Investing in Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Abstract

Compares the findings of a survey conducted in Australia and the United Kingdom which investigated issues concerning investments in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs). Responses were received from 61 companies in Australia (37.9 per cent response rate) and 67 companies in the United Kingdom (44.7 per cent response rate). Respondents in both countries represented around ten different industrial sectors and varied in size from less than 100 employees to more than 10,000 employees. Respondents reported investment in one or more AMTs with around two‐thirds of the investment in the range £250,000 to £500,000 and A$500,000 to A$10m respectively in the two countries. The comparison shows some interesting similarities and differences between Australia and the UK. These are in the types of technologies implemented, financial appraisal methods used, training in AMT and production management, perceived benefits of AMTs, difficulties of implementing AMTs and the respondents’ role in formulating various strategies. Discusses the similarities and differences in the above areas in some detail and argues why some of the differences exist.