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Kingsley shares his global experience in advanced manufacturing
Kingsley Wright is an engineering educator with 14 years’ experience in training and education. His career in industry took him all over the world and now Kingsley is teaching at TAFE Queensland’s Metal Trades, Manufacturing, and Robotics Centre at the Ipswich campus, given its focus on executing advanced manufacturing techniques.
Prior to teaching, Kingsley worked overseas in several manufacturing roles.
“I had the opportunity to work at large car manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom, where I worked on modern assembly lines in a press and weld shop. This led to running one of the most advanced, automated aluminium engine block casting facilities, where I was involved in production lines which integrated robotics and automation for tasks such as casting, machining, loading and heat treatment,” explained Kingsley.
His global work involved building and commissioning industrial facilities from an empty site in various locations from the USA, South America, Mainland Europe, the UK and the Middle East. These facilities included food processing, steel foundries, pharmaceutical plants, waste processing and aggregate screening.
Kingsley is a relatively new trainer to TAFE Queensland, bringing his wealth of experience in teaching, engineering, mechanical fitting and machining trade courses from across South East Queensland.
“I was offered the chance to teach here at TAFE Queensland and embrace a completely new direction, which I have a lot of belief in — modern manufacturing techniques in our new Metal Trades, Manufacturing, and Robotics Centre,” said Kinglsey.
Established in 2024, the new Centre focuses on the integration of Industry 4.0 — advanced manufacturing technology processes and capabilities, for the region’s manufacturing workforce.
“This opportunity is a ‘full circle’ moment for me, as I’ve been dreaming of working with robots since I first started in the industry 35 years ago,” continued Kingsley.
TAFE Queensland is working with industry to align the education experience and has developed the state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing lab with equipment partners Applied Robotics, Haas and Rockwell Automation.
“TAFE Queensland has invested in manufacturing training resources in a big way – we’re not just using general technology, we’re using cutting-edge technology – TAFE Queensland have got everything,” Kingsley said.
In his role at TAFE Queensland, Kingsley teaches the Certificate II in Autonomous Technologies (10935NAT) and Diploma of Applied Technologies (MEM50822), both courses which align with advanced manufacturing practices and incorporate robotics and modern, automated processes.
He also delivers the Certificate II Engineering Pathways (MEM20422) for TAFE at School students and Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade Machining (MEM30219) for local apprentices.
The Queensland Government has set out a 10-year growth strategy centred on innovation, training and commercialisation, to ensure the industry continues to lead the way in advanced manufacturing practices and solutions.
The Queensland Government and TAFE Queensland have invested in innovative facilities to provide students with hands-on experience using the latest technologies. These include the Metal Trades, Manufacturing, and Robotics Centre at the Ipswich campus, the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility and Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab in North Queensland, and the Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Centre (RAMC) currently under construction at the Eagle Farm campus.