Risk Management in Manufacturing Industries
Industrial & Manufacturing Industry in Australia and New Zealand
Australia’s manufacturing industry makes up around 6% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually. The sector also provides Australians with over 862,200 jobs and is worth over $30 billion. In 2017 in New Zealand, the manufacturing industry made up $23 billion (12%) of the country’s gross domestic product and directly employed 241,000 people. Petroleum refining and food production make up the majority of Australia’s manufacturing industry, followed by chemical, furniture, textile, beverage and plastic manufacturing.
While the manufacturing industry has declined in recent years, current government strategies aimed at supporting Australia’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic place a focus on rebuilding the manufacturing industry and shifting its market focus, aiming to increase investments made in the industry and its profitability.
We have assisted organisations in various sectors including: food, oil and gas, electricity, construction, insurance and industrial supply chains.
Australian Industrial & Manufacturing industry legislation
The following Australian federal legislation may be applicable to your business within the industrial and manufacturing industries:
- Consumer and Consumer Act 2010
- Corporations Act 2001
- Disaster Management Act 2003 (QLD)
- Emergency Management Act 2013 (NT)
- Emergency Management Act 2004 (SA)
- Emergency Management Act 2006 (Tas)
- Emergency Management Act 2013 (Vic)Emergency
- Management Act 2005 (WA)
- Emergency Management Act 2004 (SA)
- Emergency Management Act 2006 (TAS)
- Emergency Management Act 2013 (NT)
- Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012
- National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
- Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000
- Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Act 2015
- Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Large-scale
Generation Shortfall Charge) Act 2000 - Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Small-scale
Technology Shortfall Charge) Act 2010
New Zealand Industrial & Manufacturing industry legislation
The following New Zealand legislation may be applicable to your business:
- Food Act 2014
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
These lists are not exhaustive, and there may be additional legislation that is applicable to your business’ circumstances. Your business may also require specific permits or licences in order to produce and/or sell a particular product.
Industrial & Manufacturing Risk management
The use of heavy machinery can pose a great risk to personnel and business continuity. Faulty equipment or equipment in need of repair can disrupt business operations as it may affect the production line of a product, leading to short and long term financial and contractual penalties. Such equipment can also threaten the safety of workers and lead to injuries or loss of life. Managing risks in a manufacturing plant before they can cause a crisis can help reduce the number of disruptions your business could face and can also help protect the safety of staff and the interests of stakeholders.
Industrial & Manufacturing emergency management
At Resilient Services, we are expert risk managers in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Our suite of services includes:
- Risk management plans to define and mitigate risks to ISO 31000:2018
- Business continuity plans to the ISO 22301 international standard to ensure that business interruptions are minimal and single points of failure are identified and managed
- IT disaster management plans to restore critical I.T. equipment after outages
- Cyber and ransomware protections, including policy formation, training and penetration testing
- Supply chain risk management, such as evaluating any potential risks to a business’ supply due to international business interruptions including pandemics
Business Continuity Plans the for Manufacturing Industry
For manufacturing businesses, a business continuity plan is essential to maintaining production output and protecting revenue when disruption strikes. Whether triggered by equipment failure, supply chain disruption, a workplace incident, or a natural disaster, downtime on the production floor can quickly cascade into missed orders, contractual penalties, and reputational damage with customers and supply partners.
A well-developed business continuity plan identifies critical production processes, supply dependencies, and single points of failure, and sets out clear procedures for maintaining or rapidly resuming operations—whether through alternative suppliers, backup equipment, or temporary production arrangements. For manufacturers operating complex plant and machinery, having a tested continuity plan in place can mean the difference between a short-term disruption and a prolonged, costly shutdown.
Why Choose Resilient Services?
Resilient Services is led by experienced Emergency Management Consultants with real-world operational and emergency response experience across high-risk and critical infrastructure environments. We help manufacturing and industrial operations across Australia and New Zealand strengthen emergency preparedness, response capability, incident coordination, and organisational resilience through practical, tailored emergency management consulting services.
- Aligned with recognised standards including AS 3745 and ISO 22320:2018
- Informed by manufacturing-sector-specific legislative and regulatory frameworks, including state Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances legislation and Work Health and Safety obligations
- Tailored to your site's operational risks, including production lines, plant and machinery, hazardous materials storage, and supply chain disruption
- Practical, scenario-driven, and built around real manufacturing sector incidents such as equipment failure, chemical spill, plant fire and explosion, and major production outage events
- Designed to strengthen coordination, governance, communication, and response capability across operators, contractors, suppliers, and emergency services
- Structured to deliver measurable organisational capability improvement, tested through site-based emergency exercises
We focus on building confidence, coordination, and operational resilience on-site, not simply on delivering plans or training hours.
Contact Us Now
Want to discover how we can help protect your production line from unplanned downtime?
Want to discover how we can help your manufacturing business prepare for a potential disaster? Fill out an enquiry form or call us on 03 9003 9370 to find out more and to see how we can help your business prepare for the unknown.
Your Manufacturing Industry questions answered
Common questions
What is emergency response in manufacturing operations?
Emergency response in manufacturing operations is the set of procedures, training, and resources a site uses to manage incidents such as equipment failure, chemical spill, plant fire, or major production outage, with the goal of protecting personnel and limiting damage to operations and the environment.
Why is risk management important in the manufacturing industry?
Manufacturing sites operate complex machinery, production lines, and supply chains where a single failure can cause serious harm, costly downtime, or supply chain disruption. Effective risk management identifies these hazards early and builds the controls and response capability needed to prevent incidents from escalating and to keep production running.
Who is responsible for emergency response planning at a manufacturing site?
Responsibility typically sits with site management and production supervisors, supported by WHS and safety personnel, in coordination with contractors, suppliers, and external emergency services. Clear governance and defined roles are essential given the number of parties often involved across production, maintenance, and logistics functions.
How often should a manufacturing site's emergency response plan be tested?
Plans should be reviewed regularly and tested through site-based exercises at least annually, or more frequently where there is a change in operations, equipment, regulatory requirements, or following an actual incident, to ensure the plan remains current and personnel remain capable of responding effectively.
Book Your Free 30-Minute Business Resilience Assessment
Practical advice backed by real-world resilience & emergency management experience
- Review your current emergency preparedness and continuity capability
- Identify key risks, response gaps, and improvement opportunities
- Receive actionable next-step recommendations tailored to your organisation
What our clients are saying
“It was thoroughly enjoyable to work with the team at Resilient Services. Clearly, this team is enthusiastic, enjoys what they do, and is proud of what they produce.”
Head of Corporate Risk.
Oil and Gas Producer
“What stood out about Resilient was their practical approach. Meeting the team impressed me with their focus on practical solutions rather than theoretical consultant-driven approaches.”
Geelong Port.
General Manager for Health, Safety, Environment, & Quality
“Business continuity plan is comprehensive and flawless.”
Top 4 Australian
Accounting Firm 2021