Major home improvement company Australian Outdoor Living has boosted its pools and spas division by acquiring award-winning concrete pools company, Marlin Pools.

AOL managing director Colin Kuchel said the company will continue marketing its customised concrete range under the Marlin Pools label to capitalise on the brand's more than 50 years experience, reputation and goodwill it enjoys in South Australia.

"While we've done very well with our Barrier Reef Pools fibreglass range, this exciting acquisiton adds a formidable dimension to our pools product range and places us in a position for further growth, " he said. "We now have a quality pool to meet just about every customer requirement and even the most challenging of construction sites."

Marlin Pools' owner for the past 15 years, Hans Pullens, has joined AOL to head its concrete pools division, effective immediately.

Mr Pullens said he was delighted Marlin Pools had been purchased by another, premier company, to offer discerning customers the best possible pool solutions.

"AOL is a market leader in outdoor living and home improvement products and services and the perfect fit for Marlin Pools," he said. "Together we offer the best fibreglass pools through AOL's exclusive SA dealership arrangement with Barrier Reef Pools and the best concrete swimming pools and spas, backed by the best in professionalism, workmanship, customer service and after sales service."

Mr Kuchel said fibreglass pools are pre-build and require a large access area to install, whereas concrete pools such as the customised variety Marlin Pools specialises in, can be installed in "even the trickiest of locations. That's a great boon for us and for our customers," he said.

Marlin Pools won two Gold Awards at the 2011 Swimming Pool and Spa Association SA (SPASA) awards for residential concrete pools valued more than $50,000 and $100,000.

When Australian Outdoor Living (AOL) Managing Director and motorsport fan Colin Kuchel first met Superbike rider Ben Henry back in 2010, he immediately saw something in the young pro that intuitively told him he should support him with a sponsorship.

Three years on, that gut feel has paid handsomely. Not only has the sponsorship again extended to Ben’s Cube Racing for the 2013 Australian Superbike Championships season but it’s developed far beyond financial backing. Colin and Ben now enjoy a great friendship and Colin is an avid supporter who seldom misses a race.

As Colin recalls, Ben’s drive to achieve results was immediately evident at that first meeting.

“Here was a young Superbike rider who reflected everything we at AOL admire,” he said.

“He, like AOL, is passionate about creating a winning environment in his tough but exciting field and taking full advantage of the opportunities presented.

“Ben has exceeded all expectations we have of those we sponsor, to the point where I’m now perhaps his biggest fan and make a huge effort to get to as many races as possible.”

Ben believes his preparation for the opening round of the season – which gets underway in Tasmania from April 5-7 – has been his best ever and he’s looking forward to a big campaign, with that winning finishing line in sight.

“None of this would have been possible without AOL and Colin,” Ben said.

“They’re my biggest sponsor and it’s thanks to them that I’ve gone from the guy hanging around the track to a Superbike pro earning a living doing what I’m passionate about.  AOL also helped with the marketing side of my Cube Racing team though You Tube clips and a Facebook page.

“Our relationship is living proof of what a successful sponsorship delivers.”

Sales-focused businesses must not forget to invest time and money in developing and educating their staff, says US entrepreneur Ron Marks.

Mr Marks was in Adelaide earlier this year to speak to more than 100 managers and design consultants from home improvement compeny Australian Outdoor Living (AOL).

As chief executive of Results Seminars, Mr Marks runs personal development courses and sales "boot camps" in Scottsdale, Arizona.

He also travels the world to teach business managers about hiring, training and motivating sales teams.

"Some sales organisations just like their sales staff to make money," Mr Marks said. "We want to make sure sales staff are well educated."

AOL managing director Colin Kuchel said he brought Mr Marks to Adelaide to inspire employees.

"I've always placed great emphasis on investing in the development of our people," he said.

Name: Chris Taylor
Former position: Police officer
New job: National business development manager, Australian Outdoor Living.

At 16 years of age, I joined the WA Police Force as a cadet and was in the police force until I was 31. When you’re in the police force, you talk to people and listen to people and that’s what sales is all about. When I left, I became an insurance private investigator. Three years later I joined Carpet Call then an insulation company called Cool or Cosy. Later, I started as a franchise manager for Solomons , rising to general manager. I got to a point where I needed something exciting and refreshing. Two months later, AOL created the position to bring me on board. I’ve done time-management courses and have some certificates but don’t have a qualification.

