PlantSuccess Newsletter

PlantSuccess Newsletter

Volume III, Issue 20

17 September 2003

Dear Subscriber:

Through the 1990’s, major publishing companies were quick with new magazines and new conferences to help the plethora of technology providers get their message of capability and accomplishment to the buyer and user. Few of these efforts made it beyond the trial phase, the revenue (advertising pages) of the surviving publications became a mere shadow of the heyday, large numbers of conferences were abandoned and, like so many of the software companies that drove this madness, many of these companies are no longer in business.

PlantSuccess celebrates its 5^th anniversary event in the Philadelphia area next month – a unique achievement for a unique conference focused on the owner-operator and his use of engineering IT to improve the plant project. Sure, improved economic conditions would have made it easier for us and everyone else in this industry. However, we are grateful to be able to host the upcoming conference because of key support from:

Leading technology providers, including Aveva Inc and Ivara Corp as regular sponsors.
Innovative managers with leading manufacturers in the Philadelphia and Gulf Coast areas who have made the presentations and led discussions resulting in PlantSuccess achieving an enviable reputation for outstanding content in a short period of time.
The process industry at-large that has contributed its support with hundreds of attendees.

Thanks to all who have contributed; join us and help celebrate. Despite continued challenges with travel and discretionary expenses, PlantSuccess Northeast 2003, 15 – 16 October at the PHL Airport Marriott, will be a success.

We have assembled another roster of outstanding topics and presenters with several returning speakers including, as keynote, Jim Porter, DuPont’s Chief Engineer and VP of Engineering and Operations, Karan Sorenson, VP of Global Infrastructure Programs for Johnson & Johnson, Larry Killingsworth, Air Products’ Manager of IT Performance Management, and Dave Belonger, staff consultant to the AIChE’s Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS).

The balance of the agenda is equally impressive:

	Best Practices Driving Plant Performance
Wed; 10/15/03
7:30 – 9:00	PlantSuccess Registration - Grand Ballroom Foyer
7:30 – 8:30	Continental Breakfast – Solutions Marketplace – Grand Ballroom
8:30 – 8:45	Welcome and Introduction – Carl Howk, Chairman
8:45 – 9:30	Karan Sorensen, VP Global Infrastructure Programs, Johnson & Johnson
	Moderator: Christine Chin, Editor and Publisher, Chemical Engineering Progress
9:30 – 10:15	Moving the Jobsite to Your Desktop
	Bob Fraga, Manager, Facilities Portfolio, US Postal Service
	Moderator: Alan Brown, Consultant, Insight Communications, Inc
10:15 – 10:45	Beverage Break – Solutions Marketplace
10:45 – 12:00	Session: It's All About Managing Change
	Managing Change: Driving and Sustaining Operations Improvement
	John Sieg, Managing Director-Corporate Operations, DuPont
	Extending MOC to Design and Automation Tools
	Larry Killingsworth, Manager of IT Performance Management, Air Products and Chemicals
	Moderator: Steve Thomas, Consultant
12:00 – 1:00	Buffet Lunch – Solutions Marketplace
1:00 – 1:45	Keynote Address
	Six Sigma & Best Manufacturing Practices: Delivering Powerhouse Performance
	Jim Porter, Chief Engineer, VP of engineering and operations, DuPont
	Moderator: Jim Sohaney, Principal, Sohaney Consulting Enterprises
1:45 – 3:00	Session: Effective Planning for Supply Chain Execution at the Plant
	Achieving Benefits from Effective Sales and Operations Planning
	Tom Argue, Production Planning and Customer Service Manager, Rohm & Haas Company
	Supply Chain Execution: Sustaining Success
	Brad Snyder, Manager of Customer Service, Production Planning and e-Business, BPSolvay
	Moderator: Jim Brown, Consultant, Tech-Clarity Associates
3:00 – 3:30	Beverage Break – Solutions Marketplace
3:30 – 5:00	Sponsor Panel Discussion -- Solutions for Process Industry Owner-Operators
	Steve Lorenz, Business Development Manager, AVEVA, Inc
	John Plumlee, VP of Industry Solutions, Ivara Corp.
	John Statts, Director of Strategic Accounts, Skire, Inc
	Paul Gallagher, Director of Business Development, The Shaw Group
5:00 – 7:00	Cocktail Reception – Visit PlantSuccess Sponsors – Solutions Marketplace
Thu; 10/16/03
7:30 – 8:30	Continental Breakfast – Solutions Marketplace
8:30 – 10:00	Session: ISA-95: Integrating Enterprise and Manufacturing Systems
	Progress and Goals for ISA-95 Committee
	Don Clark, Co-Chairman -- ISA-95 Committee, AspenTech
	Adoption of ISA-95 as the Foundation for an Automation Architecture
	Eric Cosman, Process Automation Architect, The Dow Chemical Company
	Using ISA-95 to Automate Manufacturing Operations
	Ray Walker, Alliance Manager, DuPont Engineering
	Moderator: John Wason, Vice President, ARC Advisory Group
10:00 – 10:30	Beverage Break – Solutions Marketplace
10:30-11:15	Engineering IT for the "Real World"
	Sue Jones, Manager - Engineering and Design Systems, Merck & Company
11:15-12:00	Sustaining Value from the Process Equipment Reliability Database
	Hal Thomas, Engineering Associate - Process Safety and Reliability, Air Products & Chemicals
	Moderator: Dave Belonger, Consultant, Center for Chemical Process Safety
12:00 – 1:00	Buffet Lunch and Wrap-up – Solutions Marketplace

