Replay: SA manufacturing and hi-tech sectors in the spotlight in Advertiser/Flinders University’s Fearless Conversations series

Should foreign-made products be clearly labelled? That was one suggestion as the Fearless Conversations forum focused on manufacturing. Watch the replay now.

We should consider mandating that foreign-made products are labelled as such, in order to give Australian-made goods an edge in the market, Defence Teaming Centre chief executive Audra McCarthy says.

Speaking at a Fearless Conversation Forum on manufacturing hosted by The Advertiser and Flinders University on Wednesday, Ms McCarthy said people wanted to buy local, but there were actually barriers in place for Australian companies who wanted to show their colours.

Perhaps a fairer solution would be to insist that foreign companies identified themselves, she said.

“After the pandemic, there’s been increased attention on the need to support Australian-made, and it’s a little ironic that Australian companies have to spend the extra effort to differentiate themselves in the market, with their own local consumers, that they are Australian-made – yet our imports don’t have to make it very clear that they’re an imported product,” she said.

“It’s great to be part of the Australian Made logo, but to be part of that actually costs.

“Shouldn’t it be the other way around? If you’re importing a product it should be very clearly labelled. It makes it a lot easier for the consumer.’’

Ms McCarthy said there were good environmental reasons to buy locally-made, and more sustainable products.

The Fearless Conversations series brings together leading South Australian voices in roundtable discussions about some of the big issues facing the state. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Ms McCarthy was joined on the forum panel by Redarc managing director Anthony Kittel, BAE Systems maritime Australia continuous naval shipbuilding strategy director Sharon Wilson, tech entrepreneur George Freney and Flinders University’s pro-vice chancellor – research impact John Spoehr.

Dr Spoehr said South Australia had made good progress in pivoting towards advanced manufacturing over the past decade or so, as vehicle manufacturing in the state wound down, culminating in the closure of Holden in 2017.

However lessons could be learned from countries such as the UK, which had set up what was called the “Catapult Network’’ under the auspices of Innovate UK, while Germany had set up more than 60 institutes to drive Industry 4.0.

“It’s a strategy, it’s not a set of technologies, it’s actually a strategy for accelerating the growth of advanced manufacturing ... we’re all trying to emulate that internationally.’’

Dr Spoehr said the plan needed to be long term, with 10-20 year horizons, but if the will was there, we could successfully develop a sustainable and prosperous advanced manufacturing sector.

Extended coverage of the Fearless Conversation on manufacturing will appear in the Sunday Mail this weekend, October 10.

Redarc managing director Anthony Kittel says the company’s strong supply chain has been instrumental in its success in negotiating the Covid-19 challenges. Picture: Tom Huntley

SUPPLY CHAINS LINK TO OUR FUTURE

Strong local supply chains provide the key link to success in South Australia’s advanced manufacturing sector, a leading industry figure says.

Anthony Kittel, managing director of electronic systems maker Redarc, says the Lonsdale-based business has been able to overcome the Covid-19 challenges of the past 18 months due to rising demand for its products locally and overseas – and its secure relationships with other firms.

Redarc, which makes equipment primarily for recreational vehicles, has experienced “fairly staggering” growth since the beginning of the last financial year, taking on 90 new employees and enjoying a 60 per cent revenue rise.

“We’ve come through it (the pandemic) very well because we’ve got a very strong local supply chain – a number of our key suppliers are based right here in South Australia,” he said. “It's been important for us because they’ve been able to support us, and as we’ve grown they’ve been able to grow with us and guarantee that we’re kept up with the raw materials needed.”

Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling with BAE Systems head of industrial strategy Sharon Wilson in the Flinders University digital testing and trialling collaboration hub at Tonsley Innovation District. Picture: Emma Brasier

Mr Kittel said the lack of international travel had also helped the company, as people in Australia and overseas increasingly looked for products to enhance their vehicles to help them “explore their own backyards”.

Redarc, which has a turnover of more than $100 million and exports to 33 countries, presently has a workforce of about 300. Earlier this year it unveiled plans to invest $20 million on the rollout of a “smart factory”.

Mr Kittel said it was pleasing to note new career pathways unfolding within the advanced manufacturing and hi-tech sectors.

“In more recent years, manufacturing might have lost a bit of its attractiveness for young people as an industry to become involved with,” he said. “But the technologies we’re employing – such as data science, augmented reality, artificial intelligence – means there are just so many opportunities opening up in manufacturing now.”

The 13-week Fearless Conversations campaign, in partnership with The Advertiser, brings together leading South Australian voices in roundtable discussions about some of the big issues facing the state.

It is hoped the campaign will encourage people to share their thoughts and ideas and embrace a fearless approach to creating solutions.

Streamed live on advertiser.com.au every Wednesday from 10.30am, the Fearless Conversations series encourages the community to engage in debates about SA’s future.

Questions can be submitted through advertiser.com.au or on Twitter via #fearlesscoinversations.