The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Australian PMI dropped by 1.5 points to 52.5 in July, indicating a weaker rate of expansion compared to the previous month.
“The supply and labour constraints afflicting the Australian economy are weighing heavily on the manufacturing sector. Production and employment both fell in July, as manufacturers struggle with chronic labour shortages and supply chain interruptions,” Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said.
“New orders rose this month, but our manufacturers simply can’t meet this demand without more workers. Manufacturing has a key role to play in reducing the inflationary pressures facing Australia. To unlock the industry’s full potential, we need to promptly address skilled labour shortages.”
Labour challenges, supply chain disruptions and high energy prices remain the major structural constraints on manufacturing.

Facilities Management Outsourcing: It’s Different from Other Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Transactions

With facilities management outsourcing on the rise, we are seeing an increase in inquiries from customers about how to contract for these services. One question inevitably raised is, “What are the issues unique to facilities management outsourcing?”—i.e., the issues that you would not see in other business process outsourcing (BPO) transactions. Although, for the most part, the contractual framework and issues are similar across BPO transactions, the very nature of facilities management services requires the customer to consider certain additional issues and to heighten the focus on existing issues.
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For nearly 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2013 sales and revenues of $55.656 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments – Resource Industries, Construction Industries and Power Systems – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment.

Caterpillar is a global leader, a worldwide enabler of sustainable progress. Caterpillar operates hundreds of offices and facilities around the world and has more than 118,000 employees. We serve customers in more than 180 countries. Caterpillar’s global presence, product breadth and financial strength enable us to win in today’s competitive marketplaces.
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Business Planning – Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is an Organisation’s process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. It may also extend to control mechanisms for guiding the implementation of the strategy. Strategic planning became prominent in corporations during the 1960s and remains an important aspect of strategic management.
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