Manufacturing Tech Australia

Culture isn't a values poster — it's how your team shows up when things get hard. Mike House explains why it's your biggest competitive edge.   In this episode, Mike House, leadership coach and culture strategist, shares what strong manufacturing culture actually looks like in practice — and the mistakes that kill it. We cover: - Why culture is defined by behaviour, not words on a wall - The bigge...

Dennis Savic is building Australia's first high-performance electric motorcycle brand without the supply chains of Europe or Asia — here's how. In this episode, Dennis Savic, founder of Savic Motorcycles, shares the engineering, manufacturing, and commercial challenges of building an EV brand from scratch in Australia. We cover: - The modular electric motorcycle design strategy and what bold perfo...

What does digital transformation really mean for manufacturers? An IT/OT deep dive with the hosts of Unplugged IIoT. In this episode, Ed Fuentes and Phil Seboa from the Unplugged IIoT podcast join Shane and Paul for a cross-podcast conversation on the practical realities of digital transformation in manufacturing. We cover: - Strategies for bridging the IT and OT gap in real-world plant environmen...

Poor data quality, silos, and misaligned metrics are costing manufacturers money. James Deck shows how to fix that. In this episode, James Deck, founder of Clevvi and a digital transformation specialist with over 20 years' experience, shares a practical framework for turning manufacturing data into real business outcomes. We cover: - The most common data mistakes manufacturers make: wrong data, ba...

Australia is uniquely positioned for advanced medical device manufacturing — here's what's driving that advantage. In this episode, Zeno Helm, Managing Director of Schott MiniFab, shares how Australian manufacturers are navigating the fast-growing MedTech sector. We cover: - Why Australia has a structural advantage in advanced medical device manufacturing - How agile design and manufacturing proce...

Brand trust, AI democratisation, and operational stability: a live panel from Industrial Transformation 2025 Sydney. Recorded live at Industrial Transformation 2025, Shane Williams hosts Glen, Sean, and Grant for a practical panel on rapid transformation and sustainable competitiveness in Australian manufacturing. We cover: - Grant's Ignite framework for brand trust and growth in a technology-led...

Robots-as-a-service, right-sized packaging, unified WMS/WES, and AI safety zones — CeMAT 2025 Part 3 floor coverage. Recorded live at CeMAT 2025 in Sydney, Shane speaks with four innovators redefining warehouse logistics and supply chain operations. We cover: - Kent Rogers from Locus Robotics on why robots-as-a-service is the smarter path for scalable warehouse automation - Emily Janssens and Neil...

ERP-driven selling, AI-powered forecasting, and mental health in the supply chain: CeMAT 2025 Part 2 floor coverage. Recorded live at CeMAT 2025 in Sydney, Shane speaks with five innovators shaping the future of manufacturing and supply chain. We cover: - Adam Frank from SugarCRM on how sales teams can finally unlock ERP data for smarter customer engagement - Michael Kemeny from KNAPP on AeroBOT —...

Geopolitical shifts and supply disruptions are reshaping Australian manufacturing supply chains — here are the strategies that work. Recorded live at CeMAT 2025, Shane speaks with Lawrence Christoffelsz and Monique Donaldson, both experienced supply chain strategists, about how manufacturers can build resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world. We cover: - How geopolitical shifts are drivin...

5G, IoT, the Forklift Championships, and two live MTA panels — here's what to expect at CeMAT & Industrial Transformation 2025. Shane Williams speaks with Natalie Green and Mike Nissen from Hannover Fairs Australia to preview CeMAT 2025 and the inaugural Industrial Transformation Australia conference. We cover: - The integration of processing, packaging, and manufacturing automation under one...

In collaboration with CeMAT and Industrial Transformation Australia 2025, we bring you a conversation with the man who coined the term “Industry 4.0”—Professor Henrik von Scheel.  Henrik shares insights from decades of advising Fortune 500s and governments around the world, and lays out the eight evolutionary stages of industrial transformation.  We dig into:  Where Australia sits on the Industry...

Most Australian manufacturers are still at Industry 3.0. John Broadbent explains why — and what leadership and data readiness actually look like. In this episode, John Broadbent, automation and digital transformation expert and Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania, returns to give a clear-eyed assessment of where Australian manufacturing sits on the Industry 4.0 maturity curve. We cover...