Name: Colin Kuchel
Position: Managing director, Australian Outdoor Living
Skill tips: For this role we were looking at the candidate’s personal skills – their business acumen – the ability to make very quick decisions that generally work out. I think, in this particular instance, I would have looked for a formal education but Chris had experience in a related industry for many, many years and I think it came down to experience more than formal qualifications. His experience was very similar to our business and our business model – marketing, sales, administration and strong customer skills. I think being a police officer gave Chris a fantastic grounding for his current role. He understands the policy procedure. We’ve been getting bigger and bigger and we need our policies and procedures.

AUSTRALIAN Outdoor Living has continued its national expansion, opening in New South Wales.

Plans were also in place to expand its footprint further into Brisbane, Darwin, the ACT and Tasmania, said managing director Colin Kuchel.

Mr Kuchel started AOL in Adelaide in 2005. He has built the business from one showroom in Adelaide to outlets in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, employing 150 people.

AOL has also diversified its prod-uct range to include outdoor PVC cafe blinds, artificial lawn, pergolas, carports, decking and Barrier Reef swimming pools.

In the past three years, revenue has increased 360 per cent and turnover is at $27 million.

Mr Kuchel said the decision to open its own blind manufacturing fa-cility in 2007 had been critical to the company’s success.

‘‘That has really spearheaded our growth,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s our core prod-uct and we have stuck to our guns in terms of quality and delivery.’’

The reason for AOL’s success was difficult to pinpoint, he said.

‘‘I had a conversation with some-body about this recently. We have in-creased sales in the last three years with all of our products. Word of mouth has had a lot to do with our
growth,’’ Mr Kuchel said.

He said there were a few other products in the pipeline, including an outdoor pit which was popular in the US.

‘‘It uses volcanic rock and at the press of a button you can have a fire outside,’’ he said.

AOL’s most recent store opening was in Arndell Park, Sydney.

And it’s a good opportunity to network with colleagues and supervisors in a relaxed environment, national finance manager Jo Osborne says.

Osborne, who has been with the company for six years, says the family event is one of thehighlights of the festive season for her children, Fletcher, 4, and Amber, 7.

They love playing games with the more than 50 children who attend and look forward to a visit from Father Christmas.

Osborne says she plans to use the event as a chance to speak with co-workers, such as general manager Laurie Mallia, in an informal setting. ‘‘It’s about getting everyone  together, from the sales people right through,’’ she says.

‘‘Any event that you can go to is a good networking opportunity. ‘‘It means so much to the kids — and the parents love it because happy kids means happy parents.’’

A workplace party also can be a chance for staff to mingle with people who work in other departments, with whom they may not deal directly.

THERE'S no need for a man to rest, according to Ingleburn's Peter Lewis who is still working hard at 70.

Mr Lewis is a sales consultant for Australian Outdoor Living, based at Arndell Park, and said he would continue to work as long as he was able.

The father and grandfather has been working as a sales consultant for the past 10 years.

He operated his own jewellery shop for 12 years before going into sales with the Modern Group, then joining Australian Outdoor Living last year.

His wife, Roseline, three children and five grandchildren were all proud of his ongoing career, he said. "They are all proud that I am continuing to work and continue to enjoy myself," he said.

Mr Lewis said that for him, the chance of meeting new people each day was perhaps the biggest appeal of the sales industry.

"Age doesn't stop me, I've faced far greater challenges than getting old," he said.

"Sure I can sit at home and take it easy, but I love getting out and about, visiting clients' homes and meeting new people."

Mr Lewis said he wanted to keep working so he could continue to use the skills he had gained in sales.

"It's really important to me that I retain the skills I've developed over the years and continually broaden my scope of mind."

Mr Lewis said he was glad to still be able to work.

"At my age I think I'm very fortunate to work for a company that essentially lets me do what I want," he said.

"If I want to work, I can, and if I want to take it easy and have a rest, they tell me to take the time off."

Australian Outdoor Living NSW general manager Michael Sales said Mr Lewis and other older workers had immense skills and experience to offer businesses.

- from Macarthur Chronicle (Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly NSW)

text taken from http://macarthur-chronicle-camden.whereilive.com.au/news/story/70-year-old-ingleburn-man-soldiers-on-at-work/

For many Aussie homeowners a swimming pool is the ultimate backyard investment, but the decision to install a pool is a big step for a lot of families and the process from start all the way through to finish can be a lengthy one. 

