Testimonials

Brigid Woolnough - KOKOPOD

I, Brigid Woolnough write in support of Manufacturing Excellence Forum (MEF) and its work in our community. As managing director of KOKOPOD, together with my team we manufacture boutique handcrafted chocolate using the finest sustainable European couverture chocolate paired with superior ingredients sourced by regional Australia with the goal to showcase unique and refined flavours.

Recently, we faced a significant corporate challenge and it wasn’t long before MEF had joined in our army of support despite our lack of membership or long-term affiliation to

their organisation. MEF put their hand up to host an event in our honour which saw over 120 people show up with an outpour of support for our cause and gave us a very real sense of community through connection.

It’s obvious that Tim Kelly leads MEF with both his head and his heart and our experience is just one example of the impact MEF holds. We believe this organisation is moving really significant mountains one bit at a time and they are surely becoming an integral part of the manufacturing network.

We look forward to continuing to walk with MEF in all their integrations and are excited for the opportunities to come.

With Regards,

Brigid Woolnough

Tim Mobbs - MELEC

"We've been genuinely impressed by our collaboration with the MEFSC. Specializing in custom lighting solutions, especially for the defence sector, we've found that the targeted support and industry connections from MEFSC have been extremely helpful for our growth.

Their introductions to key players in Defence have not only expanded our network but also allowed us to refine our product offerings to meet real-world needs. The events organized by MEFSC have given us a valuable platform to showcase our innovations, significantly raising our profile in the industry.

The strategic connections that MEFSC has facilitated for us have been incredibly valuable, providing tangible support in our business growth endeavors.

Overall, we couldn't be more pleased with the robust yet flexible support we've received from MEFSC. We genuinely look forward to deepening this partnership and achieving even more together in the future, and we strongly recommend any Sunshine Coast manufacturers to engage with the MEFSC. No matter your business objectives, they’ll find a way to help you.

Thanks to everyone at MEFSC for your ongoing support!"

Faiz Ferdosian- Artisan Labs

“As Artisan Labs embarks on the journey of deploying our new facility, the mentorship, resources, and network provided by MEFSC have been extremely helpful for me as a business owner, and has made the deployment of our new facility so much smoother and easier.

Aside from the mentorship and acting as a well-informed sounding board, we've been connected to a range of trusted local service providers—from food-grade equipment design and manufacture with Bella Manufacturing to creating professional training materials with Your Brand Crew. Through this, we’ve been able to access super-high quality, cost-effective, trusted suppliers in short lead times which has been critical in standing up our operation.  

We’ve also had access to free training in areas like Lean Manufacturing with the team at TXM, and access to community grants, like commercial rooftop solar through Upstream Energy.

What has been particularly helpful is the sense of community that MEFSC fosters. Being connected to other local manufacturing leaders has provided us not only with invaluable peer support but also opportunities for collaboration that we couldn't have foreseen. MEFSC’s events are a big part of this, and have significantly raised our profile within the Sunshine Coast, helping us to integrate more deeply into the local business ecosystem while also reaching a wider audience.

The MEFSC has made doing business as a manufacturer so much easier. It’s great to be a part of this amazing Sunshine Coast ecosystem.”

Michael - Cutting Edge Canvas

“The MEF has helped me expand my business in the following ways:

  • Connected me with MEF members who have assisted me in finding employees

  • Connected me with other MEF members who were able to find a `new business premises’

  • Connected me with other MEF members who have assisted and are still assisting me with Business grants

  • Connected me with other MEF members who are currently assisting with getting my business in a position to be able to tender for defence force contracts.
    All of the above things, I havr found difficult to do and in some cases, not capable of doing on my own, connecting with the MEF members has been extremely beneficial in helping me expand my business and increase the number of employees required to do this. It is also great to be able to connect with like minded individuals who can offer me advice in areas of business that I did not have a lot of knowledge of in regards to  building a business .

    MEF has exceeded my expectations in regards to what  I thought would come from being part of a group like this.

Mark - Shipping Container Pools

What we do: "SCP manufactures revolutionary, lightweight, all-in-one above-ground swimming pools. Based on repurposed A-grade shipping containers in 6 and 12 meter sizes, our patent-protected pools are designed and manufactured on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and transported to all Australian states and territories and, by arrangement, to our international clients."
SCP engaged with the MEF in late 2021 and have since attended every monthly meeting. Our involvement has resulted in a substantial business relationship with AAT, who are now a significant supplier to our business. Beyond supply, AAT's technical team have engaged onsite with us to improve our manufacturing process and more tightly specify our use of AAT's products. This involvement would not have happened without the MEF.

In addition, we have formed relationships with key personnel at the University of the Sunshine Coast with respect to pre-graduation interns, with grant-writing specialists, and local government business support teams. We fully support the activities and direction of the MEF and look forward to continuing the benefits that accrue not just to SCP's business but to all Sunshine Coast businesses who choose to engage with the MEF.