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Episode 56 -- Lachlan Smart from Smartline
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Welcome to this special episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, one which we're running as part of our quest to identify Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers.
Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers is a new campaign by @AuManufacturing. It has been made possible by the generous support of MYOB, SMC Corporation Australia, and Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions. Be sure to check our website and social media channels for regular updates, including profiles of nominees and other information.
In this episode, Lachlan Smart from Smartline Medical tells us about how a small Sunshine Coast-based manufacturer found a niche it could lead the world in, its sharpened focus in the last decade or so, and why a company should try and move a purple chair when they see one.
Episode guide
1:16 – An introduction to Lachie and Smartline, which originally made farming equipment.
3:30 – Wings Around The World, and learning the importance of resilience and of knowing why you’re doing something – both lessons that have translated to business.
6:32 – A small business of just 19, though with customers around the world. Recent launch in South Africa.
7:30 – How they found a niche in endoscopy sterilisation. “We ended up there quite organically.”
10:20 – On innovation
12:06 – An explanation of endoscopy – “one of the fast-growing areas of health” – and the problem they’re addressing.
15:08 – The process. Identifying a problem, generating solutions, and validating these. An approach driven by needing the most efficiency from their R&D. Validating that an idea is worth pursuing before any time is spent on prototyping.
17:26 – “Applying innovation to innovation.” What they are measuring in determining R&D efficiency.
19:02 – Why it’s very expensive to fall off the innovation curve.
21:02 – Difficulties in attracting and retaining talent, and why engineers and tradespeople don’t have to look to big cities for fulfilling careers.
21:52 – The results of a recent supply chain review focussed on risk mitigation.
Relevant links
Smartline's website
https://www.smartlinemedical.com/
WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY AUSTRALIA’S 50 MOST INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURERS. NOMINATE NOW
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