The release today of the Engineers Australia report, "Engineering the Future of Australian Manufacturing", sets out research and recommendations for an opportunity to develop Australia''''s existing areas of competitive advantage through a partnership between the manufacturing sector and government, driven by a clearly articulated vision for the sector encapsulated in a National Manufacturing Policy.

Speaking at the release of the report in Melbourne today, Peter Cockbain, Chair of the Engineers Australia Manufacturing Working Group, said, "The Federal Government''''s reviews into Australia''''s innovation, trade and exporting and taxation systems, the CRC program, higher education system and commitment to the rebuilding of the national innovation and R&D system, provided the right set of circumstances to move to an overarching National Manufacturing Policy.

"While over recent years the sector has undergone a period of change, the resulting structural adjustment has ensured the sector''''s continued relevance as a contributor to GDP, a provider of employment and as both a source of export and import replacement revenue for Australia.

"Despite the current global economic downturn, there are many areas of future potential growth for the Australian manufacturing sector.

"However, Australian manufacturing requires a high level of innovation and integrated programs between industry, government and the education sector for those potential growth areas to expand," Peter Cockbain said.

Engineers Australia considers the essential elements of a National Manufacturing Policy to be the development of Technology Roadmaps. The Technology Roadmap concept is a consultative process, led by government, that is designed to help manufacturing, its supply chain, academic and research groups to come together to jointly identify and prioritise the technologies needed to support strategic research and development (R&D), marketing and investment decisions.

"For Australian manufacturers to be competitive in today''''s global economy they must be able to produce the right product at the right time.

"In this environment, Technology Roadmaps are superior analytical and marketing tools with the capacity to chart future market directions, forecast technological developments and help determine strategic choices that companies need to make to remain competitive and grow their markets.

"The time has arrived for a strategic revitalisation of the Australian manufacturing sector through the development of an integrated and government driven National Manufacturing Policy, supported concurrently by Innovation Policy and a National Skills Strategy," Peter Cockbain concluded.

Further details and specific recommendations of the "Engineering the Future of Australian Manufacturing" report are available at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/advocacy

Media Contact: John Bright - 0407 234 490 / jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au