Manufacturing Tech Australia

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...

Bosch BAMS helps startups and SMEs take ideas from prototype to scalable production — here's how robotics, digital twins, and design-for-manufacture make it happen.  In this episode, Brad Trewin, Innovation Lead at Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS), walks through how Bosch is empowering Australian startups and SMEs to scale manufacturing capability. We cover:  How BAMS has helped...

No-code robotics programming, Robotics-as-a-Service, and digital work instructions are reshaping what's possible for manufacturing SMEs.  In this episode, Jake Hall, manufacturing automation expert and founder of The Manufacturing Millennial, shares how emerging robotics models and AI-driven tools are lowering the barrier to automation for smaller manufacturers. We cover:  How AI-driven, no-co...

Additive manufacturing is slashing prototype lead times, reducing supply chain dependencies, and enabling new levels of product customisation.  In this episode, Marie Penny from Project Flock and Simon Marriott from Formero share their combined experience helping Australian manufacturers and product developers use 3D printing to move faster and smarter from concept to market. We cover:  How additi...

Australian-made solar panels, modular battery storage, and conveyor systems built for our conditions — live from All-Energy Australia 2024.  Shane reports live from the All-Energy Australia Conference and Waste Management Expo, speaking with leaders of five Aussie companies driving renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing innovation. We cover:  Tindo on manufacturing durable solar panels eng...

ERP projects fail more often than they succeed. Shane Williams, Virtual CTO and author of ClustERPuck, breaks down the 21 critical mistakes — and how to avoid them.  In this episode, Paul Mason turns the mic on co-host Shane Williams to unpack the hard lessons from decades of ERP implementations across Australian manufacturing. We cover:  The most common ERP scoping errors that blow budgets before...

Generative design is not the same as generative AI — and the distinction matters if you want to cut manufacturing costs and optimise complex parts.  In this episode, Mark Davis, former Head of Autodesk Research with a decade of experience in generative design, breaks down how this technology delivers value for both engineers and manufacturing business owners. We cover:  The key differences between...

Three Australian companies are solving problems in metal manufacturing, aerospace testing, and electronics that global supply chains can't easily address.  In this episode, we spotlight three Australian innovators pushing the boundaries of advanced manufacturing. We cover:  Byron Kennedy from SPEE3D on their technology that enables rapid on-site production of metal parts — critical for mining,...

MES is the cornerstone of Industry 4.0 — but most implementations underdeliver. Bob Dedekind from Aspect PT explains how to get it right.  In this episode, Bob Dedekind, CEO of Aspect PT, walks through what a successful Manufacturing Execution System implementation looks like — and why so many fall short. We cover:  Why MES is the critical link between ERP and the shop floor in Industry 4.0 operat...

Neglecting configuration management leads to costly product recalls and reputational damage — Pieter de Koning explains how to avoid them.  In this episode, Pieter de Koning, configuration management specialist, shares why this often-overlooked discipline is critical to protecting product quality and brand reputation in manufacturing. We cover:  What configuration management is and how it originat...