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Countries successfully growing their manufacturing – and what they are doing right

From Brazil to Singapore, here’s how six countries are rethinking manufacturing. From the climate crisis and geopolitical headwinds to next-generation technologies, a series of complex challenges are rewriting the rulebook for global value chains. Against this backdrop, what are manufacturers and supply chain companies doing to ensure their operations are fit for future success? Most successful firms are moving away from making location decisions based on cost alone to a more complex process that considers factors including performance, resilience and sustainability. Countries that want to remain competitive and position themselves as manufacturing hubs must embrace this shift. By adopting innovative policies across key country-level readiness drivers, nations can boost their appeal for foreign investment, potentially increasing GDP and their share of global value chains, the report suggests. Here are some examples of those archetypes and how they are growing their manufacturing. Brazil While Brazil’s GDP per capita and manufacturing’s share of GDP are below average, the country is making efforts to boost manufacturing’s economic role. The service sector now has a larger share of the GDP than the manufacturing sector. Brazil is the world’s leading source of coffee and a major producer of sugar, soy, and beef. It also exports significant amounts of steel, automobiles, and electronics. For decades, Brazil has been actively promoting manufacturing to diversify its production and reduce its reliance on agricultural exports. In early 2024, the country launched a new policy plan to drive this effort – called Nova Indústria Brasil. This policy defined strategic areas for investment to stimulate technological development and increase the competitiveness of the Brazilian industry. Key initiatives under this plan include measures to digitally transform industrial companies and invigorate the country’s semiconductor industry. India Like Brazil, India is in the adapter quadrant of the country archetypes. It also boasts a sizeable service sector, which […]

BW Converting launches e-learning platform for enhanced customer training

New online training solution complements on-site training, offers flexible learning options and helps customers manage workforce challenges BW Converting has launched an e-learning platform aimed at transforming customer training across its entire brand portfolio. Designed to provide flexibility and support operational efficiency, this online resource allows customers to access detailed machine overview courses, enhancing on-site training and enabling easier adaptation to workforce changes. The platform spans all BW Converting brands, including Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), Hudson-Sharp, Winkler + Dünnebier (W+D), Baldwin Technology Company, STAX Technologies and Northern Engraving and Machine. Initially focusing on popular equipment from BW Converting’s PCMC tissue and print offerings and their Hudson-Sharp brand bag converting portfolio, the platform will expand to encompass the full range of brands and products in the near future. This launch marks a significant investment in helping BW Converting customers achieve greater productivity and operational efficiency. The e-learning platform offers flexible, on-demand training options that supplement on-site instruction, equipping employees with foundational knowledge while addressing challenges like employee turnover and onboarding. Key benefits of the platform include the flexibility for employees to learn at their own pace, the ability to maintain productivity despite staff turnover and the chance to reduce on-site training downtime. With versatile purchasing options, including a la carte courses, subscription plans and real-time payment via credit card, the platform also integrates seamlessly into broader training and service programs. For customers with unique needs, BW Converting’s training team can create tailored e-learning content specific to their equipment and requirements. “This digital solution allows customers to save on costs related to extended on-site training, minimize production interruptions and access a consistent knowledge base for improved workforce competency,” said Scott Kupsky, Technical Training Leader at BW Converting. “By streamlining training processes and offering custom content, BW Converting is setting a new […]

Manufacturing and Production Industry is Fighting a 41% Increase in Ransomware Attacks over Four Years

By Sandra Lee, Managing Director of Southeast Asia and Korea, Sophos Wrapping up the first half of 2024, the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) is set to be the fastest growing region of the world economy1. It accounted for more than half of global GDP growth with the manufacturing industry becoming one of the key drivers over the years2, paving the way for APAC to be the world’s manufacturing and production hub. However, the industry is claiming a sad record in Sophos’ latest report with the highest growth in the percentage of organisations hit by ransomware in 2023, emphasizing the potential risk to the global production chain. Compared to all other industries that recorded a decrease in attacks last year, the manufacturing and production industry is one of the only three sectors with an increased attack rate of 9% other than healthcare (+7%) and financial services (+1%). A concerning percentage (65%) of organisations reported they were hit by ransomware last year, which was a notable increase from the previous years since 2020 (i.e. 24% in 2020). A majority (93%) of manufacturing organisations hit by ransomware in the past year claimed that cybercriminals attempted to compromise their backups during the attack. Of them, 53% of backup compromise attempts were successful. Additionally, three out of four ransomware attacks on manufacturing organizations (74%) resulted in data encryption, hitting the highest encryption rate for the sector in the last five years and the cross-sector average of 70% in 2024. Although most organisations hit by ransomware were able to identify the root cause of the attack, which exploited vulnerabilities and compromised credentials — malicious e-mails were identified as the root cause. Some organizations are still failing to implement key security measures that can demonstrably reduce their overall risk profile, resulting in a higher attack recovery cost. In […]

