The Advanced Manufacturing Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) was recently launched in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We’ve decided to put together a short series of posts to help summarise this important milestone and what it means for Advanced Manufacturing in the coming years. In particular, looking at those initiatives that are likely to be of interest to our clients, past, present & future.
The full document is linked here and gives plenty more detail beyond the overview provided.
What is the Advanced Manufacturing ITP
The detailed ITP document summarises this as:
The Advanced Manufacturing Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) is an opportunity for business, unions and workers, government, Māori, Pacifc peoples and wider stakeholders to co-create and co-own a plan to accelerate the growth and transformation of Aotearoa New Zealand’s advanced manufacturing sector.
In practical terms this is a plan consisting of six priorities formed into an action plan of initiatives to be deployed over the next 3 years. With the aim of accelerating growth & transformation.
Who developed the plan?
The ITP was co-created and will be co-owned by businesses, unions, workers, government, Māori, Pacific Peoples and wider stakeholders. It was further refined by public consultation.
What is Advanced Manufacturing and why have an ITP for it
Advanced manufacturing refers to the manufacturing industry as a whole in New Zealand making a huge range of products for domestic and export use. The ‘advanced’ terminology is an acknowledgement that to achieve some of the key objectives of the plan, the adoption of modern technologies (Industry 4) are required.
Advanced manufacturing is in a good place to leverage the focus and support that the transformation plans deliver because:
- It employs 10.7% of the workforce, including being second largest employer of Māori & Pacific people.
- It is the number one export at $44.5B, accounting for 30.5% of business R&D expenditure.
- And the industry is shifting with the accessibility of game changing technologies, and the drive for a sustainability & circular economy.
- All this meaning it has significant scope to increase wages, productivity & sustainable outcomes.
What are the key priorities?
Increasing investment in advanced technologies and processes to lift productivity and wages.
- Developing & attracting a diverse high-skilled high-wage workforce.
- Creating a leading sustainable circular net-zero emissions sector.
- Improving the understanding and perceptions of advanced manufacturing.
- Making innovation, R&D and science work for advanced manufacturing.
- Enhancing global connectivity and opportunities.
Our next posts will focus on the more detailed initiatives that form the action plan of the ITP, starting with Priority 1.