Industry Capability Network

MELBOURNE COMPANY WINS ENDEAVOUR AWARD

Melbourne Company Monatec took out this years prestigous Endeavour Award for the best import replacement product of 2005.

ICNL sponsors this Award which is run by Manufacturers Monthly magazine.

Monatec Pty Ltd is a monitoring solutions provider providing low cost monitoring and solutions to the world markets.

The winning product was their Monita series of remote security and data logging systems.  The new data systems have been adopted by a wide range of Australian companies and are also exported around the world.  This product virtually eliminated one imported product totally from the local market.  Just another success story for an innovative Australian small business.  ICNL congratulates them on the win.

Additional information can be found on the company and it's products at www.monatec.com.

MOU SIGNED WITH AUSTRADE

ICNL has updated it's long standing MOU with Austrade.  Under the new Memorandum Austrade and ICNL will work together to enhance the possibilities of Australian companies entering global supply chains.

ICNL will assist Austrade in delivering their export awareness programs as well as providing information to them on capable Australian suppliers in various industry sectors as well as for direct enquiries from their overseas offices.

GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR MANUFACTURING

The Australian Financial Review today reported on the gloomy outlook for manufacturing.  www.afr.com.au

"First it was trouble in the car industry, when lay-offs and a loss of contracts to low-cost countries set off alarm bells in Canberra. Yesterday it was the turn of the manufacturing industry, when the Australian Industry Group's quarterly survey of activity plunged to new lows as a result of a raft of problems, from poor export prospects to a softening domestic economy." They reported. There has been some suggestions made that we can let manufacturing fall away as key component of the economy.  However to ensure a healthy balance of trade one must wonder where such suggestions find a core foundation. The Industry Capability Network has been set up by Governments to ensure Australian buyers and sellers are linked together for the good of the economy.  Australia has world class suppliers, many of whom export successfully into the global market place.

MARINE DATABASE OPEN FOR REGISTRATIONS

ICN's new Marine Database is now open for registrations.

If you are an Australian or New Zealand have capability for defence or commercial products and services then you should visit www.marine.icn.org.au where you can register your company on our new marine database.

The information you supply will be shared with the prime contractors and alliance partners on the major marine projects in Australia and New Zealand including Australian Defence's new Air Warfare Destroyer project.

IT’S JUST GOOD BUSINESS PARTNERING WITH US MULTINATIONALS

Partnering with US multinationals is one way Australian companies could boost exports and realise the benefits of the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Bruce Billson said today.

Launching Australia and the United States: Trade and the Multinationals in a New Era, a new report from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Economic Analytical Unit, Mr Billson said US multinationals played a major role in the Australian economy.

ICN was consulted by DFAT in their preparation of the report particularly with regard to our experience in Australian companies engaging in global supply chains.  Further information on the report can be found at www.icn.org.au.

Details are available on the DFAT website (www.dfat.gov.au/eau).

Victorian jobs up over next decade but manufacturing stagnant

theage.com.au –  “The manufacturing sector will continue to stagnate, while some believe it may even shrink.”

Merchandise imports up in May

ABS  “Merchandise imports rose two per cent in May to $12.8 billion, new figures show.  The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the increase was largely due to a five per cent lift in the import of machinery and transport equipment to $5.8 billion.”

Australian manufacturing production falls

Bloomberg.com: – “An index that measures Australian manufacturing production fell to its lowest quarterly level in more than three years as weaker consumer demand led factories to cut their output.”

RFID to grow SAP, America, CEO says

Computer Business Review – “Not only will RFID "significantly" grow future revenue at software goliath SAP, it will make the US of America a more globally competitive country, according to chief executive of SAP America Bill McDermott”

Innovation the Key to Success for SMEs

Peter Roberts in the Australian Financial Review of 14 June points to a University of Melbourne study which highlights the importance of strategic innovation for above average performing SMEs.  AFR

The study found that were companies link strategic innovation to business planning the outcomes tend to be above the norms for that industry.