technology and much more. Whether you are looking to take your new plant food solution the rest of the world, launch the family’s secret sauce or ensure that your multimillion-dollar global company is keeping up-to-date, this show will help you achieve your goals. Packed with features the event is a one-stop shop, with two shows key to the food and beverage industry under one roof. You will meet new and existing suppliers, as well as industry experts, and associations, so you can help New Zealand kick start the economy. Seminars With 32 seminars and workshops across three days, you are connected with the experts and answers to your most pressing food processing, manufacturing, packaging, sustainability and distribution questions. Business Growth Hub The show’s Business Growth Hub is supported by the Food Innovation Network, Auckland Unlimited, NZ Food Awards, Callaghan Innovation, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology Inc. You can book a one-on-one session at https://www.foodtechpacktech.co.nz/visitor-information/business-growth-hub/. Digital Lean Introductory Workshop A Digital Lean Introductory Workshop […]

High demand and growth puts pressure on manufacturing sector

The beginning of 2021 is proving a headache for the manufacturing sector and it could be some time before the pain relief kicks in. The cost of sourcing materials, increased demand, and supply issues are some of the areas industry is grappling with, according to Helen Down, Chief Executive of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It’s clear supply issues are continuing to have an impact as manufacturers are unable to source their raw materials in a timely or cost effective manner. With limitations to international travel, we are witnessing a dramatic change in customers buying habits, with people spending their money on home and recreational products. “This puts pressure on businesses who can’t keep up with demand in specific areas,” she said. “A wide range of businesses are finding it extremely time consuming to source raw materials. Some components are simply not available, and won’t be available, for many months, coupled with rapidly rising costs for materials.” Shane Lowe, National Sales Manager of freight forwarding company 360 Logistics, based in Lower Hutt, said they are they facing increased shipping and air costs, and there is a general slowdown at the moment in the ability to move goods. “The southbound rates from Asia continue to hold at peak levels as demand continues to outstrip capacity. “The USA congestion issues over many ports, and the capacity and congestion problems between New Zealand and Australia, are forcing the need to look at different options,” he said. “We are in the middle of the peak export season for New Zealand, and we are finding some route pricing has been pushed up and as a result we are struggling to find space to ship the product.” Shane Lowe said they are also seeing delays from suppliers because the factory supplying finished goods is also […]

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