Business News
12th Annual RSTechED Conference From Rockwell Automation Gives Manufacturers New Tools to Navigate Economic Realities
Friday 26. June 2009 - Weeklong partner and user event featured executive speakers, customer panels and hands-on labs
In light of the economic challenges manufacturers are facing, this years RSTechED conference hosted by Rockwell Automation focused on giving attendees the tools and information they need to navigate the current business climate. More than 1,050 registered attendees gathered for the 12th annual weeklong user and partner event June 21 to 26 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Participants attended executive speaker presentations, technical sessions, hands-on labs, special interest group discussions and customer panels, all focused on leveraging information to improve business results.
“Manufacturers today need to optimize productivity by making high-value improvements that boost both profitability and sustainability,” said Ralph Carter, president, Rockwell Software. “Achieving these goals effectively requires significantly more reliable and available data, put into context, than in the past.”
Manufacturing 2.0: Executives Power up the Enterprise
In todays business climate, organizations are looking for investments that will demonstrate real quantifiable results – fast. Senior executives and managers from dozens of companies met at the Manufacturing 2.0 Executive Forum, held in conjunction with RSTechED, to hear about driving immediate cost savings and improving business performance through technology. Renowned Harvard Business School manufacturing professor and “Enterprise 2.0” author Andrew McAfee provided insight on the impact of IT on the structure and performance of businesses.
Attendees heard from industry leaders during a series of four panels that addressed key industry trends, such as the latest cost-saving trends in the industry; strategies in supply-chain efficiencies; improving decision-making; tracking, tracing and compliance trends; and best practices in sustainability. These sessions provided senior manufacturing, IT and operations professionals with insight on how top companies are drawing value from IT-driven manufacturing and leveraging technology initiatives to quickly demonstrate real results.
Growth to the FactoryTalk Suite
At RSTechED, Rockwell Automation announced the addition of process device configuration using Field Device Tool (FDT) technology to its FactoryTalk AssetCentre asset management software. Process device configuration helps process manufacturers increase reliability of instrumentation and simplifies regulatory reporting compliance efforts. The capabilities also help improve product quality in applications where conditions are tied directly to process parameters, such as temperature, pressure or flow.
Panelists Share Past Experiences, Future Insights
A highlight for many RSTechED attendees was the opportunity to attend any of three two-hour customer panel discussions addressing the latest technology trends. Panelists from Colorado Springs, The Hershey Company and Newnes-McGehee shared their thoughts and experiences related to cutting-edge human-machine interface solutions. Representatives from Barber Foods, Nestle and General Mills discussed best practices for manufacturing data collection and reporting. Meanwhile, panelists from Alcoa,
Genzyme Biosurgery, Georgia Tech and Wyeth engaged in lively discussion about historical data collection and tracking.
Mike “Rizzo” Eruzione, captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that beat the odds to win the gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y., headlined the event as a keynote speaker at RSTechED on Monday. During his inspirational session, titled “Going for the Gold,” Eruzione shared his personal experience overcoming obstacles and gave advice on how to become a champion.