The Mining, Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector is a critical pillar of Australia’s economy, contributing around 14.3% of GDP in 2024 and supporting over 1.1 million jobs. With demand for mining equipment and technology growing both domestically and in export markets, METS manufacturers are under constant pressure to deliver on time, on budget, and at scale.
Yet, one persistent bottleneck remains: the handoff from engineering design to manufacturing.
The Challenge: Slow, Error-Prone CAD to Production Handoffs
For many METS manufacturers, the process of moving a bill of materials (BoM) from CAD into an ERP system still involves manual data re-entry. This not only consumes valuable engineering time but also increases the risk of costly mistakes.
Industry data shows that manual re-keying of CAD data can consume up to 20% of an engineer’s time, and a single BoM error can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars in rework and delays. With mining employment up 7.3% in 2023-24 and skills shortages persisting, there’s little room for inefficiency.
What is CADTALK?
CADTALK is an AI-powered integration tool that connects leading CAD systems such as SOLIDWORKS, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA, and more directly to MYOB Acumatica Manufacturing.
Instead of manually transferring BoMs and routing details, CADTALK transforms engineering BoMs from a CAD, PDM, or PLM application into manufacturing BoMs and routings in minutes. It also features bi-directional integration, ensuring that changes in either CAD or MYOB Acumatica remain perfectly synchronised.
Key Benefits for METS Manufacturers
1. Up to 80% Faster Engineering-to-Manufacturing Handoff
CADTALK, combined with MYOB Acumatica, can reduce the engineering-to-manufacturing handoff by up to 80%. This acceleration means production can start sooner, which is critical in high-value mining projects where delays can have significant cost implications.
2. Saves Hundreds of Hours Per Year
By eliminating manual data entry, CADTALK frees up engineering teams to focus on design and innovation. The MYOB fact sheet reports hundreds of engineering hours saved annually through automation.
3. Improves Data Integrity Across Systems
CADTALK identifies discrepancies between CAD and ERP data in real time and updates them automatically. This improves BoM accuracy, minimises procurement errors, and ensures production teams always work with the most up-to-date information.
4. AI-Driven, Rules-Based Routing
The integration uses artificial intelligence to create complete manufacturing routings, including labour operations, cycle time calculations, scrap factors, and vendor selection, based on CAD model data. This not only improves production planning but also enhances material scheduling accuracy.
Why This Matters in the METS Sector
Australian METS businesses often operate in complex supply chains with strict delivery schedules and compliance requirements. The ability to cut weeks off the engineering-to-production timeline can mean the difference between winning or losing a major contract.
With skilled labour shortages still impacting the mining industry, automating repetitive processes is no longer just a productivity gain, it is a strategic necessity.
Final Thoughts
In an industry where precision, speed, and cost control define competitiveness, CADTALK provides a vital bridge between design innovation and manufacturing execution.
When paired with MYOB Acumatica Manufacturing, CADTALK offers METS manufacturers a scalable, AI-powered solution that reduces errors, accelerates workflows, and delivers measurable time savings.
If your business is ready to streamline production and outpace competitors, it’s time to explore CADTALK.
Ready to See CADTALK in Action?
Cut your engineering-to-manufacturing handoff time by up to 80% and save hundreds of hours a year on manual processes. With CADTALK and MYOB Acumatica, METS manufacturers gain accurate data, faster workflows, and stronger margins. Book a demo with our ERP experts to see how these results can apply to your business.
