Manufacturing Tech Australia

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...

Swisslog AMRs, ECI ERP strategies, and Zebra RFID for smarter warehouse operations: CeMAT 2024 Part 2 floor coverage.  Recorded live at CeMAT 2024, Shane speaks with three industry leaders showcasing the latest in warehouse automation and supply chain technology. We cover:  Sean Ledbury from Swisslog on their autonomous mobile robots and high-bay storage solutions for scalable warehouse operations...

Three Australian businesses innovating in the EV space — from right-hand drive conversions to purpose-built towbars and world-class solar racing.  Recorded live at the 2024 Electric SUV Expo, Shane speaks with three pioneering Aussie EV innovators who are solving the problems the big brands haven't addressed. We cover:  Alan Brady from AusEV on the engineering challenge of converting the Ford...

Automation trends, AI in warehousing, and cyber risks in supply chain: live from CeMAT 2024 Day 3 Knowledge Theatre.  Recorded live from the CeMAT 2024 Knowledge Theatre, Shane hosts a panel of three warehouse automation experts covering the current state and near future of robotics and AI in supply chain operations. Featuring:  Sean Hewitt from Tompkins Robotics on current automation trends and t...

ShelfBot, voice picking, VR integration, and smart conveyor systems — CeMAT 2024 Part 1 floor coverage from Melbourne.  Recorded live at CeMAT 2024 in Melbourne, Shane covers the latest in logistics and supply chain automation technology. We hear from:  - Rob O'Dea from ShelfBot on the design and functionality of their simple, efficient warehouse automation system  - Michelle from Farag on inn...

Generative AI, automation, and IT/OT convergence are reshaping supply chain operations across Asia Pacific — here's what the experts are seeing.  Recorded live from the CeMAT 2024 Knowledge Theatre, Shane hosts a panel of three supply chain and intralogistics experts. Featuring:  - Peter Jones, Founder of ProLogical, on optimising supply chain operations and the critical role of data accuracy ...

Rising material and labour costs are eroding manufacturing margins. Matthew Smith shares the cost management strategies that actually work.  In this episode, Matthew Smith, cost accountant with global manufacturing experience, walks through the practical strategies manufacturers can use to protect margins in an inflationary environment. We cover:  - Proven cost management frameworks for manufactur...

Engineering talent is ageing out and increasingly hard to replace. Here's how Australian manufacturers and educators are responding.  In this episode, an experienced manufacturing industry leader shares insights on the talent shortage challenge facing the engineering sector — and the initiatives, technologies, and mindset shifts that can reverse it. We cover:  - How engineering roles and expec...

Engaging manufacturers early in product design unlocks cost efficiencies and innovation that most product developers leave on the table.  In this episode, Sergei and Christian from Outerspace Design share real-world examples of how design-for-manufacture thinking leads to better, more commercially successful products. We cover:  - Why bringing manufacturers into the design process early is the sin...

Digital twins improve energy efficiency, streamline processes, and preserve operational knowledge — here's how to implement them in manufacturing.  In this episode, Stephen Witherden, Digital Innovation Lead at BECA, shares real-world applications of digital twin technology in manufacturing — and practical advice on where to start. We cover:  - What a digital twin actually is in a manufacturin...

Robotics is filling workforce gaps across Australian industries — from agriculture to aged care and manufacturing. Nicci Rossouw maps the opportunity.  In this episode, Nicci Rossouw, CEO of Robotics Australia Group, shares how robotics technology is transforming operations across a wider range of Australian industries than most manufacturers realise. We cover:  - How robotics is addressing workfo...

 manufacturing cyberattack cost one company months of downtime and significant losses. Robert Morrow shows how SMEs can defend themselves affordably.  In this episode, Robert Morrow, Head of Cybersecurity at Zynet, breaks down the specific cybersecurity risks facing Australian manufacturers — and why SMEs can no longer afford to treat it as someone else's problem. We cover:  - A real-world cas...

Autonomous tractors, IoT sensors, AI livestock monitoring, and drone crop management: live from FutureAg 2024.  Shane tours FutureAg 2024, exploring the latest AgTech innovations being adopted across Australian agriculture and farming operations. We cover:  - Robust controllers and displays engineered for harsh Australian farming environments  - Autonomous tractors and precision agriculture soluti...

What if you started product design with the recycled material, not the end spec? Jack Fitzgerald explains how this thinking unlocks sustainable manufacturing innovation.  In this episode, ⁠Jack Fitzgerald⁠ , CTO at Think Fencing, shares his 'reverse blueprint' framework for product development — an approach that starts with understanding what recycled materials can do, rather than trying t...

Sustainable packaging, digital printing, product traceability, and SICK's Industry 4.0 tools — live from APPEX 2024 Part 2.  Recorded live at APPEX 2024, Shane showcases six innovators reshaping the processing and packaging landscape. We cover:  Signet on sustainable packaging solutions that balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility  Foodmac on integrated production line...

ABB cobots, Matthews Australasia's iDSNet no-code platform, and Insignia's labelling automation: APPEX 2024 Part 1 floor coverage.  Recorded live at APPEX 2024, Shane speaks with three innovators showcasing how automation and digital tools are transforming manufacturing and packaging. We cover:  - Peter Bradbury from ABB Robotics on the evolving roles of industrial robots and cobots on the...

Eco-friendly automation is cutting energy consumption and boosting efficiency for Australian manufacturers — ⁠Mike Banda⁠ from ⁠Beckhoff⁠ explains how.  In this episode, Mike Banda, Technical Sales Manager at Beckhoff Automation, shares how manufacturers are integrating sustainable automation technologies to reduce energy use and improve operational efficiency without sacrificing performance. We c...