Northern Adelaide Defence Industry Networking: A Chance for SA Manufacturers to Plug Into Defence Supply Chains.

Northern Adelaide is home to RAAF Base Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Defence Precinct and a growing cluster of defence and advanced manufacturing businesses.

If you run a manufacturing, engineering or technology business in South Australia and you've been wondering how to get a foot in the door of defence work, the next Northern Adelaide Defence Industry Networking evening is worth putting in your diary.

This Elizabeth SA business event offers an opportunity to connect with defence industry businesses, government representatives and potential industry partners across the region.

Northern Adelaide Defence Industry Networking: Event Details

• Event: Northern Adelaide Defence Industry Networking

• Date: Monday, 30 November 2026

• Time: 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm (ACDT)

• Venue: Playford Civic Centre, 10 Playford Boulevard, Elizabeth SA 5112 (registration at the side entrance)

• Host: Stretton Centre and the City of Playford

• Tickets: $40 per person, including food, refreshments and a gin tasting with local distillery 36 Short

• Optional tour: Arrive at 4:00 pm for a 4:15 pm guided tour of the new Playford Commercial Hub. Places are limited and can be booked via the checkout questions.

• Registration: Register for Northern Adelaide Defence Industry Networking on Humanitix

What's on the Night?

The evening brings together Northern Adelaide's defence industry businesses, government representatives and industry partners.

The guest speaker is Matt Burnell MP, Federal Member for Spence, who sits on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence and co-chairs the Parliamentary Friends of AUKUS and the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans.

He'll share his perspective on Australia's defence priorities and the opportunities for Northern Adelaide through stronger collaboration between industry and government.

The optional pre-event tour covers the Playford Commercial Hub, which sits next to the Civic Centre and close to RAAF Base Edinburgh and the Greater Edinburgh Parks defence and aerospace precinct. It's aimed at businesses considering desk or office space in the north.

Who Should Attend This Defence Industry Networking Event?

According to the organisers, the event is designed for:

• Defence primes, contractors and supply chain partners

• SMEs and local businesses wanting to enter or expand within defence supply chains

• Engineering and technology businesses and specialist consultants

• Local, state and Commonwealth government stakeholders

• Industry associations, economic development organisations, and education and workforce partners

For SA manufacturers who already make precision parts, fabrications, electronics, cabling or software, this is a relaxed, local way to meet the people who buy from and partner with suppliers like you.

For businesses exploring the South Australia advanced manufacturing and defence sectors, these connections can help build awareness of potential supply chain opportunities.

How to Get More Out of the Evening

Networking events work best when you arrive prepared. Here are a few practical steps for South Australian suppliers looking to connect with defence supply chains.

1. Get Your Capability Profile in Order

The SA Defence Hub on Gateway by ICN lets businesses register a capability profile, receive project alerts and submit expressions of interest.

ICN SA industry specialists can help match local suppliers with work packages. You can also apply to be listed in the Defence SA industry directory.

2. Look at Qualification Support

The South Australian Government's Defence Supplier Uplift Program, run by the Department of State Development, helps local businesses take part in qualification programs such as:

• Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) Program

• Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) Program

• ASC and BAE Systems supply chain qualification programs

Applications require an endorsed uplift plan. Enquiries go to the SA Manufacturing team at [email protected].

3. Use Local Business Support

The Stretton Centre offers complimentary business support for Northern Adelaide businesses, plus co-working and meeting spaces minutes from the Edinburgh Defence Precinct.

The City of Playford's defence industry page outlines the precinct and investment opportunities in the north.

4. Be Ready to Talk About Quality and Traceability

Defence customers expect suppliers to show consistent quality, documented processes and traceable records.

If your shop floor still runs on paper travellers and spreadsheets, think about which questions a prime might ask, such as lead times, capacity, inspection records and cyber security, and whether you can answer them with real data.

Why Digital Systems Matter for Defence Supply Chains

Qualification programs and prime contractors look closely at how a supplier manages production, quality and information security.

That's where practical digital tools help:

• ERP systems: Manage orders, inventory and costing.

• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES): Track jobs, work instructions and inspection results.

• IoT sensors: Capture machine data for capacity planning and maintenance.

These systems can help manufacturers maintain more organised production records and improve visibility across their operations.

None of these has to be a giant project. Many SA manufacturers start with one line or one process and build from there.

How StepSharp Helps SA Manufacturers Prepare for Defence Supply Chains

Getting ready for defence work involves more than having the right manufacturing capabilities. Businesses also need reliable production records, clear quality processes and the ability to demonstrate what is happening across the factory floor.

StepSharp helps South Australian manufacturers build that digital foundation by connecting their production operations with practical ERP, MES, IoT and AI solutions.

Whether you are preparing to demonstrate production capacity, improve inspection records or strengthen batch and job traceability, we can help you:

• Replace disconnected spreadsheets and paperwork with structured digital workflows.

• Track jobs, production progress and quality information through connected systems.

• Improve visibility into inventory, machine performance and production capacity.

• Make important operational records easier to access when customers, auditors or prime contractors request them.

If you're planning to enter a defence supply chain or strengthen your existing supplier capabilities, StepSharp can help identify the digital improvements that make sense for your business.

Talk to StepSharp about building more connected and data-ready manufacturing operations in South Australia.