Visit www.PlantSuccess.com to Register Online and take advantage of the “early-bird special.” Learn about our sponsors, our speakers and their presentations. Take advantage of a limited number of rooms at the PHL Airport Marriott at the special PlantSuccess rate of $162. plus taxes. If you have questions or need additional information, please let me know. Most importantly, JOIN US for a great conference.

Best regards,

Carl. Howk, Chairman

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

Current Links

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

Using Innovation and Technology to Improve Business Performance

A new study from Accenture, “The Innovator’s Advantage: Using Innovation and Technology to Improve Business Performance” draws on interviews with 581 senior executives across industries in 18 countries. A conclusion: “Companies that are more innovative are much more successful in their use of technology. Underpinning the companies’ success are radically different attitudes toward a number of management issues, especially those that involve information technology.” READ MORE.

In the Name of Islam

Although never a student of religions, the terrorist attacks of 9-11 and the ongoing war against terrorism continue to raise questions in my mind; the occasion of the 2^nd anniversary brought forth a great deal of new material. An article I found worthwhile, “In the name of Islam” is by Peter David and published in The Economist. David claims: “September 11th seemed to pit Islam against the West. But the main fight is taking place within the Muslim world.” READ MORE.

Designing on a Grand Scale

On 9-11, when the World Trade Center was destroyed, the Pentagon severely damaged and the White House the likely target until thwarted by the individual efforts of great heroes, symbols of the strength of our capitalism, our democracy and our ability to defend freedom were intended to be destroyed with no care to the lives taken. The fateful section of the Pentagon was operational within a year; there is a memorial to United Flight 93 in Somerset County, Pa; and an architect and master planner has been chosen to rebuild the site of the World Trade Center at Ground Zero.

The current issue of Optimize Magazine features an interview with Daniel Libeskind and includes this passage:

“When I arrived in the United States from Poland in August 1959, and our boat passed the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, I understood the beauty of skyscrapers and their unfathomable scale. Seeing the Lady from the side of the ship made me appreciate democracy and the pursuit of seemingly impossible dreams. Living among the people of New York, I soon came to appreciate their vitality and energy. And every time I saw that statue, her open arms beckoning to the persecuted and forlorn from all over the world, I fell in love again with the United States and what it stands for.” 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 III, Issue 20 Newsletter articles: