Quantum Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing

Transforming productivity, precision, and product innovation with quantum-enabled tools.

Unlocking New Possibilities in Manufacturing 

Advanced manufacturing is critical to Australia’s sovereign capability and global competitiveness. Yet, complexity, inefficiencies, and a widening skills gap are limiting growth. Quantum technologies are emerging as powerful tools that promise to supercharge design, automation, and operational decision-making.

Whether you're working with digital twins, robotics, complex supply chains or cutting-edge materials, quantum could offer a pathway to smarter, faster, and more sustainable manufacturing.

Key Operational Challenges Quantum Promises to Address

How quantum technologies are tackling real-world problems in manufacturing 

Cyber and Data Security

Quantum-safe cryptography and communications help safeguard critical manufacturing data in a landscape of increasing cyber threats. 

Process Optimisation and Automation 

Quantum algorithms could dramatically improve factory floor operations, from robotic coordination and warehouse logistics to precision control in automated systems. 

Supply Chain Complexity 

Global manufacturing operations juggle thousands of inputs. Quantum computing unlocks new ways to solve complex routing and optimisation problems that are beyond the limits of classical systems. 

Materials Discovery and Innovation

Quantum simulation allows manufacturers to design novel materials at the atomic level, accelerating R&D and reducing the need for costly physical prototyping. 

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

More efficient designs and optimised operations, powered by quantum-enhanced modelling, enable manufacturers to lower energy usage and reduce waste. 

Technologies with Transformational Potential 

Which quantum tools matter most for manufacturers, and why?

Materials Science and Product Design

  • Simulate chemical and molecular interactions at an atomic level 

  • Design lighter, stronger, and more energy-efficient materials 

  • Enhance digital twins by using quantum processors for high-fidelity simulations (e.g., airflow, heat dissipation, turbulence) 

Risk Modelling and Compliance

  • Coordinate autonomous guided vehicles and robots with quantum-optimised routing 

  • Improve warehouse operations by reducing travel times and bottlenecks 

  • Increase system responsiveness with real-time, adaptive control algorithms 

Secure Manufacturing Environments

  • Protect data and IP across distributed systems using quantum-safe encryption and quantum key distribution (QKD) 

Pilots and Progress in the Field

Australia is already making strides in quantum defence capabilities:

Rolls-Royce + Riverlane + Xanadu

Collaborating to dramatically reduce the time needed for complex fluid dynamics simulations in jet engine design, from hours to minutes, using hybrid quantum-classical systems.

Volkswagen

Using quantum algorithms to optimise their global supply chain routing. Early pilot programs have shown a 7% cost reduction in logistics, with anticipated savings in the millions once scaled.

These global examples signal what’s possible. The opportunity now is to tailor these innovations to Australia’s advanced manufacturing landscape, especially for SMEs looking to innovate and grow. 

What’s Holding Back Adoption, and How We Can Help 

Technical Readiness and Integration 

  • Many SMEs lack access to cutting-edge quantum or prototyping facilities 

  • Integrating new tech with existing systems requires resources and guidance 

  • We help de-risk adoption through pilot programs, connections, and national initiatives 

Challenges in deploying quantum, and our role in addressing them 

Awareness and Confidence 

  • Quantum is still unfamiliar for many manufacturers 

  • We provide plain-language insights, case studies, and entry points for industry to explore quantum's relevance to their operations 

Skills and Workforce Capability 

  • 54% of Australian business leaders cite skills constraints as the top barrier to adopting new technologies 

  • We offer training pathways, skills mapping, and connections to expert partners who can help build internal capability 

Connect with our partnerships team

Interested in exploring how quantum technologies can enhance your operations? 
Whether you're in aerospace, medtech, defence manufacturing, or advanced composites, our team can help you identify opportunities, connect with quantum experts, and design practical next steps for your business. 

Let’s build your quantum advantage.