Fusion5 is covering a mini-series on the importance of scale up manufacturers with AU Manufacturing, because the decision to expand your business is an exciting one, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. So, what are they, and how can an ERP help you overcome them?
As part of this mini-series, Paul Hutchings, Industry Director – Manufacturing at Fusion5, joins AU Manufacturing’s co-founder and editor, Brent Balinski, to share his observations from a long career in operations management, particularly some of the important things manufacturers should consider when they're in a rapid growth phase.
Scale up on your manufacturing business for success - 4 ways an ERP can help
Episode guide
0:44 – Current role and career path, with a focus on operations management in manufacturing.
2:34 – “A lot of people overcomplicate manufacturing. But it’s basically grabbing ahold of ingredients or resources and converting it into something else.”
4:04 – A difference between Australian and New Zealand manufacturers versus those in the United States.
4:34 – Current role.
6:36 – Trends in food and beverage manufacturing during and since Covid.
7:44 – Traditional industries are starting to look a little harder at and invest in technology including robotics at the moment.
8:34 – Trends among small to medium companies who are scaling up, double-shifting, diversifying and the role of ERP in this.
10:07 – What scaleups are doing to address the labour shortage issue, and the importance of culture in this.
12:02 – Continuing with company culture, and the need to bring employees along as technology is introduced and their jobs change.
13:32 – The horror stories I’ve seen are around change management.
14:20 – “What am I, and where do I want to be?”
15:58 – Companies are often happy to help each other and can be an invaluable source of advice for high-growth companies. As long as they’re not commercial rivals.
16:48 – What clients are saying about the National Reconstruction Fund at the moment.
18:04 – Why planning is such an important – and overlooked – issue.
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