Archive for category: Events

[promobox type=”style2″ description=”Speaker: Assoc Professor Andrew Greentree”] Our Shout for Lunch! 2014 Youth Forum [/promobox]

The Victorian Vernier Society and the Vernier Society Foundation will present a Youth Forum on Thursday 13th November – Kooyong Tennis Club

You will benefit through your attendance because:

1. Lunch, refreshments and great company
2. Quantum Physics and fabricating nano-diamonds?!
3. The future of manufacturing?

Andy is a theoretical physicist, with a background in quantum optics, quantum information and diamond. He works closely with experimental teams worldwide.

He is a Science Theme Leader and Chief Investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics.

Including the Centre of Excellence, he is co-recipient of more than $25M in category one grant funding.

Research highlights include the discovery of a new form of quantum transport in solid-state systems, the prediction of new quantum phases of light, and co-invention of a new method of fabricating diamond nanostructures that led to creation of the thinnest layers of single crystal diamond manufactured. Andy is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow

[fancy_title style=”1″ align=”left” heading_style=”h1″ title_color=”#999″ title_lines_color=”#eee”]Youth Forum Details[/fancy_title]

When: 13th November 2014 from 12:30pm until 3pm

Price: Youth Guests Free including lunch

Where: Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, 489 Glenferrie Road Kooyong

RSVP:  To secure your attendance, please contact Peter Murie on 0419 106 765 or petermurie@bigpond.com

Best practice in manufacturing principles

Starting in manufacturing when I was 16, I spent my holidays working in a repetition engineering factory operating milling machines and lathes making production parts to pay for my schooling to become a mechanical engineer.

Now, 33 years later, I have worked in all areas of manufacturing from concept to after sales service and from shop floor to senior management.  I have been involved in a number of different industries including Aerospace, Automotive, Bio-Medical, Foundry, Glass, Healthcare, Waste, and Building Products.

A “lean” convert, I have been involved with the High Performance Consortium since its inception to promote and instil best practice in manufacturing principles and I won the inaugural Toyota Australia Supplier Kaizen Marathon in 2006. I have given a number of papers promoting manufacturing on topics ranging from Design for Manufacture to how to develop staff and engage employees.

An avowed manufacturing tragic, I believe that innovation holds the key to success and that any company can be successful if they can develop better products or processes than their competitors and maintain their success through continuous improvement.

[promobox type=”style3″]Click here to view the slides from Matthew’s Presentation[/promobox]

[fancy_title style=”1″ align=”left” heading_style=”h1″ title_color=”#999″ title_lines_color=”#eee”]Event Details[/fancy_title]

When: September 11th 2014 from 12:30 for a 1pm start. Finishing at 3pm

Where: Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, 489 Glenferrie Road Kooyong

“TO FIGHT FOR AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING”

The Society’s guest speaker was Albert Goller the Chairman of META. Albert was the Chairman and Managing Director of Siemens Ltd in Australia and New Zealand from 2002 to 2012 but now leads META, a federally funded organisation whose aim is to combine manufacturing businesses through collaborative projects to create business opportunities on a global level.

Albert gave one of the most passionate and frank presentations on the need to ensure manufacturing continues to thrive and provide a significant proportion of the nation’s economic output. His core message is that after the mining boom must come the manufacturing boom! It is a false assumption to assume that because we are losing the Australian automotive industry we will automatically lose our manufacturing industry but as Albert said it must be a different form of manufacturing, away from the traditional mass production because our cost structures are too high and besides that we do not compete on a level playing field as many countries and governments around the world see the crucial importance of having a thriving manufacturing sector. But to paraphrase Mark Twain; “rumours of manufacturing’s demise are greatly exaggerated” and META are determined to play a key part in ensuring this does not happen. Their main focus is to form a number of manufacturing precincts or clusters for key industry sectors where the businesses who together in a collaborative approach to address new markets and new opportunities looking right across the value chain from design to delivery. However Albert acknowledged, endorsing exactly what Vernier’s recent audit of manufacturing companies including Vernier Member companies themselves concluded, that collaboration is not in Australian companies DNA and so META’s challenge is to change this position.

In the 18 months they have been operating they have formed a database of over 3400 companies including over 40 universities and learning establishments and are now putting together clusters or hubs to look at such new collaborative opportunities as portable housing, carbon fibre, Australian clothing and sports technology, which he pointed out is a $300b industry worldwide. The organisation has a goal of 80 different collaboration hubs over 10 industry sectors. Albert sighted the example of the strength of Germany’s SME’s who have a long history of collaboration far different from Australia, who despite being the 13^th largest economy in the world seems to have an adversity to collaborating and not yet quite appreciating we now have to compete in a globalised world.

