@AuManufacturing Conversations episode 15 — Associate Professor Cori Stewart from ARM Hub

In episode 15 of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, we speak to Associate Professor Cori Stewart, CEO of the Brisbane-based Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub.

Stewart is founder of the not-for-profit organisation, which officially launched in March 2020 and aims to accelerate the uptake of robotics and AI in manufacturing and other industries within Australia. It recently became the the only independent manufacturing innovation hub in Australia to be awarded approved research institute status.

In this episode we get Stewart’s perspective on why we need to do better communicating the value of robotics and automation within companies, what’s needed from the new government as it looks to develop a national robotics strategy, why a tech accelerator for the defence industry is needed, and more.

“Our great capability in robotics and automation should transform our industry, and we should be taking our success stories and making sure they’re really successful in the global marketplace as well. And you’ll only be able to do that in a sustained way if it’s part of a kind of coherent national industrial policy setting.”

Episode guide:

1:30 – Background to Stewart and her organisation.

5:16 – Robotics for low-volume manufacturing.

7:08 – Recent milestones.

9:48 – A modern understanding of manufacturing and its cross-disciplinary nature.

12:30 – A robot is just another workplace tool. How collaborative robots are being made more useful.

14:45 – Yes, manufacturers are technology companies. We need to communicate that.

17:30 – What we can learn from the UK’s Catapult Network and Manufacturing USA’s institutes.

19:40 – Why Stewart thinks the new federal government is listening on industry policy.

21:42 – Yes, Australia is slow with tech adoption.

23:40 – Why the AI and jobs conversation also needs improving.

27:06 – Addressing the local shortage of industrial robots.

29:08 – Leak detection startup Leakster.

31:05 – The manufacturing ecosystem question.

32:30 – Why we need a tech accelerator for defence.

Picture: (Left to right) Emeritus Professor Roy Green – ARM Hub Chair; Associate Professor Cori Stewart – ARM Hub CEO; and Queensland MP Steven Miles MP (supplied)

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