Manufacturers benefit from design
15 March 2012
CIIC news
National
Enterprise Connect is leading a Design Integration Pilot (DIP) program, which integrates design capability into selected manufacturing businesses in NSW and SA, to enhance innovation and competitiveness to drive growth.
The program is working hands on with companies to identify how design can help the businesses to differentiate and compete in a high cost economy. It is being delivered by a team of business and design analysts, from Equip consultancy, the Enterprise Connect Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) and Manufacturing Centres and other design professionals.
Rossi Boots and Street & Park Furniture have completed the first stages of the pilot and said that they believe it has given them a deeper understanding of the value of design to their business operations and strategy.
Cameron Johnston, Managing Director of Street and Park Furniture, said:
"I am always excited at opportunities to improve our manufacturing and design competitiveness. What we hope to use this program for - is a launching pad against our competitors based on good design. Good design is possible in South Australia and is so often not valued or celebrated."
Neville Hayward, General Manager, Rossi Boots said:
"We are a 100 year old company manufacturing a good product in South Australia. It is refreshing to see that the Government is trying to assist companies who manufacture here to survive and thrive. We are mindful that we are an old established business but that their may be better ways of doing things - the opportunity to have a group of experts from outside of the business looking at the way we do business can only make us stronger. We see this pilot as presenting us with a real opportunity to get stronger."
The final SA company to complete the pilot is B-d Farms, a producer of biodynamic dairy products. In NSW, air, water and gas product solutions manufacturer, Enware Australia Pty Ltd, and IVR Group Pty Ltd, manufacturers of natural ventilation and architectural sun-shading solutions, are now commencing the pilot.
The Pilot is a Commonwealth and State partnership funded through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (as part of the Clean21 Making Better Managers Initiative), the Commission for Integrated Design South Australia, and NSW Trade and Investment. The Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) is managing the pilot on behalf of Enterprise Connect.
It is one of four CIIC pilot programs which aim to identify new business models, opportunities, networks and markets.