PlantSuccess Newsletter

Volume II, Issue 3

1/30/02

 

Dear Subscriber:

 

PlantSuccess is a unique forum; a conference focused on manufacturers in the process industry, their business drivers and their successful implementation of IT to increase the return on capital investments and improve plant productivity. Leading contractors, technology providers, consultants and members of the press join innovative managers from major owner/operators in actively moderated sessions to discuss acquisition practices, obstacles encountered, the impact on work practices, etc.

 

With the experience of several conferences and the support of major manufacturers, we are taking this unique concept to areas where process plants are concentrated. Time is always of the essence for plant management personnel and it is difficult for them to travel to national conferences; current budget and travel constraints increase this burden.

 

In the interest of time, these conferences will be limited to one day and the value will be high. Each session will have a Keynoter and four other speakers. Sponsors will be in the Solutions Marketplace – the site of a Continental breakfast, beverage break and buffet lunch – and near the presentation room.

 

This series begins in Philadelphia because of a large number of process plants in the vicinity; we’ve moved the date to Wednesday, March 6, to get the space at the PHL Airport Marriott we used for PlantSuccess 2001.

 

The conferences will share the theme Asset Productivity and Protection; presentations and discussion will focus on plant assets -- equipment and personnel – management and protection plus measuring and sustaining operational improvements.

 

The series concludes at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center, site of A/E/C SYSTEMS 2002 – a Sponsor of the PlantSuccess regional conferences. The date and location of two other conferences is being decided.

 

You will learn more about these conferences in future issues of the PlantSuccess Newsletter and at the new version of www.PlantSuccess.com -- coming soon.

 

For more information immediately, please call 770-565-3282.

 

Regards, Carl Howk.

Chairman

 

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PlantSuccess Close-Up

 

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Keynoter for the inaugural regional PlantSuccess Conference is Mike Emery, plant manager at Rhodia’s facility in New Brunswick, NJ that produces coumarin and salicylaldehyde for the perfumery industry. Emery’s distinguished career includes engineering and management positions with DuPont, GE Plastics, Pfizer and Engelhard before joining Rhone-Poulenc in 1992 as an engineering consultant. Emery led a team of internal and external resources in rebuilding a major process unit destroyed by fire and explosion. Simultaneous with a complete redesign and process verification, the unit was returned to service in seven months, exceeding previous yield and quality standards.

 

After two years in China, Paris and Japan as Director of Joint Ventures-Asia for the Fine Organics Division of Rhone-Poulenc, Emery returned to lead a turnaround of the Rhone-Poulenc Fine Organics plant in New Brunswick, NJ. Rhone-Poulenc Inc. became Rhodia Inc in 1998. Emery is active with the AIChE ECC and a board member Chemistry Council of NJ; he will speak to managing critical plant resources – equipment and personnel – in critical times.

 

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Current Links

 

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ARC Advisory Group Predictions

 

This respected consulting firm in the automation technology space offers its ten – very specific -- predictions for 2002. They are strong on global logistics, strategic sourcing and security and weak on enterprise applications and commercial web services. Get the details, READ FULL STORY.

 

Software “Bill of Rights” from AMR Research

 

AMR Research is taking a strong position with its Enterprise Commerce Management (ECM) Vendor Expectations and Software Bill of Rights a product of six months of collaboration between 50 executives from 30 Fortune 1000 companies in the manufacturing, retail, consumer goods, aerospace and chemical industries and the world’s top software providers. AMR Research claims that ratification by its ECM Advisory Council and its Vendor ECM Council signifies a consensus between software buyers and providers in how software will be sold, procured and designed in the future.

 

Read the summary and then retrieve the document in .pdf format. READ FULL STORY.

 

Battelle’s Annual R&D Expenditure Forecast

 

The sustainability of a company and an economy is determined by its investment in R&D. Although R&D expenditures are not growing this year at the same pace as in recent years, the trend continues upward.

 

Battelle says three major events are influencing the R&D picture: change of administrations in Washington; a "faltering'' economy; and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath. READ FULL STORY.

 

The PlantSuccess Newsletter generates a substantial number of visits to our website, we welcome the interest and the access to previous issues of the Newsletter which are available there. If you'd like to share this newsletter with a colleague, just forward a copy. Subscribe or cancel by sending a request to Carl.Howk@PlantSuccess.com

 

Full links to Volume II, Issue 3 Newsletter articles:

 

1.       http://www.arcweb.com/arcweb/newsmag/ebiz36_trends.asp

2.       http://www.amrresearch.com/pressroom/files/2002115.asp

3.       http://www.msnbc.com/local/knews/kns_939774.asp

4.       www.PlantSuccess.com