Before the Robots Roll in, is your system healthy enough to handle innovation?
NZ Manufacturer magazine Guest Article by Theresa Grainger, The Lean Hub & Productivity Excellence Academy. Every manufacturer is striving to lift productivity and much of the current focus is on investing in smarter machines, automated processes and AI. But the real question isn’t what we are going to […]
The hidden role of project engineering in NZ Manufacturing
Smart manufacturing is not just about advanced machines, data, or automation. It is also about how projects are delivered. In New Zealand, where margins are tight and downtime is expensive, project engineering is often the difference between a smooth delivery and one that struggles to get finished. Beyond the Plan […]
Beyond the roadmap: How Argus made people the engine of change
Adam Harvey, Business Performance Partner – Manufacturing, The Learning Wave Running operations today feels like living in two realities at once. On one hand, you know the plant has to modernise. The systems are creaking, customers want more for less, and digital tools promise the efficiency you need. On […]
Age-Inclusive Manufacturing: Making Flexibility Fair on the Factory Floor
By Shyamini Szeko, reflecting on Master’s research into ageing and work in New Zealand manufacturing (AcademyEx, 2025) Why Flexibility Matters “My 32-hour week lets me maintain a healthy sleep schedule and personal life,” one long-serving factory worker told me during my research. That small adjustment meant he could keep working […]
The Business Owners Exit Dilemma
David O’Connor, Platform 1 Many aging business owners have worked hard all their lives and are at a stage where they have built up a business that has given them a good income and lifestyle and it’s part of who they are. They know they should do something at some […]
From survival to strategy
Creating a business that runs without you Step into almost any Kiwi workshop at 6 a.m. and you’ll find the owner already there, fixing yesterday’s problem before the team clocks in. They’re signing off orders, juggling suppliers, answering calls and putting out fires faster than they ignite. By mid-morning they’ve […]
Could a laser-generated plume be the next biohazard scare?
By Ruth Nicholson, Laser Safety Officer and Director at NZ Laser Training Institute Ltd Lasers are an emerging technology used across various industrial applications such as precision cutting of metals, welding components with minimal heat distortion, or hardening to improve wear and corrosion resistance. Unlike ordinary white light, they emit a single wavelength […]
“We’re working really hard”
-Sean Doherty Across New Zealand’s Government and manufacturing alike, one phrase is repeated almost like a badge of honour: “We’re working really hard.” Yet, when you look at the numbers, it’s clear that hard work isn’t translating into higher productivity. Rising input costs such as wages, electricity, and raw materials continue […]
AI for Manufacturing Operations: It’s the bus you can’t afford to miss
Gareth Mitchell, Associate Partner, IRIS by Argon & Co Manufacturing globally faces relentless pressure for operational excellence, efficiency, and resilience. Over the past five years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary innovation and a true economic engine reshaping modern manufacturing. As companies encounter supply chain disruptions, predictive […]
NZPO an impartial voice
Media Hawkes Bay Limited, publishers of this magazine, has founded and launched the New Zealand Productivity Organisation (NZPO) to assist in moving manufacturing and business forward. We understand that New Zealand companies may well have their own clients they communicate with regarding productivity. However, New Zealand Manufacturer is an impartial […]
New defence strategy opens doors for small businesses and manufacturers
By Hon Chris Penk Growing the New Zealand defence industry offers a significant opportunity for small businesses and manufacturers. Wearing both my hats as the Associate Defence Minister and the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, I launched the New Zealand Defence Industry Strategy alongside my colleague and friend Defence […]
New steel business exemplifies promise of more competitive building products landscape
The Government’s announcement of the new Building Product Specifications (BPS) document, designed to open the doors to thousands of additional building products and bring construction costs down, has been welcomed by the building industry – and one operator has already taken control of long-standing competition issues in the roofing sector. […]
Supporting manufacturers to succeed
By Hon Chris Penk, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing While the Government has been setting out a pro-growth agenda, a question I often hear when I visit manufacturers or speak to business audiences is: what support is available for firms that want to expand and contribute to a stronger economy? For those who haven’t come across it yet, I want to highlight the Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network. This nationwide programme, delivered in partnership with business chambers, economic development agencies and the national provider Poutama Trust, offers practical, tailored support to help small businesses grow. The past financial year has been one of the strongest yet for the RBP Network. Nearly 4,500 businesses engaged with the programme, which is the highest number outside the COVID-19 response. That’s a seven per cent increase on the previous year, and 13 per cent higher than in 2022/23. This growing uptake tells us that business owners value the advice and connections on offer, and that word-of-mouth recommendations are carrying real weight. One example of what this support can achieve is Coastwood Furniture, a long-established manufacturer in Greymouth. Known for solid timber furniture designed for both retail and commercial clients, Coastwood has been in business for more than 25 years. Like many regional firms, it faces challenges: rising operating costs, softening retail demand, and limited access to experienced leadership talent. Within the company, some staff had stepped into management roles without formal training. Across its retail network, staff were not always equipped to present Coastwood products consistently. With support from Development West Coast through the RBP programme, Coastwood put targeted training in place. This included leadership development workshops, advanced health and safety training, and a “train the trainer” sales initiative to help retail partners around the country. The impact has been clear. Leaders […]