Manufacturers on the Central Coast are being encouraged to apply for funding through the NSW Government’s $800,000 Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program, designed to help regional businesses improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance competitiveness.
The program provides funding for small-to-medium-sized manufacturers in regional New South Wales to undertake professional audits that assess their operations and identify opportunities for streamlining production, reducing waste, and investing in workforce training, the government said in a news release.
Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley stressed the program’s importance for the local economy, stating, “Manufacturing has long been a part of our identity with local businesses employing thousands of workers, providing good jobs and a good future for our region.”
Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty highlighted the need for such support, saying, “The Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program is an important part of our ongoing support for regional manufacturers across the state, helping them overcome the challenges posed by rising supply chain, energy, and labour costs.”
The government reported that manufacturing remains a crucial industry for NSW, contributing nearly 30 per cent of Australia’s total manufacturing output.
In regional NSW alone, the sector generates $32 billion in sales and employs 84,000 workers. On the Central Coast, manufacturing employs 10,600 people and contributed $1.4 billion to the local economy in 2023-24.
Industry research by Binder Dijker Otte (BDO) suggests that businesses implementing lean manufacturing principles can significantly improve their profit margins.
Donaldson Filtration Solutions, a North Wyong-based manufacturer, has successfully adopted lean strategies, demonstrating the tangible benefits of such practices.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris emphasized the program’s long-term benefits.
“By supporting Central Coast businesses to improve their operations, we’re strengthening the whole economy of our region, which creates more jobs for people close to where they live.”
Expressions of interest for the program are open until 4pm on Monday, 31 March 2025, with funding allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligible manufacturers can find program details and application guidelines on the Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program webpage or contact the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development via economic.programs@dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Encouraging manufacturers to take advantage of the opportunity, Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said, “We have so many fantastic, innovative manufacturers across the Central Coast region, and the Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting their growth and competitiveness in the local, national, and global market.”
Member for The Entrance David Mehan reinforced the call for applications, stating, “Labor wants to support local manufacturing, and I encourage businesses on the Central Coast to apply.”
