Automation and innovation: Australia needs a "man on the moon" moment

According to Matthew Dulcey of Procentec, Australia needs more than an Innovation Statement; it needs a “man on the moon” moment when it comes to the future of manufacturing. As a nation, we need to set our eyes on, and work towards investing in, automating the operations of both SMEs and other manufacturers, in order to neutralise the cost pressure from Asian manufacturers and allow local companies to remain competitive and continue creating jobs.

The government can support local manufacturing businesses by providing seed funding or tax breaks for investments into automation technology. It can also play a part in educating the public about the goals of automation.

“While there is a certain amount of job loss, the end goal is not to eliminate jobs, but to shift the type of work people are doing to more advanced, knowledge-based work,” Dulcey explained. “This is a gain in the long run, which will make the country and industries more competitive.”

The government can also play an active role by investing seed money to establish a formalised link between universities, which produce R&D and other innovations, and businesses involved in the commercialisation of technologies.

“The innovations that come out of university systems often seed the ideas that feed into what is possible in commercial businesses.” said Dulcey.

Such a model would allow universities to derive revenue from their research, reducing their reliance on government funding. Industry will benefit from opening up new markets by commercialising innovative ideas from academia, leading to increased commercial activity, employment and knowledge.

Matthew Dulcey, global sales manager for Procentec, is a confirmed speaker at the 2016 PROFIBUS & PROFINET Global Forum, to be held on Wednesday 26 May 2016 at the Australian Technology Park, Locomotive Street, Eveleigh, Sydney. For more information on the summit, or to register, click here.