Australian Manufacturing Week 2026 delivered more than just machines on stands. It surfaced the real conversations manufacturers are having about productivity, automation, software, skills, and how to stay competitive. In this episode, Paul Mason and I speak with a cross-section of exhibitors and industry leaders on the show floor, capturing what is actually resonating with Australian manufacturers right now. You will hear from Tim J. Kelly from the Manufacturing Excellence Forum on why regional manufacturing ecosystems like the Sunshine Coast matter more than ever. PPC Moulding Services share how advanced metrology, scanning and prototyping are helping manufacturers reduce risk before investing in tooling. ECI unpack why ERP, business systems and AI need to solve real problems rather than chase hype. The conversation also covers workforce challenges, reshoring wins, automation and robotics, manufacturing software, and why AMW 2026 felt different, with fewer tyre kickers and more serious buyers. This is a practical snapshot of where Australian manufacturing is heading, straight from the show floor. Follow Manufacturing Tech Australia on Spotify and leave a review if this episode helped you. Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episodes/ 

Australian Manufacturing Week 2026 has landed in Brisbane for the first time ever — and we're recording live from the show floor. Part 1 of our AMW 2026 coverage brings you six exhibitor interviews covering robotics, autonomous material handling, ERP, 3D metrology, automation hardware, and the grant landscape for Australian manufacturers.Paul Mason and Shane Williams are joined by locals Phil Seboa from the Unplugged IIoT podcast, and Clare Treston to talk to leaders across the show about what's working, what's broken, and where the smart money is going in advanced manufacturing.In this episode you'll hear:- Manglesh Singh (Konica Minolta) on mobile cobots and AMRs that have clocked 16,000+ kilometres moving 500 pallets a day- Amanda (Freelance Robotics) on how cobot welding and the Blue Dragon framework are giving injured welders and boilermakers a way back into meaningful work- Mark and Trevor (Lily Works / PFM Works) on why nine out of ten manufacturers still run production on spreadsheets — and why replacing your ERP isn't the answer- Sara (RSM) on R&D tax incentives, CRC-P projects, and the Transforming Queensland Manufacturing grant programme offering $100K to $1.5M in matched funding- Danilo (Hi-Tech Metrology) on the Creaform HandySCAN Max — a handheld blue-laser 3D scanner doing three million points per second at 75-micron accuracy, with no surface prep needed on chrome or black parts- Michael (Mectec) on Delta automation, PLCs and vision systems helping Aussie SMEs automate repetitive packing operations- Gil Harkness (Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources, Mines, Manufacturing, Regional & Rural Development) on Queensland's eight manufacturing hubs, the AI-and-jobs conversation, and procurement opportunities from the Brisbane 2032 OlympicsManufacturing Tech Australia is Australia's leading podcast covering manufacturing technology, automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0. We're the official media partner of Australian Manufacturing Week.More episodes and resources: https://www.manufacturingtech.auFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manufacturingtechauPart 2 of our AMW 2026 coverage drops next fortnight.

Manufacturers keep investing in automation, ERP, AI, and capital projects, yet many still struggle with cost, resilience, and execution. The problem is not the tools, it is fragmentation.In this episode, Shane Williams and Paul Mason are joined by Oliver North and  Warren Proctor, Partners at Argon & Co, to unpack why siloed projects quietly destroy manufacturing competitiveness, and what an integrated operational roadmap actually looks like in practice. The discussion cuts straight to the shop floor, exploring how disconnected decisions across operations, supply chain, IT, capital planning, and product development lock in mediocrity rather than advantage. Oliver and Warren explain why sequencing matters, why an 80 percent plan beats perfection, and how integrated roadmaps help manufacturers respond faster to disruption without burning out their teams.This is a highly practical conversation for operational leaders who want to move beyond isolated improvements and build organisations that can pivot, scale, and win under constant volatility.In this episode, you will learn:Why siloed investments reduce ROI and lock in operational constraintsHow integrated roadmaps align people, process, and technology around real business valueWhat “good” looks like on the shop floor when strategy is truly joined upWhen automation helps, and when it simply hardwires inefficiencyHow digital twins and scenario modelling support faster decision-making, not predictionWhy progress beats perfection when building operational capabilityFollow Manufacturing Tech Australia on Spotify and leave a review if this episode helped you. Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episodes/

Most manufacturers do not need another AI tool. They need better decisions from the ERP and data they already have. In this episode, Graeme Evans and Ian Macdonald from Epicor explain how embedded AI is helping manufacturers move ERP from a system of record to a system of action, helping them get more from the systems they already use every day. We explore practical use cases across scheduling, supply chain risk, workforce onboarding, invoice matching and predictive maintenance, and explain why the best AI often feels invisible when it is done well. In this episode, we cover: how to separate AI signal from hype in manufacturing  why embedded AI inside ERP often beats standalone tools  practical use cases across scheduling, supply chain risk, invoice matching and the shop floor  why waiting for perfect data is a mistake and how to start small  how to build trust, keep humans in the loop and get more from the systems you already own  If you lead operations, technology, supply chain or continuous improvement, this episode will help you spot practical ways to reduce admin, surface issues earlier and make faster decisions without handing control to the machine. Thanks to Epicor for supporting this episode. If you want to learn more about how modern industry-specific ERP helps manufacturers gain clearer visibility and drive performance, visit epicor.com. Show notes for this episode: manufacturingtech.au/episodes/ 

