MaXXflow shapes Central Innovation’s future
MaXXflow shapes Central Innovation’s future Central Innovation is building on decades of expertise with MaXXflow, part of a broader strategy to deliver practical digital transformation for SMEs. After more than 35 years supporting manufacturers across Australia and New Zealand, Central Innovation has reached a milestone. Long recognised as a provider of engineering and design software, the company is now investing in its own intellectual property, using decades of customer experience to create solutions tailored to the needs of local manufacturers. Leading that transition is MaXXflow, an Australian- developed material requirements planning (MRP) platform aimed at small- and medium- sized manufacturers.
Rather than competing with enterprise software providers, Central Innovation identified an underserved market where many businesses need the benefits of digital manufacturing but are often deterred by the cost, complexity and lengthy implementation associated with traditional ERP systems.
“We realised that small and medium-sized organisations were telling us the same story,” said Shannon Reshno, Managing Director of Central Innovation. “The products available were too complex, too expensive and required resources they simply didn’t have. Around 80 per cent of manufacturers across Australia and New Zealand are SMEs, and there was no suitable solution for them.” According to Damien Davis, general manager of Data Solutions at Central Innovation, the company has spent more than three decades working closely with thousands of designs, engineering and manufacturing businesses, leading to great insights.
“That has given us deep insights into the day- to-day challenges these businesses face and puts Central Innovation in a unique position to have conversations about business impact and strategic growth,” he said. Solving real manufacturing problems For Reshno, the biggest issue isn’t simply inefficient planning – it’s the amount of working capital trapped inside inventory. Businesses often have hundreds of thousands of dollars tied up in stock sitting on shelves, limiting their ability to invest elsewhere while increasing the risk of obsolete inventory as market conditions change. MaXXflow has been designed to address that challenge by analysing forecasts, existing orders and inventory levels to calculate exactly what materials are required and when.
By reducing excess stock while ensuring manufacturers have the right materials available to meet customer commitments, the platform aims to improve both operational performance and cash flow. “Cash flow is the blood life of any business,” Reshno said. “We wanted to assist SMEs to become more productive, introduce them to digital manufacturing and release cash back into their business rather than having it tied up in assets. “If your product is promised in 10 weeks and you suddenly discover a critical part takes 16 weeks to arrive from offshore, you’ve broken that promise to your customer.
“MaXXflow takes away that daily uncertainty for procurement managers, operations managers and finance teams.” Built with manufacturers, not for them Rather than developing the software behind closed doors, Central Innovation invited customers into the research and development process from the outset. Manufacturers helped shape the platform by identifying the features they needed, explaining where existing systems fell short and providing ongoing feedback throughout development. That collaborative approach reflects the company’s broader philosophy of creating practical solutions that solve genuine business problems instead of adding unnecessary complexity. Ease of adoption has been a key priority, particularly for manufacturers taking their first steps towards Industry 4.0.
“We listened to the customer voice,” Reshno said. “We invited a number of our key customers into the development process. They told us what functionality they needed, how it should work and what business outcomes it needed to deliver.” The result is a platform that fits naturally alongside Central Innovation’s existing data management capabilities while providing manufacturers with better visibility across production, procurement and inventory planning. Beyond software MaXXflow also represents a much broader evolution for Central Innovation itself. While software development has become an increasingly important part of the business, Davis said the company’s future lies in delivering complete digital manufacturing solutions rather than simply supplying software licences.
That includes bespoke software development, systems integration and connecting factory equipment such as CNC machines, brake presses, storage systems and conveyors into a unified digital environment. As connected manufacturing becomes increasingly achievable, the company sees itself helping manufacturers integrate every stage of the production process. “It’s not just engineering anymore. It’s the entire value chain, even reaching externally from the business into the market,” Davis said. “Industry 5.0 is around the corner, but almost half of the SME market hasn’t yet accessed Industry 4.0. We’re bringing MaXXflow is an Australian-developed MRP platform aimed at small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
The benefits of connected manufacturing and digital transformation to businesses that previously didn’t have access or didn’t have the appetite because of cost and risk.” Davis believes this transformation has become increasingly important as Australian manufacturers compete internationally while facing higher operating costs. “The Australian manufacturing sector is competing with Asia,” he said. “With rising energy costs, material costs and import costs, we have to get smarter and leaner. Many smaller organisations think they’re not complex enough for these solutions, but the truth is they are, and they need to consider them to remain competitive.”
The release of MaXXflow is only the beginning of Central Innovation’s software roadmap.
The initial launch focuses on MRP functionality, but future releases will expand the platform considerably. The company plans to introduce AI-powered automation by the end of the year, followed by MRP II capabilities 12 to 18 months later. Those future developments will extend beyond inventory management to include production capacity, machine utilisation and resource planning, providing manufacturers with a more comprehensive view of factory operations. “We’ll introduce the AI component to bring more automation,” Reshno said. “Then we’ll introduce MRP II, which brings factory capacity into the system as well – how we use machines and resources to build products.” That roadmap reflects Central Innovation’s long-term ambition to continue developing its own software based on customer demand rather than technology for technology’s sake.
“We always look at what customers want,” Reshno said. “If we identify another gap in the market, we’ll look at whether we can develop it. We’re always open to new ideas.” Ultimately, the company’s goal extends beyond a single product launch. MaXXflow represents the foundation of a broader strategy to become Australia’s and New Zealand’s leading provider of manufacturing data management and planning solutions. “We want to be the number one solution provider in Australia and New Zealand when it comes to MRP and data management solutions,” Reshno said. With decades of industry knowledge now being channelled into home-grown software development, Central Innovation is positioning itself for a future where practical innovation, customer collaboration and connected manufacturing sit at the heart of its business strategy.
originally printed in Manufacturers’ Monthly