Live chat converts significantly better than automated chatbots for manufacturers — here's how to implement it effectively. In this episode, Nelson Bruton, CEO of Interchanges, shares how manufacturing businesses are modernising their sales channels with live chat and human-AI hybrid engagement. We cover: - Why live chat dramatically outperforms automated chatbots for manufacturing lead genera...

From additive manufacturing to MES, OEE, and design-to-ERP integration: AMW 2025 Part 2 covers the digital backbone of Australian manufacturing.    Recorded live at Australian Manufacturing Week 2025, Shane speaks with eight innovators showcasing how software, data, and production tools are helping Australian manufacturers stay competitive. We hear from:  - Matt Schimmelbusch from Emona on the ful...

Cobots, laser marking, workforce diversity, and CNC training simulators — live from Australian Manufacturing Week 2025 Part 1.    Recorded live at AMW 2025, Shane speaks with eight manufacturers and innovators showcasing the automation, workforce, and technology trends shaping Australian industry. We hear from:  - Sam Nothnagel from Automated Solutions Australia on affordable, high-volume machine...

Predictive maintenance, quality control, and ethical AI strategy for Australian manufacturers — straight from Microsoft and HSO.  In this episode, Stacey Lismore from Microsoft and Wesley Nelson from HSO unpack how generative AI, Copilots, and digital twins are being deployed in Australian manufacturing right now. We cover:  - Real-world manufacturing applications of generative AI: predictive main...

Australia's manufacturing skills gap is growing. MISA CEO Sharon Robertson explains the four pillars reshaping how the sector builds its workforce.  In this episode, Sharon Robertson, CEO of the Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance (MISA), shares how the Alliance is helping manufacturers, educators, and the next generation navigate a rapidly changing skills landscape. We cover:  - The four t...

Purpose-built UAVs, military AI, simulation training, and Australian rockets: the best of Avalon Airshow 2025 Part 2.    In this episode, Shane and Paul speak with four standout Australian companies pushing the boundaries of defence, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. We cover:  Andrew Davies from Taz Drone Solutions on purpose-built UAVs designed for dangerous mining, defence, and fire manage...

3D-printed heat exchangers, additive cabin part certification, electrical digital twins, and drone power modules — live from Avalon 2025 Part 1.  Recorded live at the 2025 Avalon Airshow, Shane and Paul speak with four innovators at the cutting edge of aerospace and defence manufacturing. We cover:  - Brian Rajchel from Conflux Technology on 3D-printed heat exchangers that make aerospace systems l...

Australia's global robotics ranking doesn't tell the full story. Sue Keay explains where we're quietly excelling — and what to do about it.  In this episode, Sue Keay, Chair of the Robotics Australia Board and Director of the UNSW AI Institute, shares a clear-eyed view of where Australia sits in global robotics — and where our real competitive strengths lie. We cover:  - Why Australia&...

Key takeaways from the Digital Manufacturing Hub launch at Swinburne, the Avalon Airshow, AMW 2025, and what's coming up next.    Shane and Paul wrap the biggest manufacturing and technology events they've attended recently and preview what's ahead. This episode covers:  - Key insights from the Digital Manufacturing Hub launch at Swinburne University  - Highlights from the 2025 Avalon...

AI and automation are reshaping Lean — but psychological safety and culture still make or break continuous improvement.    In this episode, Mark Graban, Lean expert, author, and host of the My Favorite Mistake podcast, shares how technology is changing the practice of continuous improvement in manufacturing — and what the fundamentals that technology can't replace. We cover:  - The risks of &#...

US tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium, supply chain shocks, and the hidden opportunities in emerging markets — here's what manufacturers need to know.    In this episode, Lawrence Christoffelsz, Director of the Australian Trade Logistics Corporation, unpacks the latest global trade disruptions and their ripple effects on Australian manufacturers. We cover:  - The real impact of US tarif...

From digital twins to collaborative robotics and Industry 5.0: how ARM Hub is helping Australian manufacturers adopt AI without disrupting operations.    In this episode, Jannat Maqbool, Innovation Lead at ARM Hub, shares how Australian manufacturers are navigating the shift from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 — where human expertise and AI-powered technology work in partnership. We cover:  - How co...

BODD's Australian-made 3D scanner captures precise body measurements in 60 seconds — transforming uniform sizing for defence and emergency services.    In this episode, Rob Fisher, CEO and Co-Founder of BODD, and John Lake, Technical Lead, share the engineering and commercial journey behind one of Australia's most innovative manufacturing success stories. We cover:  How BODD's fixed-ar...