The Institute of Instrumentation, Control and Automation (IICA) has been announced as a foundation partner for the Modern Manufacturing Expo, cementing the exhibition’s status as an event that will help set the agenda for the future of manufacturing in Australia.
IICA is also a partner of the Modern Manufacturing Town Hall event on 30 March, which will be the kick-off event for the new Sydney manufacturing conference.
“We felt that we could add significant value to the expo because of our unique insights into the manufacturing industry as a result of our prominent member base,” said Luis Rudenas, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) engineer and member of the NSW IICA Committee.
“IICA is at the forefront of innovation in the fields of instrumentation and control, and the wealth of knowledge from our member companies means that we are uniquely placed to help resolve any complex challenges that may arise in modern manufacturing.”
Since being founded in Melbourne in the 1940s, IICA’s membership base has grown to include some of the most prominent companies in instrumentation and control, such as Mitsubishi, ABB, SMC Corporation, Balluff, Phoenix Contact and Beckhoff Automation.
The Institute aims to be an open arena for members to build their network and knowledge, and to help move the industry forward through collaboration.
As IICA is an industry body, its decision to join Modern Manufacturing gives the exhibition access to the significant resources and knowledge of their collective membership base.
“Our members are excited to participate and do their part in advancing modern manufacturing,” said Rudenas.
“Collectively, they have all the elements required to make this happen, as well as the best technology available on the market.”
Industry 5.0 as the next frontier
Rudenas believes that while some may view Industry 5.0 as an abstract concept, that will only be harnessed by Australian manufacturers in the distant future, and is confident that the next stage of manufacturing is closer than we think.
“What we observed with implementing Industry 4.0 is an improvement in automation, most significantly in the production of collaborative robots (cobots), which were programmed using machine learning algorithms,” Rudenas continued.
“We predict that the role of AI in Industry 5.0 will be as a tool, rather than a collaborator. It will primarily be used by universities and major companies, as they research how AI can be most effectively harnessed by the manufacturing industry.
“IICA is well placed to help advance Industry 5.0 in Australia because we are able to link the universities that are doing this research, and the manufacturers who are interested in implementing these technologies, and is an important topic of discussion at both the Town Hall and Expo events.”
Australia’s advantage in modern manufacturing
According to Rudenas, we have all the resources we need to compete on a global scale.
“Our universities are some of the best in the world, and the establishment of advanced research centres at institutes, such as University of Sydney, gives us a distinct advantage,” Rudenas added.
He also highlights that there are grants becoming available, which will give universities and manufacturers the funds necessary to continue researching advanced manufacturing techniques and implement them on the factory floor.
“Formal partnerships between researchers and manufacturers will facilitate the organised transfer of knowledge to medium and small-sized manufacturers so that they can begin implementation, aided by the incentives that are now on offer,” Rudenas commented.
Finally, he believes that the implementation of modern manufacturing must happen as soon as possible if Australia wants to remain globally competitive.
“We need to keep industry and production within Australia and not become reliant on global supply chains,” Rudenas concluded.
“Manufacturers need to harness the resources that are available to them – having the best researchers in AI and other technologies available locally means that we don’t have to look elsewhere to advance manufacturing.”