CT Semiconductor Inaugurates ATP Chip Semiconductor Training Center

HANOI, Vietnam. On October 1st, 2024, The ATP Semiconductor Chip Technician Training Center CT Semiconductor (a member of CT Group) was officially inaugurated and commenced operations at the National Innovation Center (NIC) in Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, Hanoi. The ATP Semiconductor Chip Technician Training Center at NIC is part of CT Semiconductor’s broader activities, which include the establishment of three OSAT plants (two in the South and one in the North), two R&D centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, notably, two customer service centers in Silicon Valley and Phoenix, Arizona. Experienced engineers from various countries will provide specialized training for key personnel through a “Train the Trainer” program focused on semiconductor chip assembly, testing, and packaging. These engineers and final-year electronics students will be equipped to master ATP technology. One key feature is that interns will gain hands-on experience with the latest chip inspection machines and become familiar with different types of chips. This initiative is a practical step toward realising the plan to develop 10 OSAT plants in Vietnam, in line with Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1018/QD-TTg, which outlines the strategy for developing Vietnam’s semiconductor industry, issued on September 21, 2024. What sets CT Semiconductor apart is its independent technology approach, with a comprehensive foundation starting from ATP specialist training, which serves OSAT companies, R&D, and production under the 4.0 model. On this occasion, CT Semiconductor also introduced the AMB5600 semiconductor circuit and component testing machine, aimed at supporting research and training at the center. This is the first chip testing machine to be integrated into a training system in Vietnam. The leader of CT Semiconductor stated: “Only by mastering technology and attracting global talent can Vietnamese semiconductor industry develop sustainably and avoid the pitfalls of merely following trends and seeking FDI for reporting purposes. Twenty years […]

Energy Experts on AI Tools for Building’s Sustainability:“Triple Win for Businesses, People, and Planet”

Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio Research studies continue to highlight that aside from environmental benefits, AI-based platforms in building energy management deliver economic savings and improve occupant well-being. Energy experts provide real-case examples for these tools. Vilnius, Lithuania. Numerous studies delve into the potential of AI for buildings and their energy efficiency. While such AI-based platforms are often seen as primarily environmentally focused, the latest research showcases that they also deliver economic and social advantages. “Latest AI platforms that focus on energy performance also provide other benefits such as cost-efficiency and even better quality of work for energy-efficient building occupants, creating a triple win for businesses, people, and the planet,” said Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio, a company that provides AI-based solutions for buildings’ energy performance. Energy performance experts provide insights on 3 key areas that benefit from such tools – environmental, economic, and social impact. AI Tools are Needed to Reach Net-Zero Goals The key aspect of implementing AI-for-energy tools in buildings is to reduce energy waste. It is particularly important in commercial buildings, where environmental impact is the highest due to energy consumption. By managing energy systems in real time, AI helps lower carbon emissions by ensuring sustainable use of resources. Unlike traditional systems that react to changes, AI can predict energy needs and adjust operations accordingly, leading to more sustainable building management. “With AI tools, we can fine-tune every aspect of a building’s energy use, squeezing out efficiencies that add to environmental gains. We have implemented such tools in office buildings and malls, where payback of deep renovations could take up to 10 years. It’s already too late to retrofit all the old build stock if we want to reach net-zero goals by 2050,” Karčiauskas explained. “AI, on the other hand, is capable of integrating thousands of […]

FactoryTalk DataMosaix puts data at the centre

Companies often spend a lot of effort and energy to figure out how they performed in the past. Rockwell Automation has released a solution that puts a company in control of how it will perform in the future. According to the World Economic Forum, in 2021 industries created, captured, copied and consumed 74 zettabytes of data – by 2023 that was estimated to rise to 130 zettabytes with one zettabyte equal to a trillion gigabytes. This rapidly growing volume of data is causing serious problems for organisations. While most sectors have seen rapid growth in data analytical solutions, industrial automation has been an exception. This is the case even though production data holds the key to insights into operational performance. Huge volumes of data on their own are not meaningful and engineers can spend up to 60 percent of their time gathering, cleaning, and collating data rather than driving insights. Putting data at the centre Rockwell Automation is taking a unique approach to address this issue. “Data is the centre of our strategy,” said Manish Jain, strategy leader – data, AI, and edge computing, Rockwell Automation. “Data needs to be organised, structured, and analysed to unlock insights that drive value for companies.” The company recently unveiled Factory Talk Data Mosaix which contextualises and merges engineering technology data with OT and IT data into one solution with the goal of full production automation. “AI will drive this process, but it needs valid data and good analytics,” said Jain. For example, data can provide insights into root cause analysis and future predictions, and function as a single source of truth to solve challenging problems. By integrating data from any vendor and all parts of the production system, it will make data available, meaningful, and useful so that standard applications and custom app […]

How leveraging smart factories optimises products and operations for manufacturers