Australian Outdoor Living is a leading supplier of pools in South Australia and general manager of the Pool Division Michael Robinson says in order to ensure a finished product in time for Summer, it's wise to take the plunge now rather than later.

"A lot of homeowners make the mistake of waiting till the temperature warms up before deciding to invest in a pool and this is simply because swimming is the farthest thing from homeowners' minds in the middle of Winter," he says. 

"Installing a pool doesn't happen overnight; we recommend homeowners get the ball rolling now so that come December they have a brand new pool ready to be enjoyed, rather than a giant dirt hole in the backyard. 

"When buying or installing a pool there are a number of decisons to make in terms of the pool's size , shape, colour and location, and on top of that there's compulsory insurances, planning and seeking the appropriate council approvals."

He says landscaping, budget and maintenance were all-important factors to consider as part of the decision-making process. 

"These are all things homeowners can start thinking about now, because before we know it, it's going to be warming up and we'll be spending more time outside entertaining guests and playing with the kids," he says. 

"Australian Outdoor Living is mindful that everyone has a different budget and so our team of professionals can individually tailor a swimming pool to meet the needs of each customer. 

"We can install a swimming pool quite quickly after council approval and by purchasing heating you can enjoy your new pool all year round."

Australian Outdoor Living is a market leader in outdoor home improvement products and provider of Barrier Reef Pools, the largest fibreglass pool manufacturer in the country.

IT may be cold but now is the official time to start planning to install a swimming pool. 

And if you're looking to make a splash, selecting a square or rectangular-shaped inground pool is the way to go, Statewide Pools's Pagey Iqbal says.

"Above ground pools are ugly," he says. "You can spend five to 10 grand more and get something that looks nicer."

Mr Iqbal says fibreglass pools are a more popular option that concrete pools.

"They're a little bit cheaper and you can change the colour," he says.

"Concrete pools are also colder and people don't like a cold pool. 

"Fibreglass pools are easier to install as well. They only take around four days and concrete pools take months to finish."

Australian Outdoor Living pool division general manager Michael Robinson agrees that older-style kidney pools should be avoided.

"What we're finding is the straight lines continue to be very popular at the moment," he says.

"It's a more modern look than the older-style kidney-shaped pool, which no one sells any more."

Mr Robinson says the trend if for fibreglass pools, most of which now come with a child safety ledge.

"It's down about 60cm and just sticks out enough that the kids can put their feet on it to get out of the pool if they're tired," he says. "They can pull themselves up at least and shuffle around the pool."

Mr Robinson says plunge pools and lap pools are growing in popularity because new homes have less space but people still want a pool for recreation and exercise.

"We're selling a lot more of the smaller pools and putting in swim jets so people can exercise, and it fits even in a courtyard," he says.

Swimming Pool and Spa Association state manager Fred Frede agrees that pools have adapted to meet the change in people's lifestyles and the size of their properties. 

"The style and type of pool that you have is only limited by your imagination," he says. "People can come up with a concept and then the engineer or pool contractor will finish it."

Mr Frede says the most important thing to remember with a pool is that children will immediately jump into nearly any body of water.

"The safety side of things has got to be paramount," he says.

Tessa Akerman.

The Advertiser - Adelaide Trader, p1, 29th June 2012

AUSTRALIAN Outdoor Living has scooped five awards at the Swimming Pool and Spa Association SA Awards.

AOL won gold and bronze prizes for residential fibreglass pools over $40,000, silver in the up to $40,000 category and portable spas/ hot tubs. AOL pool division general manager Michael Robinson said the accolades highlighted a commitment to quality.

The Advertiser, SA Business Journal, p24

5th June 2012

PATRICK Dangerfield says the seeds of signing on as a long-term Crow this week were sown before speculation started on his new lucrative contract.

In fact, he believes the first day he permanently arrived in Adelaide in 2009 was the catalyst for his decision to re-sign with the club.

After completing year 12 in Victoria in 2008, Dangerfield spent his first 14 months full-time in Adelaide living with a host family of four. And he says those early days were responsible for shaping his love for the Adelaide Football Club.

"First impressions are everything," he said on Thursday about Mark McGill and Caroline Loades and sons Sam and Jack, who Dangerfield lived with at Grange.

"If you have terrific hosts live I've had then it makes everything so much easier. 

"They were fantastic from the day I moved over and made it all so much more of an enjoyable experience for me."

