PlantSuccess Newsletter

Volume II, Issue 22

11 September 2002

Dear Subscriber:

I was driving to a doctor’s appointment when I learned of the terrorist attacks. The television in my office was on the rest of the day; I didn’t get much work done. Like millions of Americans, I had to decide what impact this event would have on PlantSuccess and me; our annual conference was only three weeks away.

I decided we must continue with PlantSuccess 2001 and was gratified by the overwhelming support from sponsors, speakers, moderators and attendees. All of us made an important contribution in our own way; we had a great conference at the PHL Airport Marriott -- nearer to the three sites of terror and the death of 3,025 than many of us had been. I am proud of how we reacted as a country on that fateful day and in the year since; I believe we are safer and stronger in many ways.

There are many valid comparisons between the 9-11 terrorist attacks and the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. I believe the most important is the response of a mighty nation.

Adm. Yamamoto, architect of Japan’s surprise attack is quoted, “I fear that all we have done is awakened a sleeping giant, and filled it with a desire for vengeance." A vengeance that was realized within six months when his prized navy – built around giant aircraft carriers – first encountered US aircraft carriers at Coral Sea where the USS Yorktown (CV-8) was so badly damaged the schedule for repairs was three months. Instead, she spent 72 hours in Pearl Harbor, was made fully operational and raced to Midway Island and the sea battle that destroyed the Japanese navy.

On May 17, 1987, an ineffective shipboard defense system allowed an Iraqi aircraft to launch two Exocet missiles at the USS Stark (FFG-31). Thirty-seven sailors were killed; the ship almost sunk. The ship was kept afloat, transported to Ingall’s Shipbuilding where it was repaired, upgraded and returned to service in months.

A year ago, the Pentagon was the site of 140 killed and extensive damage to the west wing of this mammoth facility. Today, this area is in full service, stronger and safer than before.

It’s about capability and will. The US has the capability to do anything; hopefully, we also have the will to do what is necessary for freedom and democracy to have an opportunity to succeed. I believe we do and that good will prevail over evil.

PlantSuccess also is about capability and will. The technology and experience required to substantially accelerate improvements in productivity and operational effectiveness is widely available within the process industry. In just four weeks, innovative managers from industry leaders will gather for PlantSuccess 2002 to discuss IT implementations that work.

The very appropriate theme is: Best Practices Driving Plant Performance. Keynoter, Hermann Ortega, VP of Engineering and Manufacturing for the Chemicals Group of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., will share his experience and international success in Productivity: A Model for Success. Ortega will be introduced by inaugural PlantSuccess keynoter, Jim Porter, DuPont’s VP of Engineering and Operations. 

PlantSuccess is fortunate to attract top-level speakers from leaders in a variety of industries – chemical, petrochemical, refining, pharmaceutical, life sciences, utility, steel, pulp and paper and others. Rather than speaking just to technology, these presenters discuss issues important in all industries -- business drivers, impact on work processes and integration requirements from the perspective of the owner/operator. PlantSuccess 2002 will continue this trend of outstanding content with Mike Templeton, Director of Manufacturing and General Manager, Millennium Specialty Chemicals, sharing his experience with some of the smaller chemical processors using the technologies and successes of some of the large companies.

An abstract for "Manumatic" to 21st Century Manufacturing:

Templeton claims that the large chemical companies too often receive kudos for the implementation of the latest process automation using industry standards and the latest technology. Furthermore, he claims, their plants are often cited as being "best in class."

As Templeton points out, even in these days of mega-mergers, the majority of chemical companies are "small" and the bulk of their operations are either manual or "manumatic." How does a smaller batch chemical operation achieve the same level of excellence?

Templeton will present an approach that is being implemented at Millennium Specialty Chemicals using the same industry standards and the success of "best in class" companies to provide a springboard to their own 21st century operations.

Join Ortega, Templeton and other outstanding speakers, all experienced with the successful implementation of engineering IT and business drivers.

Visit http://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.

Click HERE for online registration. For room reservations, call the PHL Airport Marriott at 1-215-492-9000 or 1-800- 800-228-9290 and specify PlantSuccess for the special daily conference rate of $159.00 plus taxes. This is a limited offer; call soon.

Regards, Carl Howk.

Chairman

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Featured Sponsors

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AIChE – Delaware Valley Section

AVEVA/Cadcentre

Bentley Systems Inc,

FIATECH

OSI Software Inc.

Process Industry Practices (PIP)

The Center for Innovation in Project and Production Management (CFI)

Trinity Technologies Corp.

Verticore Technologies Inc.

Visit our leading sponsors online and join them in the Solutions Marketplace at PlantSuccess 2002. Register Now.

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Collaborative Event

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On Tuesday, 8 October, a workshop by Greg Howell will be conducted in conjunction with PlantSuccess 2002. This is a great opportunity; don’t miss it. Visit www.PlantSuccess.com for details and to register.

• Project Management Workshop

On Tuesday, 8 October, Greg Howell, co-founder and managing director of The Center for Innovation in Project and Production Management (CFI) is collaborating with PlantSuccess and conducting a workshop in his area of specialty – Project Management; the topic – The Theory of Project Management: Is It Obsolete?

Registration fee is $195. Register Now. Discounts for multiple attendees from the same company are available, for information, please call PlantSuccess at 770-565-3282.

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Agenda

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Current Links   

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• Leadership: Managing the Unthinkable

An excellent piece from Knowledge@Wharton … “It was beyond imagination: Four planes, two landmark towers, a swath of the Pentagon, thousands of lives, all lost in one harrowing morning. No leadership seminar, no business textbook, no theory of management could have envisioned the massive task of rescue, recovery and rebuilding in the wake of such an attack.

“And yet, in the hours, days and months afterward, people did emerge who proved to be equal to exactly that challenge – both titled authorities and little-known staffers. Putting aside traditional roles, they recognized the effectiveness of on-the-fly decision-making and situation-based responses that sometimes flew in the face of traditional protocol.” READ MORE.

• The Best and Worst Performing Technologies of 2002

Based on thousands of ROI studies performed on behalf of Global 2000 companies, Nucleus Research, Inc, a global research and advisory firm, reports that e-learning solutions and e-business integration platforms provided the greatest ROI for companies in 2002, while e-commerce and business-to-business marketplaces, monolithic CRM systems and standalone content management solutions provided the least. READ MORE.

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 22 Newsletter articles:

1. http://www.apci.com/
2. http://www.millenniumchem.com/channels_en.htm
3. http://www.plantsuccess.com/
4. http://www.aiche-philadelphia.org/
5. http://www.aveva.com/
6. http://www2.bentley.com/
7. http://www.fiatech.org/
8. http://www.osisoft.com/
9. http://www.pip.org/
10. http://www.leanconstruction.org/
11. http://216.97.30.159/msie/index.html
12. http://www.verticore.com/
13. http://www.leanconstruction.org/
14. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/091102_ss4.html
15. http://www.nucleusresearch.com/pr w-l 2002.htm
16. http://www.plantsuccess.com/