Smart Manufacturing Conference 2023

Theme: Connected, Automated and Digital Transformation

What’s next for manufacturers?

How can manufacturers transform and gain a competitive edge in such a dynamic and changing environment?

The future of manufacturing is about being connected, automated and digital Transformation.

The time to take the next step into the future of manufacturing is now!

Become a smart manufacturer and make sure to attend for essential insights into creating your digital transformation strategy.

Join us at this year’s Smart Manufacturing Conference to see, hear and learn new models, technologies, case studies and how the latest advancements can now be harnessed to power up your manufacturing excellence.

Take a peek at what last year’s conference looked like, and who attended.

9:00 – 9:15am

Conference Chair introduction and Smart Manufacturing Future Outlook

Conference Chair: Ram Veeramony, Digital Business Architect, Technology Leader

9:15 – 9:30am

Opening Government Address: Advancing Australia’s Manufacturing Sector

Learn about the Government’s vision to rebuild manufacturing and sovereign capability, exploring new technologies for Australian manufacturers, and future opportunities from the National Reconstruction Fund.

The Hon Ed Husic MP – Minister for Industry and Science

9:30 – 10:00am

Case Study: Smart Manufacturing Transformation Roadmap and Lessons Learnt

Learn how Coca-Cola Euro Pacific Partners created a state-of-the-art injection moulding facility in just 6-months, and utilised ‘smart factory’ ideas to become a world-class award-winning facility.

John Broadbent, Founder, Industry 4.0 Strategy & Mentoring, Realise Potential

Clement Chen, Plant Manager, Packaging Services Division – Australia Coca-Cola Euro Pacific Partners

10:00 – 10:30am

GE Digital Smart Factory

The team from GE will discuss:

Using software to accelerate production optimisation
Enterprise-wide Operations Performance
Case studies from leading APAC and Global Manufacturers

David Berridge, Senior Sales Manager – Digital Channel Sales, ANZ, GE Digital

Geoff Morris, Senior Solution Architect – APAC, GE Digital

10:30 – 10:50am Morning Tea

10:50 – 11:20am

The Future of Manufacturing according to AI

AI and Factoryworx will present on what the future of manufacturing will look like and where the opportunities and challenges lay ahead for Australian manufacturers. Followed by a live AI Q&A session.

Mergen Pillay, Director, Factoryworx

11:20 – 11:50am

Bridging the gap between IT and OT

How do Information Technology and Operations Technology differ?

How to leverage open standards, connectivity, and scalability to support IT/OT convergence
What Opportunities are there in On Demand Manufacturing that can reduce risk and improve profitability.
How solving business problems, then integrating technology, delivers true value.
Real World Industry case studies with Manufacturer (Your Coffee)

In this session hear from Food & Beverage industry leaders and technology providers as they discuss successful adoption and lessons learnt in I4.0, automation, digitalisation and other modern manufacturing methods, models and processes.

Phil Seboa, Automation Enthusiast

Glen Fry, Founder and Director, iControls

Joined live from the US with Kent Melville, Director of Sales Engineering, Inductive Automation

11.50 – 12:20pm

Returning our Asian contract manufacturing to Australia using robotic assembly

Faced with an uncertain and unresponsive supply chain during “the Covid times”, Memjet took the view that vertical integration in Australia was key to their future stability. This meant that new manufacturing paradigms were required as the existing processes and systems would not support reshoring product lines from Asia. The result is Collaborative Manufacturing Cells and high levels of automation to support a significantly lower operational cost structure, in comparison to the Asian partners.

Jason Thelander, Chief Technology Officer, Memjet

12:20 – 1.20pm Lunch Break

1.20 – 2:10pm

Industry Panel – How Industrial IoT is changing the manufacturing sector

Industry expert discussion on how to best utilise IIoT to improve product quality, reduce costs, make better decisions, transform operations and increase customer satisfaction.

A few more IIOT topics we will touch upon in the discussion:

Energy Management
Plant Simulation, Virtual Commissioning

Geoff Morris, Senior Solution Architect – APAC, GE Digital

Janak Gorana, Industry 4 Consultant, Bosch

Alan Lipman, Chief Executive Officer, Romar

Kevin Worrell, Project Director, Dulux

Chandru Shankar, Managing Director for Manufacturing, HSO

Zeinab Khaksar, System Solutions engineer, ifm

2:10 – 2:40pm

How to prepare for your Industry 4.0 digital transformation

Digital transformation within manufacturing operations when successful can and does result in significant measurable gains across of number of key metrics, whilst simultaneously building robustness, providing insights for further improvement projects and supporting ESG goals. Yet, the stark reality is that for many SMB’s, moving towards digital manufacturing operations seems a bridge too far. Too hard, too complex, too expensive, with reported low success rates further stymying commitment from those who have worked their way through the initial challenges. Research and preparation as in all projects of this magnitude and importance is the key to success.

How to build a robust business case
Exploring company wide alignment around the vision
What talent is needed
Identifying and avoiding common reasons for failure

Michael Bucknell, Business Development Manager, TilliT

2:40 – 3:10pm

Transforming Manufacturing Performance at GME with Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

GME is a leading global manufacturer of radio telecommunications equipment based in North Western Sydney. TXM and GME have worked together over the past five years to transform the manufacturing process and improve competitiveness. This first involved moving from batch production to Lean flow production, radically reducing factory footprint and production lead times. Then the process was automated applying Industry 4.0 technologies in a Lean production framework. The results have been spectacular and provide a template for how Lean and Industry 4.0 can be combined to deliver a transformation in manufacturing performance.

Tim McLean, Managing Director, TXM Lean Solutions

Armando Lecaros, Operations Manager, GME Limited

3:10 – 3:30pm Afternoon Tea

3:30 – 4:00pm

Panel: Packaging 4.0

Exploring automation and digitalisation in the packaging world.
Integrating packaging intelligence into your production line
Reaching maximum output through comprehensive sensor systems and the Cloud
Future view of rapid and precise labelling

Greg Calvert, Co-founder and Director, FreshChain Systems

Richard Roberts, National Industry 4.0 Operations Manager/Senior Consultant, Zi-Argus (Open IIoT Contributor)

Shad Kaberna, Sales Manager Systems, Robotic Automation

Simon Hill, Group Solution Specialist-Packaging TNA Solutions

4:00 – 4:30pm

Charging into the Future: Modern ERP for Manufacturers

Discover how data-driven ERP solutions can help Australian manufacturers thrive in an industry that demands constant change, ultimately empowering your team members to adapt faster, work smarter and perform better. Explore the technology trends influencing the development of modern ERP software, and how new modern ERP solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can be leveraged to streamline business processes and improve productivity and operational efficiency. This session is also a great opportunity to understand the ERP selection criteria and processes.

Priscilla Liew, Practice Manager

Nila Sarma, CTO/Technologist Strategist, Microsoft Partner

4:30 – 4:40pm Smart Manufacturing Conference Summary by Chair

4:40pm Close of Smart Manufacturing Conference