Information Shared, Innovation Fueled at 11th Annual RSTechED
More than 400 product sessions, five customer panels and two compelling keynote addresses provoke a week of collaborative learning and networking
ORLANDO, Fla., June 5, 2008 - Attendees of the 2008 RSTechED hosted by Rockwell Automation, learned how to glance into the future this week and envision how their companies may look a little brighter because of it.
The ability to contextualize information, adapt and make innovative decisions that could change the course of a manufacturer's future were among key concepts discussed at the 11th annual RSTechED, as more than 1,500 registered attendees gathered for the weeklong user and partner event June 1-6 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel.
"The issue is no longer simply access to information," said Kevin Roach, vice president of Software, Rockwell Automation. "It's how the sea of information generated from many systems is rationalized across the enterprise into succinct and useful context."
Alvin Toffler, a best-selling author who is widely considered to be a leading "futurist," headlined the event as a keynote speaker on Tuesday. He spoke to an engaged audience about how macro trends affect the future of business segments and, in turn, can define a company's success for decades to come.
Continued Growth of FactoryTalk Suite
Rockwell Automation also announced the availability of a new version of FactoryTalk ProductionCentre, a software system that helps users deploy and scale manufacturing production applications across multiple sites in a more rapid and cost-efficient fashion. The latest version of the manufacturing execution system (MES) application delivers comprehensive production management functionality, along with advanced decision support tools to help manufacturers track and control production, reduce cycle times and excess inventory, analyze root cause and failures, and track and manage factory and field repair orders.
Additionally, attendees previewed several future products, including FactoryTalk ViewPoint and FactoryTalk Metrics, and were able to participate in discussions about the impact of the recent Rockwell Automation acquisitions of Pavilion Technologies and Incuity Software.
Manufacturing 2.0: Executives Fill Up On Innovative Concepts
The Manufacturing 2.0 Executive Forum, held in conjunction with RSTechED, was themed "Fueling Your Innovation Engine" and focused on best practices in terms of leveraging an IT-driven approach to manufacturing that couples product and business planning, supply chain processes and plant operations into one efficient and responsive enterprise.
Representatives from IBM, Cisco, OSIsoft and Smithfield Foods provided manufacturers a better grasp of coming changes and how to use them to help their enterprise prosper in tomorrow's business environment.
Panelists Share Past Experiences, Future Insights
One of the informational highlights of RSTechED was an opportunity for attendees to attend any of five two-hour customer panel discussions that addressed key industry trends, such as using asset management software to protect intellectual property and leveraging existing plant-floor investments. Lively discussions throughout the event featured panelists from Wyeth Biotech, Chrysler LLC, Kimberly-Clark and Tyson Foods Inc., among others.
Two of the most well-attended sessions featured two distinctly hot topics, as panelists from Kimberly-Clark, Smithfield Foods, Metalsa and KLA-Tencor discussed plant-to-enterprise integration and representatives from Kimberly-Clark and Blandin Paper delved into the convergence of IT and controls engineering.
For more information about RSTechED 2008, 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 for their businesses. The company brings together leading global brands in industrial automation that include Allen-Bradley controls and services, and Rockwell Software factory management software. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., the company employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.
Media contacts: Paula Puess
Rockwell Automation
440.646.3806
pdpuess@ra.rockwell.com
Wayne Carlson
Padilla Speer Beardsley Inc.
612.455.1793
wcarlson@psbpr.com
1201 South Second Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
www.rockwellautomation.com