Under the message of the “Art of Manufacturing” Australian companies now have to use innovation, sustainability, speed and mass customisation to really compete in the intensive world of the future. In the question and answer section after the presentation, Albert was asked about the role of government, and in particular this government, in supporting their cause. This is a particularly pertinent point as META was originally set up under the previous government with a 5 year brief but unfortunately the current government have chose to only fund this extensive program until the end of 2014; although META are now exploring self funding options. In a passionate answer that may have surprised some of the audience, the message it is not going to be achieved by relying on governments of either persuasion, it has to come from those in the industry, and organisations like Vernier, demanding manufacturing is given its rightful place in the economy – manufacturing and its organisations and institutions must become a stronger voice on the political stage. When asked about the hope for areas like Geelong who has lost so many manufacturing jobs recently again Albert’s answer was frank having good news and bad. The bad is that many who have lost their jobs will struggle because the current message is one of retraining but training is currently focused on past skills; the future skills needs have not even yet been identified. But the good news is that the region is already fighting back and there are quite a number of new and innovative projects being developed in the region.

Overall it was an excellent and what should be a thought provoking message for all who passionately care about manufacturing. So the question for the Vernier members is how we can help because we certainly should!

[fancy_title style=”1″ align=”left” heading_style=”h1″ title_color=”#999″ title_lines_color=”#eee”]Event Details[/fancy_title]

Our speaker for July is Albert Goller from META. July 10th 2014 from 12:30.  Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, 489 Glenferrie Road Kooyong.

META a membership organisation made up of Manufacturers and Researchers who collaborate together to reinvigorate Manufacturing and build an agile, innovative and collaborative manufacturing industry.

Another speaker who is right on message from a Victorian Vernier Society perspective.

Mr Albert Goller is the former Chairman and Managing Director of Siemens Ltd in Australia and New Zealand from 2002 to 2012.

Commencing his career as an electronics engineer with Siemens in Germany in 1973, Albert has held a number of senior executive positions throughout the world including President and CEO of Siemens Canada Ltd in Toronto and Head of the Corporate Office for E-business in Munich, Germany.

He has a Masters Degree in Information and Telecommunications from Paderborn University in Germany and has been nominated as one of Australia’s most influential engineers by Engineers Australia magazine consecutively from 2004 – 2010.

Albert took up the position of Chair of the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation Precinct initiative for Manufacturing last year, and has recently formed the organisation representing the Manufacturing Precinct – called META. Albert is a passionate advocate of manufacturing and is convinced a national approach to Australian manufacturing, through the establishment of META, can generate new thinking and action within the sector.

Goran Roos provides much food for thought!

Vernier’s special April meeting at Kooyong Tennis Centre lived up to expectation with guests outnumbering members to listen to an enthralling talk by Professor Goran Roos, who was recently named one of the 13 most influential people in Australia.  Some of the many insights given by Goran were:

• The loss of the automotive industry is worrying in itself but what Australia should be more concerned about is the further loss of what Goran called the “Industrial Commons”.  The technologies and skills that support a country in achieving a high economic complexity, so essential for long term economic success.  This is already an area that Australia scores poorly in against the rest of the world’s leading manufacturing countries.
• China is no longer a low cost manufacturing country and soon east coast China will be as high cost as the US.  Companies like IKEA who are leaders in this sector are now looking at countries like Bangladesh and even Botswana for their manufacturing sites.
• Countries that lead in manufacturing excellence have a long term policy approach that is consistent even if there are political changes.  This allows countries like Germany and Switzerland to offer long term stability for investment; unfortunately Australia at Federal level currently offers divergent policies.

There was much to digest in the thought provoking and in many aspects, worrying depiction for the future of manufacturing in Australia.  It stimulated the appetite for the passionate and prolonged networking session that followed.  The many that stayed were not just nourished by the conversation but also by the usual high quality canapés and excellent service from the Kooyong staff.

Roos, G. & Kennedy, N. (eds.). (2014). Succeeding in a High Cost Operating Environment, IGI Global. Hershey. PA. In Press.

Roos, G. (2014). The constantly changing manufacturing context. Chapter 1 in Advanced Manufacturing – Beyond The Production Line. Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). April, pp. 31-56.

To be launched in Melbourne on 30^th April.

Roos, G. (2013). The innovation ecosystem. Section 3.2 in Australia Adjusting: Optimising national prosperity. Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). November, pp. 107-122.

The full CEDA report can be accessed at this link: http://www.ceda.com.au/media/338287/cedaaustadjusting_web.pdf

To view the entire presentation follow the link below

[promobox type=”style3″] Click here to watch Professor Göran Roos speech [/promobox]

With all the proceeds of the day going to charity, the last Vernier meeting for 2013, saw a reasonably full house of members, new guests and old friends as the Society stepped away from its regular format with a special theme of “Charity and Fun at Christmas”.

Christmas is a special time of year for most Vernier members; a time of family and of giving but to others less fortunate, it can be a time of despair and helplessness.  So we were especially privileged to have the recently appointed ‘Melbournian of the Year’, Major Brendan Nottle of the Salvation Army speak to us on the vital work they do with the homeless and the lonely, not just at Christmas but throughout the year.  Speaking straight from the heart, Major  Brendan told some moving stories of people who come under their care, endorsing to many members the understanding that “there but for fortune could go you or I”.

