Metal & Machines Projects

The Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) is driven by the needs of industry and is focused on improving manufacturing industry at large. Phil Goode as project leader is covering ISI project and MITA - Sydney Group / METALS as part of MITA - Supply Chain project.

Industry Sustainability Initiative (ISI) Project Industry Sustainability Initiative (ISI) project was undertaken as part of the Department of Environment and Conservation's Industry Partnership Program through the Western Sydney Environment Taskforce aiming to help business to make significant savings by improving their environmental performance.

The ISI works with clusters of businesses, offering expert advice on how to improve their bottom line as well as their environmental performance through sustainability initiatives in areas including: reduced use of resources (eg energy, water, raw materials); reduced waste; minimising pollution; and more effective product stewardship.

ISI participants have undertaken a series of workshops through which they have received expert advice on developing and implementing Sustainability Improvement Plans for their sites.
Major companies and industrial outcomes and benefits are Financial and Environmental, with opportunity for further Companies collaboration.

ISI Cluster 1 project as part of this program started at the beginning of 2003 and finished at the end of 2004 including more companies mainly from the Metals sector: Alstom Transport Australia, Bishop Industries, CHEP Australia, Cleanaway, Macarthur Engineering, Sealy Bedding, Sercel Australia, Thales Underwater Systems, Vinidex Pty Ltd and Visy Paper.

ISI Cluster 2 project started at the mid of 2004 and finished on September 2005 involving companies from Penrith area: Fort Dodge Australia P/L, New Age International, Robertson & Company P/L, Waffle Pod P/L, HomeForce P/L, Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation Ltd and Penrith City Council.

Each company had a unique response to the approach that is necessary to achieve changes within identified areas. This is, by definition, influenced by the functional role and responsibilities of the individual representing the organisation and the organisational structure of the company. The way projects are empirically managed within a company and the type of industry are also contributing factors which influence that approach. For example we can mention two different type of successful companies:

Fort Dodge Australia P/L - The approach taken is an excellent example of formal adoption and inculcation into existing business systems. Led by Site Director and ongoing to date. Have mainly concentrated on Energy and Water reduction, although Equipment Selection is undergoing a review to improve the criteria for selection. Very good bottom line savings.

Waffle Pod P/L - Outstanding example of a small company with a 'can-do' attitude, who have adopted and moulded all principles to suit their operation. Particularly, energy, water and huge raw material savings. A particularly good role model for other companies.
Some photos from Waffle Pod's Site:
Inside Recycle Centre
Prefoaming Area
Mould Machine/s
Trucks
Site-preparation1
Site-preparation2
Site-preparation3
Site-finished

Dissemination of results across the Industry was accomplished including relevant Case Studies, Industry Forum, Cross Cluster Collaboration, Guest Speakers, and Cross Industry Forum.

MITA - Sydney Group / METALS

MITA - Sydney Group / METALS, as part of MITA - Supply Chain with intention to bring 'closer' international manufacturing technology to the whole supply chain, was created from members involved in the previously finished programs/focus groups: Cleaner Production Metals and Industry Sustainability Initiative Cluster 1.

This program fulfils main objectives helping companies to establish, demonstrate and promote the value of a manufacturing innovation system, to get access to information sources and computer-based manufacturing models and relevant innovation.

From October 2005 through 11 monthly meetings/working sessions, group members had possibility to actively discuss and determine common areas of interest.
For that reason was created guiding tool for Best Practice Model "Best Practice Radar Diagram" which allowed members through the self-assessment process to highlight topics worth pursuing on behalf of the group and identification of common areas or issues of interest. The outcomes of these activities are focused on future activities and opportunities for improvement.

This self-assessment tool (BPRD) comprises the following categories:
" Lean Manufacturing
" Supply Chain Management
" Other Best Practice Categories
" Environment & Cleaner Production
" Leadership.

E-business Development Project
The Project drew to completion on 2002.
This project was established on the basis of the need to develop an E-business 'backbone' to enable the AMC to meet its objectives in the area of:

• Technology Diffusion - Knowledge Management
• Promotion of Supply Chain Competitiveness - Online Trading
• Support for education eg. ERP, Manufacturing Courses
• Enabling Specific Initiatives - Collaborative Purchasing
• Factory of the Future Demonstration Facilities