Australian manufacturing currently contributes approximately 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounts for almost $100 billion in exports and employs 850,000 people.
Technological advances are moving manufacturing towards a seamless amalgamation of physical and digital worlds, with fast integration, feedback and control loops throughout distributed manufacturing infrastructures. Strong market disruption in the industry has created new opportunities and Australia is preparing to embrace the next industrial revolution.
Increasing adoption of technology in manufacturing will result in enhanced efficiency, sophisticated production systems, and enables the implementation of innovative business models.
Standards Australia recognises the challenges and opportunities currently facing the manufacturing sector and is actively working with stakeholders to ensure Australia is not only equipped to manage this new cycle of change, but also to implement it.
In March 2017, Standards Australia developed a recommendations report, “Industry 4.0: An Australian Perspective”, for the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. The report outlines key recommendations for Australia to take advantage of the opportunities created from Industry 4.0. It also highlights current international standardisation activities Australia could participate in and explains the importance of encouraging cooperation amongst national standards bodies.