In this episode, hosts David Altena and Rob Bull dive into New Zealand’s longstanding productivity crisis and why waiting for government intervention won’t solve it. Instead, they argue that manufacturers must take the lead, turning challenges like labour shortages and rising costs into opportunities to innovate and improve efficiency. Drawing from their recent column in NZ Manufacturer magazine, David and Rob unpack:

• Why government policies alone won’t be enough to lift national productivity.
• How 15,000 manufacturers prioritising business performance over the next five years could reshape the economy.
• The execution gap—why most businesses fail to act, and how to start making real progress today.

• Simple, no-cost actions that any manufacturer can take to start improving their efficiency and competitiveness.

Key Takeaways: 🚀 “If we want to see real economic progress, we need at least 15,000 manufacturing businesses to make improving business performance their top priority over the next five years.” 🔧 “You don’t need money to start this journey—just time. Small changes, like reducing meeting times or organising workspaces, can have a compounding impact on your productivity.” 💡 “Stop making excuses and start taking control of your business's performance. The time to act is now.” Join us for a no-nonsense, action-packed discussion on how businesses can break free from stagnation and start driving real change today. Tune in, subscribe, and leave a review to help us keep these important conversations going! --------------------- Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn Rob Bull David Altena Learn more about Plexus Consulting and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a higher-performing business today