Since our last issue, the NSW Government has published two major policy documents - the State Plan "A New Direction for NSW" and the Statement on Innovation.

"So how do they do it?  How has Romar Engineering grown by 15% annually over the 35 years of its existence?"  That was the question in our minds when Innovative Technology Network (ITN) visited Romar Engineering in October.  Unrelenting innovation and aggressive marketing came through as the answers!

The challenge for most small business operators is to be able to market their businesses on a very limited budget.  This session focused on practical hints on what members could do to grow their businesses.

The Western Sydney IT Cluster's November 2006 forum presented participants with the business case for integrating environmental performance into their strategies.  This session highlighted how the need to achieve sustainability is driving innovation in ICT and other technologies by creating a new global market worth billions of dollars.  Speakers included:  David Trewin, Manager of Business Partnerships in the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, on its Sustainability Advantage program for the ICT sector;  Angus M Robinson, CEO of the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, on AEEMA's sustainability goals and objectives;  David Mol, Government and Public Affairs Manager, South Pacific, Hewlett-Packard Australia, on HP's Sustainability Compact and its role as a global citizen;  Ross Ackland, Research Manager, CSIRO ICT Centre, on the development of new ICT to enable a National Water Resources Observation Network;  and Craig Tupper, NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, on the NSW water and energy savings incentives.

This active cluster of manufacturers, located in the Coffs Coast area, is supported by the Department of State and Regional Development.

• APICS Smart Inventory Reduction
• Comparing World Manufacturing Processes-the LEAN Approach
• Welding Technology Institute of Australia's Technology Week 2007
• Sustain Success Through Theory of Constraints Application
• Western Europe-Winning Business with Innovation
• Sales and Operations Planning Demystified
• Women in Manufacturing Network-A Fresh Approach to Identifying Your Customers
• 2007 SMART Awards
• Welding Technology Institute of Australia Annual Awards
• Commercialising ICT Breakthroughs
• Austech 2007-Manufacturing and Machine Tool Exhibition
• Western Sydney Manufacturing Week 2007
• 2007 Women in Business Programs

Cluster meeting schedules.