We caught up with Dangerfield pumping up the club's annual auction which appropriately this year has an Olympics theme. And it's why he posed in a water polo helmet in a spa from Australian Outdoor Living which will be sold on the night.

"I don't know too much about water polo," he said.

"I do know it can get rough, but not when you're on your own in an eight-man spa."

The Crows annual auction is the club's biggest social event of the year and will overtake the Adelaide Entertainment Cetnre on June 16.

All players will attend and the event will even have an "opening ceremony" and lighting of the flame.

- from Sunday Mail (SA)

text taken from http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/teams/danger-catches-olympic-fever/story-e6frf9ko-1226381434988 as at 4/6/2012 2:38pm

A coffee at a cafe on a windy day inspired Colin Kuchel to create a business that has grown from a staff of three to 45 in just seven years. 

Kuchel believed the shelter provided by the pull-down blinds at cafes and pubs might also be useful in the backyards of Aussie homes. 

He founded Australian Outdoor Living with just a receptionist and part-time bookkepper, and today the business provides blinds, roller shutters, artificial grass, spas, swimming pools and other outdoor products.

Annual turnover has grown tenfold in the past two years to $30 million.

Asked about his secret for success, Kuchel says: "I think it's about our people,

"We managed to, from day one, attract and maintain very strong people. 

"I know it sounds cliche but Australian Outdoor Living is genuinely a family of passionate people. 

"As we have grown, those people have grown within the company."

Kuchel says business owners should be prepared to take calculated and educated risks, and not afraid to go outside their comfort zone. 

AOL did this after suffering supply delays for its products, so it became a blind manufacturer in its own right. 

"Manufacturing was a big move for us and a risk, but it paid dividends because we went in there with a fresh approach," Kuchel says.

AOL is an entrant in the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Awards. State finalists will be announced from this week, with South Australia's finalists revealed tomorrow and the winner's on July 20.

State winners will compete at the national awards on August 29.

Telstra business group managing director Will Irving says the awards have been recognising great work for 20 years.

"We've been very impressed by the calibre of the entrants this year, which come from virtually every industry across the small and medium business sector," he says.

Today is the last day for voting for the 1300 Australia People's Choice Awards, which offer $2000 cash prizes in each state and territory.

"Members of the public may vote as many times as they would like before voting closes at midnight tonight," Irving says.

Colin Kuchel started as a door-to-door salesman at a large home improvements retailer. After working his way up to CEO, he wanted to start his own company.

Established in 2005, Australian Outdoor Living is setting new standards in the outdoor home improvement market. The company has quickly grown to be a dominant force in the supply and installation of outdoor blinds, roller shutters, artificial lawn, swimming pools, verandas, pergolas and decking. The company has recorded a 360% revenue increase in the past three years.

Colin decided early on to offer a superior-quality outdoor blind at a higher price, which was a challenging strategy. At the time, a major competitor was pursuing a price-leader strategy, but went into liquidation. Just over a year later, Colin’s business experienced a significant fraud which substantially impacted short-term cash-flow. Colin views this as a turning point in the business, which now has a stronger emphasis on process and controls.

In 2005 Australian Outdoor Living introduced outdoor cafe blinds for the residential market. With an unreliable supplier service threatening to undermine this success, Colin decided to establish a manufacturing division to control all aspects of quality, product development and end user service and satisfaction.

The blinds manufacturing process pioneered the use of a welding technology which had only been in existence for six months in Europe. The blinds division combined this technology with precision robotic engineering to create its own unique manufacturing process. This custom-designed machine is the only one of its kind in the world and has reduced raw material waste from 15% to 2%. Using lean manufacturing practices, the price per unit has dropped from $99 to $48.

Australian Outdoor Living has grown from a small office in Adelaide to include operations in Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Colin plans to establish offices in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Tasmania over coming years. His vision is for Australian Outdoor Living to be an instantly recognisable and respected brand which transforms Australians’ backyards, brings family and friends together and adds significant value to properties across the country.

article from: http://www.eoy.ey.com.au/www/595/1001127/displayarticle/1645481.html

Climbing around on building sites or working five days a week can be equally unattractive to workers aged over 50.

But increasing the number of mature-age people in the workface is key for Australia to overcome economic challenges, such as skill shortages.

In a push to keep more mature-age people in the workforce, employers are being offered incentives of up to $5000.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts the number of people aged over 50 will increase by about 22 per cent by 2020.

