AI Leadership Summit 2025 Highlights
Advanced Manufacturing: Beyond the production line examines where Australia's opportunities for advanced manufacturing lie and how they can play a role in supporting Australia's long-term growth.
The report includes a proposed reform agenda which outlines 14 key areas that should be addressed under the umbrella of an Advanced Manufacturing Industry Plan.
In releasing Advanced Manufacturing: Beyond the production line, CEDA Chief Executive, Professor the Hon. Stephen Martin said there are many examples of these new technologies which can range from new technology for road surfaces and public transport to healthcare equipment for our hospitals.
"The focus in Australia has been on traditional assembly line manufacturing - low-cost, high-volume production - which will continue to decline because we simply can't compete with low cost economies," he said.
"We need to find a new manufacturing sweet spot and advanced manufacturing is where our focus should be."
Download the report - Advanced Manufacturing: Beyond the production line (pdf).
Read the media release - CEDA report calls for government tenders to require innovation to find new manufacturing sweet spot.
Read opinion piece - Government must invest in innovation to cut handout culture, drive new manufacturing jobsby CEDA Chief Executive, Professor the Hon. Stephen Martin.
Chapters and authors
CEDA overview
CEDA Senior Economist, Sarah-Jane Derby
The constantly changing manufacturing context
Advanced Manufacturing Council in Adelaide Chair, Professor Göran Roos
Advanced manufacturing global value chains and policy implications
Australian Services Roundtable Non-Executive Director, Jane Drake-Brockman
Advanced manufacturing: A smarter approach for Australia
Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox
META - creating the engine for an advanced manufacturing industry in Australia
Manufacturing Excellence Taskforce Australia (META) Chair, Albert Goller
Key enabling technologies
Future Manufacturing Flagship CSIRO, Director, Dr Swee Mak
Advanced manufacturing forums:
CEDA also held advanced manufacturing forums around the country:
Melbourne, 30 April 2014 (launch event)
Speakers:
- Jeff Connolly, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens
- Albert Goller, Chairman, Manufacturing Excellence Taskforce Australia (META)
- Julie Toth, Chief Economist, Australian Industry Group
Speakers:
- Zoran Angelkovski, Managing Director, Manufacturing Excellence Taskforce Australia (META)
- Jeff Connolly, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens
- Göran Roos, Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Council, Member of the Prime Minister's Manufacturing Leaders Group and Member of CSIRO's Manufacturing Sector Advisory Council
Speakers:
- Angus Armour, Deputy Director General, Industry, Innovation, Hospitality and the Arts, NSW Trade & Investment
- Dig Howitt, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Logistics, Cochlear
- Professor Göran Roos, Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Council, Member of the Prime Minister's Manufacturing Leaders Group and Member of CSIRO's Manufacturing Sector Advisory Council
Speakers:
- Zoran Angelkovski, Managing Director, META
- Jeff Connolly, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens
- Steven Landry, Managing Director, ATCO Australia
Speakers:
- Zoran Angelkovski, Managing Director, META
- Steve Kanowski, Chief Economist and Executive Director Infrastructure Policy and Planning, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Government
- Dr Swee Mak, Director, Future Manufacturing Flagship, CSIRO
Speakers:
- Professor Janelle Allison, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Regional Development), University of Tasmania
- The Hon. Matthew Groom MP, Tasmanian Minister for State Growth
- Dr Swee Mak, Future Manufacturing Flagship, CSIRO