NEWS RELEASE
February 7 2002
International
think tanks brainstorm future of manufacturing
In
today's competitive, rapidly changing, global marketplace the
manufacturing industry is under constant pressure to move towards
efficient, intelligent and flexible systems.
This
need to develop a capacity to adapt quickly to changes in consumer demand
and provide services at a lower cost has spurred manufacturing companies
to look for new and innovative solutions to ensure success in the 21st
century.
Australian
manufacturing academic, UniSA’ s Professor Grier
Lin, says the way
forward for the manufacturing industry is to embrace the challenges and
issues inherent in manufacturing by building stronger partnerships with
researchers who can develop improved outcomes both economically and
environmentally.
In
a keynote lecture, Leadership in the Technological Age at
the Inaugural International Manufacturing Leaders Forum 2002 (IMLF),
Friday, 9.45 to 10.30 am on February 8, 2002,at the Banquet
room, Adelaide Town Hall, Professor Lin will highlight the
need to fast track the relationship between the manufacturing industry and
academic institutions to maximize problem solving and best practice.
“It
is quite clear that the collaborative research involving both industry and
research institutions on intelligent manufacturing must be conducted with
full vigor to help industries attain excellence and enhance the economic
and social well being of society, and the health of the environment,”
Prof Lin said.
“Today
manufacturing leaders worldwide need to provide leadership at all levels.
They can not afford to underestimate the vital role they play in
determining the future quality of our lives, our businesses, our organisation,
our environment and our society,” Professor Lin said.
A
key feature of the three-day manufacturing forum will be a series of
“think tanks” that address some of the key issues facing the
manufacturing industry.
The
Future of International Collaboration, E-Manufacturing/E-Business and
Green Manufacturing, are the topics for the three brainstorming sessions.
Professor
Hartmut Kaebernick, University of New South Wales,
will lead the Think Tank on Green Manufacturing. Some of the
answers this think tank will be searching for are - What is the current
status of green manufacturing research and what still remains to be done?
Who drives green manufacturing? How do we benefit economically from green
manufacturing?
Professor
Jay Lee, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
will lead the Think Tank on E-Manufacturing/E-Business. This
group will focus on the issues surrounding the way companies develop new
products and process as a result of changing global economic structures
and the emergence of E-Business.
The
IMLF 2002 is sponsored by UniSA, Dynek Pty Ltd, the Centre for Innovation,
Business and Manufacturing, the Cooperative Research Centre for
Intelligent Manufacturing Systems and Technologies and the University of
New South Wales.
News
Editors please note that while the International Manufacturing Leaders
Forum runs from Feb 8-10, 2002, days two and three will be conducted
aboard the Murray Princess riverboat so local interviews should be
arranged for day one.
For
more information: Sev Nagalingam, UniSA’s Centre for Advanced
Manufacturing Research
(08)
83023635 or media contact: Michèle Nardelli 8302 0966 or 0418823673