Employment participation Minister Kate Ellis says there are more than 1.9 million people aged 55 years or over in the labour market, employed either full or part time.

"This indicates that employers see the value in holding on to their experienced staff," she says. "But when a mature-age person loses their job, they can find it tough to get back into work. With the existing skill shortages, we cannot afford to ignore what mature-age people bring to a job - life and work experience, reliability, the capacity to guide and mentor others, depth of insight."

A report by National Seniors Australia's Productive Ageing Centre finds there are two main difficulties people aged 50 to 69 have when looking for a job or more hours.

About 28 per cent say there are no more jobs in their industry or locality, while 18 per cent lack the necessary training.

Another study, by the Australian Employers Convention, finds 45 per cent of workers aged 45 or over plan to stay in the workforce beyond the retirement age of 65.

The Federal Government's Experience +Training program will provide employers with $4950 to pay for their mature-age staff to complete a Certificate III qualification or above to be skilled in passing on their experience and knowledge to younger apprentices and trainees. It can help ensure the skills developed over a career are not lost when the worker retires, as well as provide those in physical lines of work with a career change when they no longer want to do such things as working on building sites.

Up to another $4400 is available for employers to have workers aged 50 years and over assessed on their skills.

A formal qualification is issued based on the prior learning held and/or additional training provided for the worker to get the extra skills required to obtain the quaification .

Experience+ On the Job Support will give workers aged over 50, whose job may be at risk because of a health condition, illness or disability, with support to keep them in their job, such as special equipment and advice.

Mark Preston, 50, was employed by Australian Outdoor Living as a consultant in its blinds and shutters division in November after previously working in the solar industry. He encourages mature-age staff to undertake further training to get a qualification and says employers do value experience in older staff.

"If you're doing something for 25 years or something, you can fall into a rut," he says. "There's always something to learn. People tend to look at an older person as a bit more experienced. We've been through it and done it."

He says all staff receive ongoing training through the company - which approached him to work at its Royal Park showroom while he was studying for a Certificate IV in Sustainability Assessment.

Recognised for their expertise and quality service in pool installation, Australian Outdoor Living took out the top prizes in the residential fibreglass pools under $40,000 and over $40,000 categories at the National Wine Centre on July 29.

Australian Outdoor Living Pool Division General Manager Michael Robinson says the company prides itself in offering customers the 'best of the best' in swimming pools right down to the design, shapes, sizes, colours, installation and landscaping.

"To be singled out as being the best in the business reflects our core values as a company in making sure our number one priority is our customers," Mr Robinson said.

The saltwater swimming pools from the Majestic range won both categories at the SPASA SA Awards and included features such as gas heating and paving.

"It's an example of team work, listening to our customers and ensuring the highest safety standards are implemented when installing a swimming pool," he said.

"Each Barrier Reef pool Australian Outdoor Living installs comes with a 25 year structural warranty. We are confident our customers will enjoy this wonderful asset for years to come entertaining family and friends."

It's expected South Australia will experience a hotter and drier than average summer with the weather bureau forecasting daytime temperatures above average in late 2011 and early 2012.

"A swimming pool from Australian Outdoor Living is a quality investment and can be installed within four weeks after council approval and by purchasing heating you are guaranteed comfort everyday of the year," Mr Robinson said.

Australian Outdoor Living is the exclusive SA dealership of Australia's premier name in pools, Barrier Reef Pools, which is the largest fibreglass pool manufacturer in the country.

Established in 2005 Australian Outdoor Living is also a a market leader in outdoor blinds, artificial lawn, roller shutters, verandas and pergolas and timber decking.

For more information and testimonials visit http://www.australianoutdoorliving.com.au

this article can be found online at http://news.yahoo.com/australian-outdoor-living-gold-swimming-pools-223210588.html

When Australian Outdoor Living (AOL) Managing Director and motorsport fan Colin Kuchel first met Superbike rider Ben Henry back in 2010, he immediately saw something in the young pro that intuitively told him he should support him with a sponsorship.

Three years on, that gut feel has paid handsomely. Not only has the sponsorship again extended to Ben’s Cube Racing for the 2013 Australian Superbike Championships season but it’s developed far beyond financial backing. Colin and Ben now enjoy a great friendship and Colin is an avid supporter who seldom misses a race.

As Colin recalls, Ben’s drive to achieve results was immediately evident at that first meeting.

“Here was a young Superbike rider who reflected everything we at AOL admire,” he said.

