MF News
Big picture thinking
Managing Director, Mark Fusco, was recently interviewed by The Australian in relation to the future of car industry here in Australia. Read Mark's thoughts below.
Proposal for car-making pool
Verity Edwards, The Australian, April 22, 2013
AN engineering consultancy firm that helped the ASC revamp its manufacturing process has called on the Gillard government to develop a shared-use car plant to save the industry.
Manufacturing Focus managing director Mark Fusco, who has worked in the US, European and Japanese car industries, said shared plants in the US and Europe had worked well and could improve profitability.
He said a government-backed, shared-use manufacturing facility for Holden, Toyota and Ford would improve economies of scale, increase productivity and stop the federal and state governments from "burning" taxpayers' money on subsidies.
"Having studied a lot of global car markets, our market is so small they're never going to have a dominant volume here," Mr Fusco told The Australian yesterday.
"We have to talk about how we've got to consolidate capacity and make the fixed costs lower."
His comments came as South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill yesterday met unions, local councils and MPs to discuss $50 million in subsidies for Holden's manufacturing plant in Adelaide's northern suburbs, after the company last week announced it would shed 400 workers.
Mr Fusco said Daimler Chrysler and Toyota had worked together in the US, and the Dutch government had supported a joint Mitsubishi and Volvo factory.
His proposal for an Australian carmaking hub would involve Holden, Ford and Toyota sharing component making, paint shops and other economies. Platforms, tooling and unique operations would remain separated. This could increase profitability in an industry needing to build 250,000 cars annually to be viable, he said.
Federal and state governments could work together to buy and establish a site and the carmakers would then set up a joint management team. The government could channel subsidies into establishing the new site."Instead of burning money with subsidies, the industry needs some structural adjustment," Mr Fusco said.
A spokesman for Industry Minister Greg Combet said: "The government will consider any investment proposals from the automotive or other sectors based on their merit and would consider any collaborative manufacturing proposal in the same way."
Mr Weatherill said a shared facility had not been raised or considered by his government.
A Holden spokesman said it "would not completely rule it out", but said such a facility would have to be in South Australia.
A Ford spokeswoman said for a shared site to work, the three companies would have to share common manufacturing processes, which could prove difficult given the different types of vehicles made by them.
Toyota did not respond to a request for comment.
MF makes top three in DTC Outstanding SME Award
19 MARCH 2013 - MF has secured a top three recommendation for the DTC Defence Industry Member Awards in the Outstanding SME category. The Outstanding SME Award recognises an SME that has excelled in their engagement with the defence industry to build their capability and capacity to work in Defence.
Winners of the DTC Defence Industry Member Awards will be announced at the Dinner and Award Ceremony on 31 May 2013. If you are interested in further information relating to the awards and how you can be part of this event please refer to the DTC website.
Click here to read the media release.
Pink Stumps Day at Happy Valley Cricket Club
Manufacturing Focus was a proud sponsor of Happy Valley Cricket Club’s recent ‘Pink Stumps’ fundraiser. More than 300 people attended the weekend’s events, which included a 20/20 demonstration game as well as the usual minor round activity, ladies day fashion and of course raffles and collection tins. The Club raised just under $1000 for the McGrath Foundation – a very successful weekend indeed. Congratulations to all those that contributed.
MF is getting busy in the West
Want to know more about the Seven Deadly Wastes? Live in Perth or have business colleagues that do? Then why not come along to the apicsAU WA Presentation & Network Evening on 20th March. MF will be delivering a session on understanding, identifying and reducing the seven deadly wastes in your business. We’ll provide examples of wastes, how they’ve been overcome and pass on some simple tools that will allow you to increase the effectiveness of your business.
Click here for more information and booking details
On the 21st March MF is partnering with apicsAU WA to deliver ‘Lean Layout Training’. The session will introduce participants to the principles of Lean layout and the associated benefits for every level of the business. A look at how local and national world class business incorporate the elements will provide solid examples.
The training is ideal for those responsible for managing facilities or workplaces, and essential for any company considering a new facility in the future.
Click here for more information and booking details.
MF offers training options
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 3 OCTOBER 2012 - Manufacturing Focus offers a range of training options to complement our existing service offerings, including more than 20 short-courses, tailored to your business and staff knowledge, including introductory, refresher and targeted courses.
All of our training can be delivered at your premises, utilising our highly experienced trainers who have many years of experience, application and involvement in process excellence across multiple industry sectors.
To find out how we can help meet your training needs, please phone us on (08) 7120 9400 to speak to our Training Manager.
MF makes Telstra Awards final
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 5 JUNE 2012 - Manufacturing Focus, one of the leading providers of business improvement solutions in Australia, has been selected as a finalist in the annual Telstra Business Awards. The company is one of six businesses in the Small Business category.
“We’re delighted to be a finalist for this esteemed award” said Mark Fusco, Manager Director of Manufacturing Focus. “The Telstra Business Awards are held in high regard. It is great recognition for the efforts of our team, who are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients.”
Winners of the Telstra South Australian Business Awards will be announced at the Hilton Adelaide on 20 July 2012.
MF appoints Advisory Board
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 9 NOVEMBER 2011 - Manufacturing Focus, one of the leading manufacturing and organisational improvement providers in Australia, has appointed an advisory board made up of a diverse group of industry leaders to ensure the company’s continuing success during a period of growth.
South Australian Businessman of the Year 2002, former Mitsubishi Motors CEO and Chair of the Safe Work Australia Mr Tom Phillips AM is chairman of the Advisory Board. Mr Phillips is joined by Josh Simons, partner of legal firm Minter Ellison Lawyers; Chartered Accountant Richard Koral, Director of taxation and accounting firm EFC Group; and Manufacturing Focus managing director Mark Fusco.
MF sponsors IPOS'12
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 1 NOVEMBER 2011 - Manufacturing Focus is pleased to announce it’s sponsorship of the 2012 Integrated Planning & Optimisation Summit (IPOS’12). IPOS’12, to be held in Adelaide in February next year, is the premier event on the emerging top of enterprise-wide decision support.
The Summit is divided into Technical and Business streams, with a few keynote presentations that combine both streams together to challenge thinking about what’s possible and what the future will look like. The two streams are designed to the break the subjects of “Integrated Planning” and “Optimisation” down into digestible components, such as data issues, source systems, integration, process change, as well as case studies.
Manufacturing Focus will deliver two sessions on 'process based costs' and 'process based measurements and management'. Through the use of practical methods and case studies, MF will demonstrate the value of using accurate data to drive process costs and behaviour.
