Senior lecturer Daniel Konings
Around 30 small and medium-sized businesses brought production bottlenecks and innovation challenges to the inaugural Advancing Manufacturing Forum (AMF 2026) at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in September, connecting with academic researchers and engineering students to explore practical improvements.
The forum, a collaboration between AUT, the University of Auckland, Auckland Council and Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa, focused on addressing challenges facing New Zealand manufacturers through research, technology and industry partnerships.
Business development manager for AUT’s School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences Tanya Pleshkova described the event as having “strong industry turnout and a lot of good collaboration, connections and conversations”.
Feedback was positive, with organisers considering making the forum a regular event.
The programme combined interactive workshops and industry-academia sessions covering process innovation, advanced materials, automation, sustainable production, renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation.
Companies with project briefs were matched with academics and students to examine operational challenges, identify opportunities for improvement and explore potential research collaborations.
AUT professor of engineering, computer and mathematical sciences Sarat Singamneni presented From Research to Reality: What Could We Solve Together?, examining advances in materials, additive manufacturing, digital technologies and AI, and their potential applications in manufacturing.
“But which developments are genuinely useful for New Zealand manufacturers, and which are still more hype than reality?” he asked.
Singamneni drew on advanced manufacturing research and industry examples to identify technologies that could help SMEs improve production speed, costs and product quality, while highlighting areas where a more cautious approach was warranted.
AUT senior lecturer in mechatronics Dr Daniel Konings examined generative AI applications in manufacturing, including opportunities to deliver business value while maintaining safe, accurate and auditable processes.
AUT materials engineer Professor Zhan Chen discussed manufacturing processes and technologies, including metallurgical, thermomechanical and transformation behaviours during die casting, friction stir welding and metal additive manufacturing involving traditional and newly developed alloys.
An industry panel examined the evolving role of AI across the manufacturing value chain, from product design and production planning to quality assurance, maintenance and operational optimisation.
Speakers included Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa chief executive Catherine Lye, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing Cameron Brewer, and HamiltonJet chief operating officer Rob McKenzie-Carroll.
Brewer reminded attendees that research and development was supported by a 15% tax rebate.
The forum concluded with a guided tour of AUT’s advanced manufacturing research facilities, including its 3D printing, materials and robotics laboratories.