“He, like AOL, is passionate about creating a winning environment in his tough but exciting field and taking full advantage of the opportunities presented.

“Ben has exceeded all expectations we have of those we sponsor, to the point where I’m now perhaps his biggest fan and make a huge effort to get to as many races as possible.”

Ben believes his preparation for the opening round of the season – which gets underway in Tasmania from April 5-7 – has been his best ever and he’s looking forward to a big campaign, with that winning finishing line in sight.

“None of this would have been possible without AOL and Colin,” Ben said.

“They’re my biggest sponsor and it’s thanks to them that I’ve gone from the guy hanging around the track to a Superbike pro earning a living doing what I’m passionate about.  AOL also helped with the marketing side of my Cube Racing team though You Tube clips and a Facebook page.

“Our relationship is living proof of what a successful sponsorship delivers.”

AUSTRALIAN Outdoor Living has continued its national expansion, opening in New South Wales.

Plans were also in place to expand its footprint further into Brisbane, Darwin, the ACT and Tasmania, said managing director Colin Kuchel.

Mr Kuchel started AOL in Adelaide in 2005. He has built the business from one showroom in Adelaide to outlets in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, employing 150 people.

AOL has also diversified its product range to include outdoor PVC cafe blinds, artificial lawn, pergolas, carports, decking and Barrier Reef swimming pools.

In the past three years, revenue has increased 360 per cent and turnover is at $27 million.

Mr Kuchel said the decision to open its own blind manufacturing fa-cility in 2007 had been critical to the company’s success.

‘‘That has really spearheaded our growth,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s our core prod-uct and we have stuck to our guns in terms of quality and delivery.’’

The reason for AOL’s success was difficult to pinpoint, he said. ‘‘I had a conversation with some-body about this recently. We have in-creased sales in the last three years with all of our products. Word of mouth has had a lot to do with our growth,’’ Mr Kuchel said.

He said there were a few other products in the pipeline, including an outdoor pit which was popular in the US. ‘‘It uses volcanic rock and at the press of a button you can have a fire outside,’’ he said.

AOL’s most recent store opening was in Arndell Park, Sydney.

SKILLED staff and smart ways of working are in high demand to advance the nation's manufacturing industry, which has a more secure future than employment numbers show.

Manufacturing is the only industry in which employment is forecast to decline in the five years to 2016, the Federal Government reports.

In the past year, employment in the industry fell by 53,800 workers and is predicted to fall even further in the next five years by 30,400 positions. 

Yet Manufacturing Skills Australia says almost all manufacturing enterprises report skill shortages. 

The future will see a demand for smart staff who can perform hi-tech and high-value work that provides a competitive advantage over mass production.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show manufacturing employs about 8.5 per cent of the national workforce, or 971,200 people.

In 2001, it employed the most people of any sector on Australia.

Now, it is ranked fourth.

Within the industry there are the structural steel and welding trades (51,500 workers), production managers (42,900) and metal mechanical fitters (38,300).

MSA chief executive Bob Paton says employment decline is caused by the industry moving away from labour-intensive, low-skill work.

"Those people who are doing that work in Australia need to transition to something else but... there's a whole bunch of skills required.," he says.

For example, we have a lot of peopleto make clothing but we have a shortage of people who can make shade sails. 

"We've got a project at the moment that looks at how we can transfer basic sewing skills.

"If you look at the future of traditional manufacturing, it's not very flash. If you look at opportunities that are arising, the new types of work, it's quite broad indeed.

"It's not as doom and gloom as people think."

Advanced manufacturing is the label used for hi-tech manufacturing work, which can range from the creation of medical equipment for arthroscopes, measuring just 3mm in diameter, to building huge automated machines used in manufacturing processes.

"Instead of very simple transformation of a raw metal to a simple product, it's becoming more highly complex and a specialised produc," Paton says.

It also is high-value work in which Australia can be competitive in global, mass production market among countries with cheaper labour costs. 

Quality and timeliness give Australian manufacturers an advantage.

"The area Australia does really well is, in particular, high-quality goods," Paton says. "It's about finding our place to what we want to make and consume in Australia, what we want to export. The goal would be to moving out of low value-added products to more high value added."

He cites being able to make products and deliver them on demand, rather than having stock sitting at department stores, as a way of businesses across the supply chain can save money. But this requires a highly skilled workforce. 

Workers skilled in metal fabrication, welding, sheet-metal work, fitting and machining have the best outlook as their skills are in demand in several industries. 

