Manufacturing
Tasmanian has 1 807 manufacturing businesses and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Manufacturing
Industry Overview
Advanced manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing is a priority for Tasmania.
State Growth defines advanced manufacturing as businesses that uses new technologies to drive growth throughout the value chain.
Tasmania has advanced manufacturing in food and beverage processing, smart technologies, forestry, maritime, mining equipment technology and services, renewable energy, transport equipment and the defence industry.
As of 2020, there are 1 807 manufacturing businesses in Tasmania.
Manufacturing Tasmania report from State Growth notes that the industry employs 17 977 Tasmanians in new product manufacturing, defence opportunities, maritime, oil, and gas. It is estimated that the top six manufacturing businesses employ over 2,000 people in total.
Tasmania’s advanced manufacturing action plan 2024 aims to support the industry to:
- Attract a highly skilled workforce.
- Adopt leading edge design, innovation, technologies and practices
- Increase sector collaboration and advocacy.
- Increase market access and industry promotion.
Maritime manufacturing
Tasmania has world class design, manufacture and fit-out of marine vessels with a number of ship yards. Capability for bespoke manufacturing of antennae, boat anchors, life boats, winch systems.
Defence manufacturing
Tasmania defence industry strategy highlights manufacturing priorities of:
- Specialised watercraft, maritime and marine products and services.
- Specialised support vehicle and component production
- Food, food nutrition and food science
- Innovative and technologically advanced systems, underpinned by the provision of world class research, education and skills training.
Manufacturing in Australia
- Beyond business as unusual: A 21st century culture of manufacturing in Australia outlines industry changes
- The Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy
- Advanced manufacturing; a new definition for a new era by Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre.
- Publications about advanced manufacturing by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
- Labour data about the national manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing
Qualifications
Vocational Qualifications
The most common qualifications completed for manufacturing:
- Certificate IV, Competitive Systems and Practices
- Certificate II, Electrotechnology (Career Start)
- Certificate III, Electrotechnology Electrician
- Certificate II, Engineering Pathways
- Certificate III, Competitive Systems and Practices
- Certificate III, Engineering – Fabrication Trade
- Certificate III, Engineering – Mechanical Trade
Tertiary Qualifications with UTAS
Maritime qualifications
Both vocational and tertiary qualifications from the Australian Maritime College.
Example positions
In Australia half of manufacturing positions are pre and post production. For example, in research and development, transport and logistics, sales and service.
Examples of production positions include:
- Food process and food trade workers
- Fabrication Engineering Trades Workers
- Construction, Distribution and Production Managers
- Stationary Plant Operators
- Packers and Product Assemblers
Manufacturing
Career Development
Skills in demand in Tasmania
Tasmanian recruiters identified these skills:
- Mechanical trades (see qualifications above)
- Program NC and CNC machining centre: MEM07019
- SAP skills
- Truck drivers
- Forklift truck licence: LF–TLILIC0003
-
Forklift truck, order picking licence: LO–TLILIC0004
Professional development
Free online training from the Manufacturing Academy for Australia manufacturers seeking advancement, competitiveness and growth.
Skills for the future
The National Manufacturing Priorities from the Australian manufacturing the Modern Manufacturing Strategy:
- Resources Technology & Critical Minerals Processing
- Food & Beverage
- Medical Products
- Recycling & Clean
- Energy
- Defence
- Space
Manufacturing
Networking
Start building your connections and local knowledge by connecting with:
- Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre – free training
- Australian Defence Magazine – defence manufacturing news
- Crisp Bros & Haywards – manufacturing and ship building
- Direct Edge Manufacturing – steel fabrication
- Elphinstone – mining and rail equipment
- Grad Australia – career advice for graduates
- Lightning Protection International -lightning and surge protection
- PFG Group – plastics
- Tasmanian Maritime Network – maritime businesses
- Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy – industry body
Subscriptions
Develop local industry knowledge by subscribing for updates:
- Industry Updates is a Manufacturing & Industrial Equipment Magazine where you can subscribe to e-news.
- Browse manufacturing industry associations for relevant news to sign up too.
Workers union
- Australia Manufacturing Workers Union – provides helpline, insurance, and legal advice for its members and has a Tasmanian branch.
Manufacturing
What Employers Want
Examples from entry level job advertisements
- Communication skills – phone, email, face to face with customer service, purchasing or operations manager.
- Forklift and picker packer licence and experience.
- Physical fitness for lifting up to 22kg.
- Safe manual handling techniques.
Example requirements for entry level positions
- Manual drivers licence and own car
- National police check
- Ability to work in a range of environments – freezer, chiller, ambient
- Willing to undergo a pre-employment medical check
- Ability to work on a rotating roster – one week on day shift and next week on afternoon shift.
Examples from management job advertisements
- KPI to enhance productivity, reduce error rates and uphold quality.
- Maintaining compliance and an inclusive safe work environment.
- Pro-active approach to continuous improvement.
Example experience requirements for management positions
- Project planning and scheduling
- Sales and operations planning (S&OP)
- Stock control.
- Quality systems experience, preferably ISO 9001.
- Production and material planning.
- Demand planning, inventory management and handling
- Line operations and/or forecasting.
- Implementing lean manufacturing principles.
Manufacturing
Finding Jobs in Tasmania
Examples of Tasmanian manufacturing businesses
- Brierley Hose and Handling
- CLTP Tasmania
- Crisp Bros & Haywards
- Derwent Industries
- Direct Edge Manufacturing
- Elphinstone
- Flexiscreens
- Maltec Engineering
- Mitchell Plastic Welding
- SalPet
- Setori Engineering
- Ta Ann Tasmania
- Tasmanian Rigging Supplies
- The Engineering Company
How to find other manufacturing businesses
- Tasmanian Manufacturing – This website provides advanced search capabilities to find specific manufacturers by their qualifications, sector, capabilities, or market.
- Join as a member for free along with 75 other Tasmanian members of Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre
- Members of the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council
- Manufacturing jobs in SEEK – Identify businesses and recruiters to connect with by setting up a manufacturing search alert in Seek.
- Employers of Choice awardees
Recruiters
- Hays vacancies
- Programmed vacancies
- Searson Buck vacancies
Manufacturing
Job Seeker Tips
Don’t dismiss casual positions
Businesses offer casual roles even when they need a permanent or full time position. This lowers the risk of recruiting by testing workers out first. Ask what hours the position may have subject to good performance.
Follow up
Business may keep applications for three months. Voice an interest in the company beyond the position you’re applying for, and that you’d like to be considered for future roles. If unsuccessful with the first application, seek feedback. And follow up about any upcoming positions.
Sponsorship
Employers can seek advice from a Business Industry and Regional Outreach Officer from Home Affairs if they wish to sponsor your visa to hire you in a skilled position.
Manufacturing
Acknowledgements
The Migrant Network acknowledges the invaluable input from the industry, in particular Sharon Brewer from Hays Recruiting Tasmania.
“Most useful was resume making (I came to know many wonderful things).” Skilled migrant, 23 January 2021.
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About MRC Tas
Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania (MRC Tas) is a not-for-profit organisation that has been supporting people from migrant and humanitarian backgrounds to settle successfully in Tasmania since 1979.
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About Migrant network tasmania
Migrant Network Tasmania draws on the goodwill, stories and tips of migrants and the wider community to help fellow migrants to establish lives and careers in Tasmania.