The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD’s) ‘Shoestring Digital’ program will assist local businesses to implement low cost, low risk digital solutions to address business constraints and opportunities.
The program will be rolled out in collaboration with a number of organisations and businesses with expertise in affordable, easily accessible digital technologies.
Cambridge University has been engaged to deliver its ‘Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring’ training sessions to help small and medium sized businesses examine how these technologies can benefit their enterprises.
The sessions are supported by experts from DPIRD, North Metropolitan TAFE, local engineering firms and WA universities to help participants select, design and install simple, low cost digital solutions.
DPIRD project officer Felipe Barria said program participants could access a comprehensive suite of digital tools, educational resources and support services relevant to their business needs.
“The Shoestring Digital program uses cost effective, accessible technology to help businesses automate work processes and generate data to assist business decision making,” he said.
“Businesses can select from existing solutions, modify or design new solutions to help businesses monitor input costs and equipment, automate work instructions, identify and report issues and to monitor capacity.”
The initiative builds on a pilot program with eight WA agrifood and beverage businesses.
“Pilot program participants have reported labour productivity improvements and efficiencies, as well as increased confidence in identifying other aspects of their business that could benefit from the application of digital solutions,” Mr Barria said.
Pilot program participant Shelter Brewing Company used shoestring digital technology to identify up-time and down-time use of equipment to provide a power monitoring solution.
“We are using that data to target items for upgrade, identify items that are using too much power and potentially change our process to better utilise that equipment,” said Shelter Brewing Company Head of Finance Jimmy Ross.
“This information will help us reduce our power usage and also improve our efficiency and production output by better utilising the equipment that we have.
“The program really helped us dive in and build those skills so we can implement more digital solutions into the future.”
Ryan’s Quality Meats implemented technology to automatically count product as it was being processed, after which staff are alerted in real time to decrease overproduction and reduce waste.
Howard Park Wines used a simple power monitoring solution to examine equipment use, especially during the busy vintage period, to help the company achieve its carbon emissions targets.
Agrifood and Beverage businesses interested in participating in the Shoestring Digital program can visit the DPIRD website and register to join the program.
Businesses can also register online to join a webinar to learn more about the program to be held on Tuesday, 30 July 2024.
