10th Annual RSTechED Conference Explored Plant-to-Enterprise Integration
Weeklong partner and customer event featured executive speakers, hands-on labs and industry education
MILWAUKEE, June 21, 2007 - The benefits of plant-wide integration and the underlying technologies that enable it were the primary focus for attendees at the 10th annual RSTechED event. Historically geared toward Rockwell Automation partners and field staff, this year's RSTechED, held June 17-22 at the Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Fla., was expanded to include significantly more customers representing key functions across the manufacturing enterprise.
The more than 1,500 attendees at this year's event had the opportunity to participate in more than 400 educational sessions, including hands-on workshops that demonstrated how the FactoryTalk integrated production and performance suite can help companies close the gap between enterprise and plant-floor systems.
"World-class organizations recognize that real-time information exchange between manufacturing and the rest of the enterprise is critical for making informed business decisions, increasing productivity, reducing costs and assuring regulatory compliance," said Kevin Roach, vice president of software, Rockwell Automation. "RSTechED brings together professionals on the forefront of this trend who use our solutions to capture valuable plant-floor data, process it into useful information, and deliver it to the people and systems that need it."
Expanded Programs Addressing Executive-Level Management Issues
This year's event featured Manufacturing 2.0, a special program, exclusive to senior-level manufacturing and IT executives, focused on the opportunities and challenges presented by IT-enabled manufacturing. The forum included an innovation workshop by leading business author, Geoffrey Moore, as well as keynote addresses from Stuart Scott, CIO of Microsoft Corporation; and Angel Mendez, senior vice president of global manufacturing at Cisco Systems Inc that addressed strategic issues brought about by the accelerating convergence of manufacturing engineering and information technologies.
A Venue for Industry Announcements
At this year's RSTechED, Rockwell Automation announced the release of its second research paper in the manufacturing IT thought-leadership series. "Come Together: IT-Engineering-Manufacturing Convergence Furthers Success" highlights the results of an insightful study conducted in conjunction with Industry Directions and Systems Innovation Management, and explores the technology and cultural chasms that exists between IT and controls departments.
In addition, the company previewed its soon to be released "Operations Management Systems for Real-Time Enterprises" white paper, published by ARC Advisory Group. This paper addresses the specific value and impact real-time, plant-floor information systems, such as FactoryTalk, can have on manufacturing performance.
Rockwell Automation announced that it has added Summa to its FactoryTalk Information Solution Provider Program. As a partner in the program, Summa will help manufacturers build successful, plant-wide information applications and manufacturing execution systems (MES) using the FactoryTalk suite software.
Keynote addresses at this year's RSTechED included presentations from Kevin Roach, vice president of software at Rockwell Automation; and Geoffrey Moore, best-selling author of "Dealing with Darwin" and "Crossing the Chasm", and managing director at TCG Advisors. Manufacturing leaders from CAMI Automotive, Inc., GE Heathcare, EDS, Eli Lilly and Company, Freightliner Trucks, Kraft Foods, Inc., Nexen, Inc., PDL BioPharma, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Rexam Beverage Cans, Stryker Corporation, TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, all Rockwell Automation customers, also were speakers at this year's event.
For more information about RSTechED 2007, please visit www.RSTechED.com or e-mail RSTechED@ra.rockwell.com.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) is a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions that help manufacturers achieve a competitive advantage in their businesses. The company brings together leading global brands in industrial automation which include Allen-Bradley controls and services and Rockwell Software factory management software. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., the company employs about 19,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.
Media contacts: Paula Puess
Rockwell Automation
216.646.3806
pdpuess@ra.rockwell.com
