Creating Industry 5.0 learning ecosystem for a sustainable future
Advanced manufacturing meaningful pathways stem from great collaborations and supportive learning ecosystems. Industry 5.0 puts people and the planet at the centre, using Industry 4.0 technologies to service a sustainable, human-centric and resilient society. Aligning both school, industry, community values and touchstones of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), GISP_AM school St Brendan’s College, and All Industries in Yeppoon, Regional Queensland are pioneering the way.
Lean and Neuro Power™ has been used in this ongoing case study, to connect a school and industry partner, to create a LEAN Simulated Work Environment (SWE), with more to come.
The term Lean refers to an industry-based quality management system and application of Lean practices, principles, and tools to develop and manufacture products. To learn more about Lean in industry, and how it’s assisting industry transition, check out the video below produced by key stakeholders and industry connect lead, Dept of Regional Development, Manufacturing & Water’s (DRDMW), CQ Advanced Manufacturing Hub and industry partner, All Industries.
Photograph: L-R Mick Allen (Qld Government's Advanced Manufacturing Hub Rockhampton), Andrew Lawrence (St Brendan's College) Brett Robb (BR Consulting), Russell Claws Livingstone Regional Council, Trent Miles (All Industries), Rob Corboy (St Brendan's College Principal). Absent: Marie Previte (Edmund Rice Education). Photograph taken by Jules McMurtrie, GISP AM Project Manager.
‘The LEAN SWE provides the college and our business the same language to talk to each other, which is a feat in its own. The Skills and Training Centre has created dedicated workspaces that mimic what we do here at All Industries. Safety and Quality (Lean) systems are aligned…giving the students an immersive feeling of being at work.’
Industry partner Trent Miles from All Industries Group Yeppoon.
The LEAN SWE
GISP_AM school, St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon, is connecting teachers, students and industry through the development of a LEAN Learning Hub. St Brendan’s Principal, Rob Corboy and key staff have invested and forged positive relationships with various key stakeholders required to deliver such a pioneering program.
The ecosystem includes local manufacturing industries, local and state government agencies including lead supporters and industry connectors, CQ Advanced Manufacturing Hub, Department of Employment Small Business and Training (DESBT), Livingstone Regional Council and the local university (CQUniversity). All key activators of change in this regional learning hub. Collaboration being key.
These relationships have led to the formation of Simulated Work Environments (SWE’s) inside St Brendan’s Skills & Training Centre, Agriculture Department and the newly formed Sustainability Centre.
‘Providing a liberated education, so that our young men and women can feel confident entering the world of work. This is not an idealistic statement, but an obligation that we take to heart at St Brendan's College as an Edmund Rice (EREA) school and community leader. We understand one of the key drivers of Industry 5.0 is being aligned to our purpose.’
Principal Rob Corboy, St Brendans College, Yeppoon.
St Brendans enlisted Brett Robb, a highly experienced Neuro Power ™ and Lean trainer to support the transition. Brett’s history includes creating the Climate Action Schools Program, trainer at BHP's Future Fit Academy, and was an International trainer for Caterpillar in the Institute for Technology.
Brett reported:
‘To ensure lasting sustainable value for the College and Queensland, we have followed the directions provided in the state strategy’s Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap. It is our obligation to share our knowledge, and we do this through providing our learnings and resources with others, also seeking to make a better world.”
The Queensland Advanced Manufacturing 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan provides the vision of how Queensland will be international market leaders in the delivery of advanced manufacturing technologies, systems, products and services that are innovative, sustainable, and embedded in local and global supply chains. The key to this vision is an adaptive, skilled, and technologically savvy workforce. Our young people are our future workforce and future leaders.
Connecting with industry and LEAN principles
The team recognised an important first step was to connect with industry. Bringing industry into the school, we were able to increase engagement and motivation for learning and more mature behaviours.
Andrew Lawrence, Head of Department of Skills and Training at St Brendan’s commented:
“The SWE [is] a collaborative effort. It gives our students insight and an opportunity to practice and develop capability how a ‘live’ industry workplace operates. The students learn Industry Standard WHS policies and procedures, skills and cultural maturity that will put them at the forefront when it comes to employment opportunities.”
We began with the end in mind and having a satellite view of the whole system, from school into a capable young person, adding great value out in industry. It was agreed accelerated learning occurs in industry, and aligning students to their chosen fields earlier, creates enormous value in terms of engagement, critical reflection and quality learning opportunities. This also positively affects the learning, engagement and drive back in the school learning environment reports the group.
“By becoming an Advanced Manufacturing GISP School, implementing and investing in Lean & Neuro Power principles, having industry input into Simulated Work Environments, St. Brendan’s College in Yeppoon is enabling regional students, to not only be industry ready for work, but to have the mindset to be future leaders and help create a sustainable and bright future they want to live in”
Mick Allen, Director of the CQ Manufacturing Hubs expressed.
A critical stakeholder in the ecosystem is without doubt, industry partner Trent Miles from All Industries Group.
“Working with our local education providers gives our company the opportunity to grow the talent required for our future. To remain relevant, a business must be strategic having long term goals, and a mature culture. The benefits of preparing the next wave of young professionals for your business, or even your industry, speaks for itself’
Trent Miles, All Industries Group
The following are some of the benefits and outcomes All industries have identified:
Finding young people invested and excited about our specific industry, business and learning project and how it fits in our business
Training students in an educational environment, that is cost effective and safe with the help of the school, community and government all collaborating.
Seeing our team enjoy connecting with our regional youth and raising our cultural maturity for us as a region
Getting continuous improvement and learnings through the process
Exposure to the latest technology, case studies and information within the networks provided through QMI and the Gateway to Industry Schools Program for Advanced Manufacturing, government and associated partners in the ecosystem.
Receiving recognition and evidence for Corporate Social Responsibility of our investment through QMI for our tenders and submissions.
‘This simulated work environment (SWE) is now involved in some of our longer-term continuous improvement projects. The students are building product transport trolleys for material movement in the business eliminating the use of timber pallets and delivering highly sustainable outcomes for All Industries Group. This is a perfect fit to give our community the biggest horsepower to be a catalyst for change and growth. Giving these students wisdom to not make the same mistakes and empowering them to build resilience feels good. That is what we all should be striving for as local business owners shouldn’t we?’
- Industry partner Trent Miles from All Industries Group Yeppoon
Through the Advanced Manufacturing Gateway to Industry Program we’ve found the sweet spot of collaboration between Gateway Schools and industry, where continuous improvement projects are just one of the many outcomes.
To become an industry partner
https://www.gatewaytoindustryschools.com.au/get-involved
This case study further exemplifies how collaboration is key to providing meaningful pathways for school to work transitions into industry across Queensland. For other outcomes of QMI’s Industry engagement framework check out