PlantSuccess Newsletter

Volume II, Issue 17

24 July 2002

 

 

 

Dear Subscriber:

 

On 9-10 October at the PHL Airport Marriott, we will celebrate the 4th annual PlantSuccess conference – quite a feat given the issues in the economy and security faced by start-up ventures in this industry in recent years.

 

The success of PlantSuccess can be attributed to leaders in the process industry representing owner/operators, contractors, technology providers, consultants and the press. If you are one of our many speakers, sponsors, moderators and attendees – thanks, we know we will see more of you. If you are not a part of this successful community, join us for PlantSuccess 2002 and a unique experience with innovative managers discussing IT implementations that are driving improved plant performance.

 

Join Keynoter Hermann Ortega, vice president of engineering and manufacturing for the Chemicals Group of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc and an outstanding roster of innovative managers from industry leaders discussing the best practices in their organizations – including business drivers and work processes -- that are driving improved plant performance.

 

Join our sponsors, leaders among technology providers. Join members of the national press as they gather information for feature articles on new technologies and successful applications. Join industry organizations FIATECH and Process Industry Practices (PIP) – a couple of long-term players in the PlantSuccess community.

 

Visit www.PlantSuccess.com to review the progress with PlantSuccess 2002 and previous program agendas and the many outstanding presentations from experienced and successful industry leaders.

 

Regards, Carl Howk.

Chairman

 

 

 

******************

Current Links   

******************

 

·         Rethinking ROI: Is ROI Still King?

 

Improving ROI is high on the list of goals and objectives for every manager. This is an interesting article with a claim that managers can focus too much on ROI and that ROI misses some key components. “… Just because the project has a good ROI, doesn’t mean that it will advance your business objectives,” states one consultant. READ MORE. 

 

 

·         Greenspan: Economy Is On Road to Recovery

 

For years, interpreting Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, has been a challenge to economic pundits and news analysts. I admit to trying to understand what he means when he testifies before Congress. Last week’s testimony was refreshingly clear and concise – even I got it the first time through. The economy is recovering and, although changes are needed in the banking and audit systems, Congress is likely to overreact. He can’t think much of the Sarbanes’ bill. READ MORE from InformationWeek.com.

 

 

·         Corporate Reform Proposals: On the Money Or Off-base?

 

This has been a noteworthy day. The NYSE rocketed almost 500 points (after weeks of decline); three former executives of a bankrupt cable television provider were arrested on conspiracy charges (with ample news-camera coverage) and accused of looting their company; and, House and Senate negotiators agreed to approve a corporate fraud reform bill authored by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Paul Sarbanes, D-Md.

 

Sarbanes said, "The legislation reflects our determination to see that the confidence of investors in our capital markets is restored."  An interview with five professors from Wharton Graduate Business School provides an interesting view. READ MORE.

 

 

 

************************

Featured Sponsors

************************

 

OSI Software, Inc   This very successful company was founded in 1980, is still independent, and is noted for the PI System that acquires, stores, and processes large amounts of enterprise-wide data, transforming them into valuable information.

 

Participants at the Philadelphia-area, regional PlantSuccess conference, in March, enjoyed a presentation by Dwight Stoffel, Principal Plant Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer, on the successful implementation of PI at Atofina’s Calvert City Plant.

 

 

Verticore Technologies, Inc  This company is a previous sponsor of PlantSuccess; the success of its software systems in the operational effectiveness market are well-known and were touted at PlantSuccess 2000 by Shell Deer Park Refining Company executives.

 

At PlantSuccess 2002, Clinton Whitehead, Project Services & Systems Manager for Rohm and Haas – Texas, will report on his implementation of Verticore software as measured against some very aggressive objectives.

 

 

 

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 17 Newsletter articles:

 

  1. http://www.plantsuccess.com/
  2. http://www.manufacturingsystems.com/webexclusives/Appsbiz0702.pdf
  3. http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20020716S0003
  4. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/whatshot.cfm
  5. http://www.osisoft.com/
  6. http://www.verticore.com/