GreeningDetroit.com Attends Manufacturing in America
Manufacturing Symposium Gets Its Mojo in Motown
Just over three years ago, automobile manufacturing in the United States was at a crossroads. Both General Motors and Chrysler were in bankruptcy and many politicians in Washington, Wall Street executives and business people from around the country were openly hostile to the industry in its "Hour of Darkness."
But for the resolve of the executive branch of our Government to step in and throw the industry a lifeline, the national landscape of this industry would be vastly different and possibly non-existent today.
Fast forward to 2013 and this two day conference. My how the environment surrounding the national automobile industry has changed! The problems today are much different than just a few short years ago. Today, the focus is on finding the human resources talent for the industry, meeting demand with sufficient supply and otherwise controlling the increasing pressure the industry is under from pent up demand in North America and emerging markets globally.  Â
Manufacturing in America Symposium, sponsored by Siemens and Electro-Matic Products, Inc., is all about community, collaboration and innovation. The two-day automotive manufacturing summit is stacked with more than 40 seminars, presentations, an exhibitor floor with over 30 exhibitors and a special presentation by Governor Rick Snyder on Wednesday. With the intent to broaden the understanding of the latest emerging automation controls, drive and other technologies within this evolving industry amongst manufacturing innovators and key executives, this conference will afford the industry an opportunity as a whole to compete more effectively on a global basis. Furthermore, having the conference at Ford Field creates a more exciting venue in which to create the necessary synergies to make this conference a success.Â
Having attended the ôAutomobile Manufacturing Summitö seminar on Wednesday morning at the renowned Gem Theatre, auto supplier executives were there in force to learn about the ins and outs of selling on a global scale.  Guy Morgan, from BBK, took time to explain the distinction between an international company and a global company. While an international company has divisions working and selling across the globe, it is not integrated globally like a global company.   The goal of any company doing business globally is to act as one company on a global scale, with one overall business purpose acting as one unit but in different locations across the globe. Certainly easier said than done.
Another presentation focused on cyber security trends for industrial automation control systems. Hacking and cyber security is one of the most serious issues facing large industrial companies conducting business globally. Creating awareness, education and security are critical components to building multiple layers of security and defense. Most important to realize is that no security system is fail safe in today's world.  Industrial spies, nation states and criminal enterprises are increasingly becoming more sophisticated in cracking corporations' IT security and stealing sensitive secrets. It's important for global companies to maintain their security edge and keep the "bad guys at bay."
While only so much can be covered in a two day conference, the 2013 Manufacturing in America Symposium presented by Elecro-Matic Products and Siemens went a long way in keeping attendees on the cutting edge of advances in the automobile and controlled systems industry. Future conferences will be put to the test to top this seminal event at Ford Field.
ROBERT E. MATTLER, Associate Broker, Attorney and LEED AP BD+C, is Director of GREEN Brokerage at Armada Real Estate Services in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Bob speaks, writes and advocates about emerging sustainable real estate issues in Michigan and elsewhere. Bob is a Senior Correspondent for www.greeningdetroit.com .
