QMI Solutions is dedicated to improving the skills, performance, innovation and capability of the Queensland manufacturing industry. We achieve this through the provision of specialist knowledge and expertise to help manufacturers implement workforce development strategies, operational enhancements and innovations, and to link industry with major projects, researchers and technology solutions.
History
QMI Solutions was established in 1993 as the Queensland Manufacturing Institute to be Australia’s premier technology diffusion agency. Its founding members were the Queensland Government, CSIRO and the University of Queensland (UQ). In the late 1990s, CSIRO withdrew from the company and was replaced by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The company evolved through strong relationships with the Queensland Government especially the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and the Department of Education and Training (DET).
These relationships, together with the close links with the research sector through QUT and UQ, were, and continue to be, instrumental in the successful diffusion of a number of important technologies and practices to assist Queensland manufacturing become globally competitive including:
- stereolithography
- water-jet cutting
- selective laser sintering
- incremental sheet forming
- Lean Manufacturing and Lean Product Development
- supply chain management
- service enhanced manufacturing
- sustainable manufacturing.
In recent years QMI Solutions has merged with two other key organisations to create a truly integrated centre of excellence for Queensland manufacturing. QMI Solutions’ merger with Manufacturing Skills Queensland in 2007 enables the company to take a lead role in the development of workplace improvement strategies for the manufacturing sector, including advising on skills development and skills retention strategies.
The company’s second merger, with ICN Queensland in 2008, provided QMI Solutions with the capability to contribute to Queensland business and employment growth and to foster innovation by identifying procurement opportunities to increase local industry access to major domestic and global projects.
QMI Solutions is now able to offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ service, supported by government, for Queensland manufacturers to ensure the sector works towards achieving world’s best practice and remains globally competitive on the world stage.