Manufacturing advances calls for skills
National Manufacturing Week and Austech (NMW 2010) began yesterday with a call for more people to enter the industry as the advanced manufacturing sector grows.
“Despite international competition, the GFC and other challenges, Australia’s manufacturing industry is alive and well,” said Shane Infanti, CEO of peak body Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute (AMTIL).
“Manufacturers contribute more than $280 billion to the economy each year, employ more than 1 million Australians and invest nearly half of Australia’s contribution to R&D. Despite this, many still consider that manufacturing is a dirty or dead-end job – and so the best and brightest tend to discount manufacturing as their first career choice.”
Infanti said the industry needed more secondary and tertiary graduates interested in a career path in management, advanced technologies such as robotics, engineering, computer programming, and related areas.
NMW 2010 runs until May 14 at the Sydney Showground. Entry is free, register on site or at www.nationalmanufacturingweek.com.au.
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