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Technology Solution Providers Poised to Take Manufacturing to the Next Level

High Technology in Construction

 

Industrial production in the U.S. recorded an increase of 0.6 percent in the month of July—a much-needed hike after 0.1 percent increases in May and June, following a 0.8 percent increase in April, according to a recent report from the Federal Reserve System. Manufacturing, alone, experienced 0.5 percent increases in June and July, with higher production of cars, computers and primary metals.

 

Despite an uneventful spring and a still fragile economy, the manufacturing industry appears to be on the ascent. But more output and projected increases in IT spending will require organizations to effectively evaluate trends and hype, identifying the right technologies to meet needs moving forward.

 

As the industry shifts to “smart manufacturing,” what some have called the third industrial revolution, organizations are seeking to optimize machines and mobile devices. Increased productivity through stronger collaboration and better connected processes will be crucial moving forward.

 

Leading CIOs and IT executives are set to address these concerns at this year’s CIO Manufacturing Summit. The event, to be held Aug. 26-28, 2012, in Scottsdale, Ariz., will be hosted by CDM Media, a leading B2B marketing and media firm, and producer of C-level executive events worldwide. The CIO Manufacturing Summit’s strategic agenda is designed to maximize efficiency and offer unique insight into present and future challenges facing CIOs across many industry verticals. Attendees will discuss the industry issues that matter most, and hear from key solution providers, leaving the event empowered to make better decisions for their organizations.

 

Below are a few critical issues that will structure this year’s event.

 

Going Mobile

 

Mobile technology offers value every step of the way. There are mobile apps and services capable of improving manufacturing processes from production to marketing, through to the service level. At the CIO Manufacturing Summit, AT&T will lead a keynote presentation on the intersection of manufacturing and mobility, discussing strategies for enhancing processes, from cradle to grave, through effective integration of mobile technology. AT&T will outline how to leverage next-generation mobile adoptions to meet needs and adapt to business customers and end consumers, ultimately increasing efficiency and improving business practices in a rapidly evolving manufacturing environment.

 

AT&T will also lead a roundtable discussion on maximizing value from machines through a connect product/M2M strategy. This session will discuss the benefits of strongly connected machines and devices for increased productivity, reduced travel and operational costs and optimized business processes.

 

As manufacturing organizations seek to make processes work better and faster, and employee demand to use the devices of their choice increases, the industry is cutting a clear path to mobile.

 

Innovation through Collaboration

 

With new and emerging technologies, manufacturing stakeholders are seeking new and innovative ways to work smarter, safer and more efficiently. The nature of collaboration is changing, and CIOs and IT executives now have the opportunity, and responsibility, to utilize resources of unprecedented capabilities.

 

Andy Kalambi, CEO of ENOVIA, will lead a CIO Roundtable session at the CIO Manufacturing Summit. ENOVIA, a brand of Dassault Systèmes, is a user interface program presented through a standard Web browser. Mr. Kalambi will outline Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a program that offers 3-D design software, 3-D digital mock-up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions that create the framework for maximizing efficiency, creative output and end results.

 

The CIO Manufacturing Summit will address new and innovative ways for organizations to re-evaluate processes, collaborate more closely and contribute value using technologies previously unavailable. While mobile technologies connect machines and devices, emerging innovations, like those offered by ENOVIA, will connect individuals for more efficient collaborative work.

 

Looking Ahead

 

New technologies are only valuable if they’re being utilized. In order for organizations to operate to their potentials, CIOs and IT executives must keep up with rapidly changing trends. Those thinking ahead will get ahead.

 

Akibia, a provider of innovative infrastructure management solutions that enable leading companies worldwide to optimize, secure, manage and support their mission-critical infrastructure, will discuss IT trends in manufacturing at the CIO Manufacturing Summit. This CIO Thought Leadership session will delineate the challenges associated with new and emerging technology trends in the manufacturing industry, including virtualization, consolidation, centralization, cloud adoption and big data.

 

After a productive summer and with the potential for increased growth on the horizon, the manufacturing industry must take stock of where it stands, as well as where it’s headed. Leveraging the right technologies will enable organizations to work more productively and efficiently, ultimately yielding better products and services for their customers.

The CIO Manufacturing Summit will address these issues among a host of other critical industry concerns, bringing together industry thought leaders to collaborate with each other and solution providers on the challenges that, once overcome, will propel the manufacturing industry into a new era.

 

To learn more about the CIO Manufacturing Summit, visit www.ciomanufacturingsummit.com.

 

Stephen Patterson is the Writer/Editor for CDM Media.

 

 

 

 

    August 22, 2012

    Some opinions expressed in this article may be those of a contributing author and not necessarily Gray.

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