The ‘Fun’ part of the luncheon was provided by an amusing knowledge quiz that pitted each table against the other.  With a Master of Ceremonies to keep things light hearted and prizes to create incentive, the audience were found sorely lacking on such things as historical dates from Australia’s past, the founders of some of the world’s leading companies and most disappointingly, the sayings of such great thinkers as Spike Milligan and Groucho Marx.  One table, despite suggestions of drug use (later found to be prescription) and internet cheating romped to a resounding win.  In true Vernier fashion the prizes, quality reds personally chosen by the President, were then auctioned back further swelling the Vernier donation and the generous table collections.  In total $2500 was donated to the Salvation Army and the members left knowing, not only had they had a fun day, but they had all helped to bring a small amount of charity to those most in need at Christmas.

[fancy_title style=”1″ align=”left” heading_style=”h3″ title_color=”#999″ title_lines_color=”#eee”]Event Details[/fancy_title]

Our guest speaker is Major Brendan Nottle of the Salvation Army who will talk to us about the vital work his organisation does with those less fortunate; homelessness, poverty and loneliness are still a blight on our society and we should all remember in the words of Don McLean  “There but for fortune go you and I”.  The proceeds of the day, plus a donation from the Society will go to support the Army’s excellent and necessary work and so the almoners will be busy throughout lunch.

December 12th 2013 12:30pm for drinks. Lunch from 1pm – 3pm The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club at 489 Glenferrie Rd  Kooyong VIC 3142

Our October speaker, Rolf Glenk from Holden has over 25 years experience in the automotive industry with Nissan, Bosch, Tickford, Delphi and now GM for the last 10 years. Rolf offered a passionate overview of the complexity of the modern automotive.  Based at GM’s Testing Grounds in Lang Lang approximately 90km south east of Melbourne, where since 1957, Holden has exhaustively tested its vehicles; Rolf’s talk gave an absorbing account of the extremely rigorous testing that goes into every new model and upgrade to ensure the car will perform across the vast range of environmental and climatic conditions, not just in Australia but across Holden’s global market.

Rolf first gave a scripted corporate presentation as an insight into the history of Holden in Australia.  Originating in the 1860’s, Holden first made saddles in Adelaide SA but then as Holden and Frost made carriages in 1885 before producing their first automobile in 1910.  The famous “Lion and Stone” was designed in 1928 and represented the legend of man’s invention of the wheel.  Following the great recession of the late twenties and the massive drop in production, GM purchased the company, merging it with their North American Operation to become GM- Holden’s and the first GM car rolled off the production line in 1948.  In 1978 the first of the very successful “Commodore” range was produced and in 2006, as a result of $1b investment, the first fully Australian designed Commodore was released.  Today, GM worldwide produces over 45 different models from 2 architectures and 6 different body styles.  The Australian facilities in SA and the Engine facility in Prot Melbourne produce the Full commodore range as well as the Cruze.

Holden exports cars mainly to the Middle East under the Chevrolet brand as well as America where the cars, according to Rolf, have been purchased for police work.  According to the Holden website the company has now exported nearly three quarter of a million cars in five decades.

As Rolf enthusiastically explained the Lang Lang property was purchased in 1955 and comprises some 44km of sealed and unsealed roads designed for a range of performance and high speed testing as well as specific and general durability testing.  The track which received a $1.2m facelift in 1992 provides a network of ride and handling roads, rough tracks, twists and ‘rattle and squeak’ tests as well as mud and water baths.  In addition, there is a state of the art emissions laboratory to do the extensive testing now required for certification to Australian and international regulatory requirements.

As Rolf pointed out, the Lang Lang facilities, extensive though they are, cannot provide the range of tests required for a global supplier and so the grounds are complemented with GM testing facilities in Arizona, Michigan, Mexico and Brazil.  Rolf’s talk gave a brief insight into the vast amount of testing that has to be done to the modern automobile to ensure that the GM car meets not just the needs of the ever more discerning customer but also the various regulatory requirements faced around the world.   The complexity of today’s vehicles was perhaps best demonstrated by the interesting point that the electronic computer programs that controls today’s automobile has the manual equivalent of 15,700 knobs to adjust!

And while Holden’s future is uncertain in Australia it seems that the testing grounds are as busy as ever, endorsed by the fact that Rolf was first spotted trying to find a parking place in an unmarked left hand drive vehicle.  The society wishes to thank Rolf and our Society member and father Dieter Glenk for arranging a very interesting talk.

[fancy_title style=”1″ align=”left” heading_style=”h3″ title_color=”#999″ title_lines_color=”#eee”]Event Details[/fancy_title]

Rolf Glenk who is the Senior Calibration Engineer and Diagnostic Strategist in GM Holden Ltd’s Powertrain Engineering Department gave us an overview of the complexity of the modern automotive and the state of Australia’s car industry.

October 11th 2013 12:30pm at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club