Paton encourages young people to get a trade and older workers to look at how best to transfer their skills to manufacturing growth areas. He says they should train to secure the extra skills they need and find out how their existing skills can be recognised in that training.

Government programs are helping mature-age workers top up their skills to obtain a qualification and older staff also are encouraged to consider an adult apprenticeship.

LUCY'S SKILLS ARE IN DEMAND

Lucy Taylor, 21, has been working overtime to meet the demand for products sold by Australian Outdoor Living. She makes blinds through its manufacturing arm Universal Blind Assembly, which was created to overcome supply delays. "It's a fun environment," Taylor says.

Manufacturing workers must get a trade to survive the jobs decline as the industry morphs into providing high-tech, high value products rather than the mass production of basic goods. 

The nation's competitive advantage over cheap labour markets overseas is in high quality, timely, niche and specialised technical goods.

It requires a skilled work-force in trades including engineering and welding. 

Already Manufacturing Skills Australia reports that 95 per cent of employers are struggling to find qualified technical and trade staff, despite its predictions that there will be 30,400 fewer jobs in the industry nationally in 2016.

Employment growth of up to 2.4 per cent a year to 2016 is forecast in the areas of  food production, chemical, printing and primary metal manufacturing. 

In the same period, employment in clothing, furniture, fabricated metal and paper manufacturing is expected to fall by up to 4 per cent a year.

MSA chief executive Bob Paton said there was a need and capacity for Australia to produce high quality goods.

He urges young people to get a trade and those who already are in the industry to pursue adult apprenticeships, have their existing skills recognised by a training provider as a qualification or undertake training to top up their skills. 

He said the industry was undergoing a restructure. 

"Instead of very simple transformation of a raw metal to a simple product, it's becoming more highly complex and a specialised product," he said. "We need people who are smart, reasonably well trained and educated and willing to continue their development."

Australian Outdoor Living is one of the high value manufacturers experiencing growth in South Australia.

The company started in Adelaide five years ago and initially outsourced its blinds - but supply delays led to it establishing its own manufacturing arm, Universal Blind Assembly, so that it could meet customers' time demands. 

Lucy Taylor, 21, has worked at the factory for six months as a welder. 

She wanted a trade career and said her manufacturing job had presented her with a great opportunity.

"It's different to what I thought it was going to be like. It's a really fun environment," she said. 

The Tertiary Studies and Careers Expo is on tomorrow and Monday at the Convention Centre.

Did you know... Forty three per cent of manufacturing workers do not have a qualification.

When Colin Kuchel couldn't find good suppliers for his blinds business, he set up his own manufacturing plant. For him, that was the only way to ensure quality.

"I was reluctant because I had no experience," says Kuchel, the founder and managing director of Australian Outdoor Living. He took the plunge regardless and set up a manufacturing company in early 2006. "Having no experience worked out to our benefit though, because we started from scratch and didn't adopt a complacent attitude."

Kuchel invested in German technology, set up online ordering systems and appointed engineers to produce a high-quality outdoor blind that worked well and looked good. The result has been the growth of Australian Outdoor Living from a two-person operation in Adelaide into a national company employing 150 staff, with sales of $50 million.

"I had heard of outdoor cafe blinds for restaurant dining and they were becoming popular residentially," Kuchel says. "The cafe blind means people get more from their entertaining space." The blind is made of transparent and durable PVC panels and encloses outdoor cafes and restaurants in adverse weather.

In 2005, Kuchel set about selling made-to-measure outdoor blinds for private homes that initially he sourced from a Victorian manufacturer. The product proved very popular and by the end of the year he had seven staff. In 2006, he began manufacturing the product, too. According to Kuchel, word of mouth and referral business meant strong growth. Then a small TV advertising campaign in late 2006 generated another sales boost. Finally, the financial crisis seemed to alter market dynamics in the company's favour.

"Surprisingly, we have continued to grow," Kuchel says. "I genuinely think it must be because people are saving on stamp duty (by remaining in their existing home) and investing in improving their home instead of moving."

The cafe blind remains the company's best seller but it has also expanded its product line to include swimming pools, decking, pergolas and synthetic lawns. "We needed to diversify and create opportunities and the other products were common sense," Kuchel says. Good staff is the key to success, he says. "If you put on the right people, the plan comes from there. We've invested in people, training, management and team buidling and we'll continue to do that."