
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
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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.
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Featured
Sponsors
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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: