Procurement is a hot topic in the manufacturing sector, and we'll be putting out a special update on this area soon.

In the meantime, the good news is that the Procurement Policy Team at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has listened to our gripes and are now consulting on how to improve panel contracting practices across government.

Please give them feedback and help them make it a better system - more on this below.

Catherine Beard
027 463 3212 or cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

New Zealand's manufacturing sector saw activity increase further in March, with new orders leading the way, according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for March was 57.8 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding).  This was the highest level of expansion since January 2016.  Overall, the sector has remained in expansion in almost all months since October 2012.

It was pleasing to see the sector pick up across all sub-indices.

"The key sub-indices of production (60.4) and new orders (64.3) were both above the 60 point mark for the first time since September 2016, with the latter at its highest level of expansion since June 2004".

"In addition, the pick-up in overall activity was mirrored by a corresponding lift in the proportion of positive comments, rising from 61.7% in February to 67.2% in March". More...

Telecommunications giant Huawei plans to invest at least $400m in New Zealand over the next five years, including plans to spend on local procurement, plough money into university research, and build cloud computing infrastructure. The company will also open a new regional office in Wellington.

"The bulk of the money has been earmarked to bring New Zealand companies into our global supply chain," says Andrew Bowater, Huawei New Zealand director of public affairs.

He says Huawei has set aside $250m for local procurement, although there could be more money if the right opportunities appear.

"We've asked NZTE to help us find suitable potential partners. We're looking for everything from phone apps to chip sets."

It's a huge opportunity for local developers and manufacturers to get an important entry point into the Chinese market.  More...

With a vision to help everyone get the most out of the internet, online tools and digital technology, The Digital Journey Team is a collaboration between Google, the New Zealand Government, Chorus and Spark. ​

It provides online assessment tools and digital resources to businesses and individuals free of charge! This includes public and in-company training programmes, project management and consultancy and a digital coaching service for businesses.

Find out more...

As technology transforms the global food industry, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) in partnership with Techweek17 has assembled an international panel of progressive thinkers to challenge, inspire and showcase the transformation of how food is processed, manufactured and marketed.

The full speaker line-up will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but for now, save the date of Friday 12 May, 2017.

Venue: Viaduct Events Centre, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland
Price: $75 + GST

For enquiries please contact Zahra Champion at zahra.champion@aucklandnz.com or click here to register.

BusinessNZ receives a reasonable amount of feedback from businesses who have been asked to be on a panel (at considerable cost in terms of time and effort), only to find the whole panel experience disappointing. They either don’t get any work, or the panel is too large, or there is poor communication and they don’t know what is going on.  

The Procurement Policy team at MBIE has listened to our gripes and are now consulting on how to improve things. 

If you want to give them some feedback, please read this and help them make it a better system with your feedback.

LearningWorks has partnered to offer government funded qualifications that provide employees with the opportunity to successfully achieve either the:

• National Certificate in Adult Education (Level 4)  OR
• New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4)

This opportunity, which usually has a retail value of $3,000 + GST per person, requires both management and employee commitment as results are reported back to the NZ Government - which has provided this funding model to improve the skill-base of the nation’s workforce.

To register interest on behalf of multiple learners, please email sales@learningworks.co.nz or phone 07 929 4063. 

Alternatively, individual learners can register their interest here by Friday 19th May.

Don’t miss out as places are limited!

This is a thought provoking piece by Patrick Gillespie @CNNMoney, on the economics of technology and the economics of trade. 

President Trump portrays Mexico, China and global trade as the biggest threats to American manufacturing jobs.

His predecessor also offered a warning to American workers, but of a different kind. "The next wave of economic dislocations won't come from overseas. It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes a lot of good middle class jobs obsolete," President Obama said in his farewell address.

Research supports Obama's claim. Far more jobs are lost to robots and automation - better technology - than trade with China, Mexico or any other country. More...

WorkSafe New Zealand is consulting on proposed changes to the :

• Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) for: 1,2,3-trichloropropane, vinyl bromide, vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene, lead and inorganic lead dust and fume, and the
• Biological Exposure Index (BEI) for Lead.

Reviews have been carried out and WorkSafe New Zealand proposes new WES/BEI values for the substances.  You can find the reviews here.

If you wish to provide feedback please download and complete the response form corresponding to each proposal, and return to WorkSafe by email or post.

The deadline for responses is 5pm on Friday 2nd June 2017.

This conference is an opportunity to consolidate, connect and collaborate with the NZ Manufacturing and Design (MaD network), focused on New Zealand’s innovative manufacturing economy of the future.

Research institutions from around New Zealand and MaD industry representatives will be showcasing their manufacturing and design work and expertise on 10 & 11 May.

Venue: ANZ Viaduct Event Centre, 161 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.

Registrations close 3 May! Click here for more info & to register.

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