Mei Dent, Chief Product and Technology Officer, TeamViewer Manufacturing processes and supply chains have become more complex over the past few years, making traditional methods insufficient to meet the demand for greater customisation and shorter production cycles. Manufacturers feel pressured by rising labour and material costs to find more efficient ways to produce high-quality goods. Additionally, the increasing need to meet environmental regulations and sustainability goals pushes manufacturers to adopt greener practices. As global competition intensifies, manufacturers must find ways to innovate and stay agile to respond quickly to market changes. Smart factories address these challenges by integrating advanced technologies to create a more responsive, efficient, and sustainable production environment. By leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to deliver predictive analytics and big data, manufacturers can optimise processes, manage inventory in real time, streamline logistics, and improve factory management. Smart factories collect, process, and use this data to gain valuable insights. Real-time production monitoring and closed-loop optimisations, along with collaboration between advanced robotics and humans, help create these transformations. However, a significant challenge in smart factory implementation is the disconnect between IT professionals and plant managers, particularly regarding data collection, outcome creation, and data protection. IT professionals often advocate for comprehensive data collection to optimise predictive maintenance, while plant managers are more concerned with the practical, immediate concerns such as knowing which machines are currently in production, how production is running, and maintaining seamless operations. IT professionals’ preference for leveraging cloud solutions can also clash with plant managers’ concerns about security and the usability of hyper-scale offerings. For example, IT professionals may push for automated updates and virtualisation, whereas plant managers worry about if production is operating at the level needed and the potential disruptions to long-established production systems. Bridging these […]

Aspiration finds success

Women Going Places July 2024 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu Women Going Places, a new magazine from Media Hawkes Bay Limited, profiles aspirational women with a story to tell. The women included in July issue are from Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN. In future issues, profiles from further afield will appear. Over the past few years, within our magazines, on our media platforms and on Linkedin, we have included individual profiles from fascinating women who are following their dream and bringing about change to their environments. Their stories – as with the stories within this issue – are about ability, determination and a desire to succeed. There is nothing quite like aspiration! There are many stories out there to be told and shared…and we are happy to provide the platform to do so. If you are a woman or know of a woman wanting to let readers know about your journey in this challenging and highly competitive world, let us know and we can have your story read by our readers. Enjoy the read. Regards, Doug Green, Publisher publisher@xtra.co.nz

SYSPRO: Manufacturing CFOs shift focus to operational resilience

SYSPRO, a global provider of ERP software, has released its third annual Global CFO Survey, which reveals that the role of the manufacturing Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has seen a strategic inward focus aimed at bolstering operational resilience and efficiency in the wake of some unprecedented macro-economic shocks. The study, which was conducted from July to September 2023 and commissioned by SYSPRO, assessed the sentiment amongst CFOs within manufacturing sectors across the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC), including Australia and New Zealand, as well as Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The participants included financial leaders across both SMEs and larger enterprises, with the results reflecting the insights of a wide selection of decision makers in the manufacturing sector. Key insights: The study revealed that manufacturing CFOs believe that we are not post-crisis but rather between crises and that this is a situation that is likely to persist. As a result, the vast majority have recognised that their role is evolving into one of a ‘Hybrid CFO’. Shift to Operational Focus: In response to a series of external shocks, including post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, rising material costs, inflation and environmental challenges, manufacturing CFOs are increasingly adopting a hybrid role. This approach emphasises operational efficiencies to mitigate future economic shocks. The research demonstrated that CFOs are increasingly expected to operationalise digital transformation (52 per cent), which again points towards a greater involvement in operational areas. The Rise of the Hybrid CFO: The survey highlights the evolving role of CFOs, who now integrate strategic business knowledge with traditional financial expertise. This hybrid capability is essential for ensuring competitive advantage and requires a deep understanding of all business functions. Survey responses from all regions including APAC showed a high degree of consistency in terms of identifying the core skills and competencies required for a […]

Fighting data noise in industrial production – with fully configurable digital twin

Genius Core, provides industrial manufacturers and process-focused industries with a fully configurable digital twin of their facilities, giving complete, real-time visibility over maintenance needs, safety, and operational efficiency from anywhere in the world. Process Genius says Genius Core tackles the critical issue of digital noise in industrial processes, where hundreds of systems and sensors combine, making it extremely difficult to keep track of deviations in processes, maintenance, safety alerts, and malfunctions. The platform centralises all data from equipment in a 3D visualisation on both overview and facility levels, and all critical information can be accessed in real-time. Operators can also set up their digital twin without external help from external consultants. Data noise is one of the critical obstacles to industrial efficiency. A single facility produces thousands of data points to multiple systems from equipment every minute, which is often only accessible in one of the systems in use or Excel spreadsheets. As such, facility managers and process engineers waste significant amounts of time looking for the data they need or, in the worst case, overlook critical failures or maintenance needs because they are not made aware of critical information. When operating multiple facilities, this problem increases substantially. Genius Core removes these hurdles that cause decision-making delays. The modern industry operator doesn’t lack data. Industry 4.0 has seen a vast array of sensors and software that has made available any data imaginable from each piece of equipment in the facility. Their issue now is how to put this data to good use. With hundreds of systems and thousands of data points, the challenge is understanding the data and making the right decisions. With Genius Core, they can finally stop doing unnecessary and time-consuming detective work and focus on making those decisions. Industrial production largely depends on consistent facility uptime, and […]

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