COVID-19 has put Australian manufacturing into the spotlight again.
Government and customers are looking to manufacturers to provide safe harbour.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is spruiking Australia's 'economic sovereignty' in a post COVID-19 world.
According to an Offsider Ag spokesman, a recent consumer survey showed Australian customers want products that are transparent, trustworthy and in control of their supply chains.
"Many Australian businesses were ill-prepared for supply chain risks on this scale," the spokesman said.
"Focusing on cut-rate manufacturing to improve the organisational bottom line, businesses may have put their, and their customers operations at risk."
They say chance favours the prepared, nowhere more so than in this brave new world.
"People are genuinely surprised that all our gear is made in Australia from Australian inputs," Offsider Ag Equipment founder, David Hicks said.
"That is especially the case when they see the price."
Since founding the business in 2017, with wife Andrea Brosnan, Mr Hicks has been questioned about choosing to keep manufacturing in Australia.
"We knew from the start Offsider Ag had to be made in Australia," he said.
"We are keeping jobs in our community, and Australian production gives real time influence over quality.
"Using Australian steel and local timber keeps us insulated from things like COVID-19.
"When we looked at business risk, there are things we can't control, like droughts and fires, but we can control quality and input sources."
As an Australian manufacturer, Offsider Ag can customise orders and respond to feedback.
"We have products like our Stud Sheep Handler and Dairy Calf Handler as a direct result of working with customers to build what they need," Mr Hicks said.
"It is almost impossible to do that if the manufacturing is overseas.
"For as long as people want good gear, made in Australia, for Australian conditions and stock, that's what we are going to do."
- Visit: www.offsiderag.com.au