Four real AI use cases in Australian manufacturing and the hardware decisions behind moving from pilot to production. In this episode, Troy Smithells from Xenon Systems (Australia's only Nvidia Elite partner) walks through where AI is actually earning its keep in Aussie manufacturing, and why production workloads often need to leave the cloud. We cover:   Hand-drawn to CAD file conversion: 4x faster, near-100% accuracy, $750K per year saved at a steel fabricator Physical AI in pipe inspection: tiny robots mapping up to a kilometre of pipe for leak detection and preventative maintenance Predictive maintenance from sound: a listening device on a conveyor belt catching wear before failure Computer vision for construction OHS: PPE checks, exclusion zone alerts, and yes, crocodile alerts on the docks at Cairns Why cloud AI costs scale exponentially and on-prem or hosted GPU hardware can land at roughly a quarter to half the spend Data sovereignty, the US Cloud Act, and the space, power and cooling reality of running GPU clusters (132kg, 110dB, and a burn-in you need earplugs for) When to bring in infrastructure specialists: after the proof of concept, before you try to scale   Whether you're a plant manager, operations leader, CTO, or integrator weighing up an AI project, this conversation gives you a practical map from pilot to production grade AI. Follow Manufacturing Tech Australia on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, and leave a review if this episode helped you.  Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episode/79-from-cloud-to-concrete-practical-ai-use-cases-in-manufacturing-with-troy-smithells/ 

Authentic storytelling cuts through AI-generated noise and drives real change in manufacturing teams.In this episode, Gabrielle Dolan, storytelling expert and author, shares her Story Intelligence framework and why it matters more than ever for manufacturers leading change. We cover:- Why authentic stories outperform data and slides when overcoming resistance to change- How to use storytelling to connect teams across functions and simplify complex ideas- The difference between manipulative and meaningful stories in leadership- How to uncover and use your own organisation's story to build purposeWhether you're a plant manager, operations leader, or change champion, this episode gives you a practical framework for leading through story.Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episode/78-story-intelligence-with-gabrielle-dolan-2/

Australia's robotics sector is scaling fast — here's what manufacturers need to know and do first in 2026.In this episode, Nicci Rossouw, CEO of Robotics Australia Group, returns to unpack how the ecosystem has shifted and what's driving the most investable robotics businesses today. We cover:- The National Robotics Strategy and why funding alone doesn't solve the scaling challenge- What field robotics and physical AI mean for Australian manufacturers right now- The common thread behind robotics companies gaining traction: measurable outcomes- Sovereign capability, keeping IP onshore, and the role of collaboration across startups and universities- The first practical steps manufacturers should take to adopt robotics in 2026Whether you're a manufacturer evaluating automation options, an integrator, or a technology buyer, this episode gives you a grounded view of where Australian robotics is heading.Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episode/77-the-practical-robotics-playbook-for-growth-sovereign-capability-and-ai-readiness-with-nicci-rousso/

From Industry 4.0 to Industry 6.0 — agentic AI, humanoid robots, and what's already happening on factory floors today.In this episode, Nick Doyle, Head of Manufacturing at ANCA Manufacturing Solutions in Thailand, walks us through the roadmap from where manufacturers are now to where they're heading. We cover:- Why Thailand is becoming a major production hub and what that means for Australian supply chains- The evolution from Industry 4.0 to Industry 6.0: agentic AI, humanoid robots, and micro factories- Real AI applications Nick's team is deploying now: press brake automation, vibe coding, and power monitoring- How university collaborations are accelerating factory innovation- What Australian manufacturers should prioritise to stay competitiveWhether you're a plant manager, operations leader, or technology buyer, this episode gives you a practical and forward-looking view of manufacturing's near future.Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episode/76-industry-6-0-dark-factories-and-the-future-of-manufacturing-with-nick-doyle/

A practical guide to the grants, incentives, and support programs Australian manufacturers can actually use in 2026.Shane Williams and Paul Mason step back from the detail to map the landscape of federal and state funding programs available to manufacturers this year. We cover:- The biggest funding opportunities for 2026: Made in Queensland, National Reconstruction Fund, ARENA, and more- Why R&D, clean tech, and sovereign capability are the dominant funding themes right now- The difference between funding that helps you scale and funding that creates distraction- How to approach applications, where businesses get stuck, and how to assess program fit- Non-grant support options including R&D Tax Incentive and Instant Asset Write-OffWhether you're mapping investment priorities, planning a capital upgrade, or exploring R&D options, this episode gives you a clear view of where the real opportunities are.Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episode/75-grants-and-support-to-help-manufacturers-scale-in-2026/

AI that augments — not replaces — your workforce: practical steps for manufacturers starting today.In this episode, Murali Sastry, learning and AI strategist, shares a grounded framework for AI adoption in manufacturing that keeps humans in the loop. We cover:- What vibe coding is and how frontline workers are using it to build dashboards without IT- Learning in the flow of work: low-risk AI augmentation use cases with real examples- Why human-in-the-loop governance is non-negotiable in manufacturing environments- The risks of shadow IT, data ownership, and where AI should never be used on the floor- Practical steps manufacturers can take tomorrow to build AI capability safelyWhether you're an operations manager, plant engineer, or digital transformation lead, this episode gives you a human-centred approach to manufacturing AI adoption. Show notes and links for this episode: https://www.manufacturingtech.au/episode/74-ai-on-the-factory-floor-learning-in-the-flow-of-work-and-the-rise-of-vibe-coding/