Managing Automation - March 2008 - (Page 8)

03-08 MAILBOX Managing Automation Contact Info Managing Automation 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001 Fax: 212-629-1559 e-mail: dbrousell@ thomaspublishing.com ECONOMIC CONNECTIONS To the editor, NO EASY ANSWERS Readers offer a broad perspective in the debate over the value of IT. Also, the nation’s crumbling infrastructure and product quality problems are as much political failings as industrial ones, readers note. Managing Automation is always interested in hearing your views on manufacturing and the articles and columns in the magazine. Send e-mail to Dbrousell@thomas publishing.com or mail to 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10010. Managing Automation reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. I just read David Brousell’s column, “Faith in Technology,” on the value of IT (Take 1, January 2008). IT is a necessity, as you state. This is best described, in my opinion, by Roger Malone in his book The Future of Work. He states that the convergence of technological and economic factors — particularly the falling cost of communications — enables the changes needed to get economies of scale for large corporations and the human benefits of small ones: freedom, motivation, and flexibility. It’s a good read. Don J. Weintritt Global Supply Chain Technology Director, Dow Chemical Co. dynamics, etc. in the manufacturing process as “technology.” There would be no need for information without the underlying technology that the information is about. I am dismayed that the term “technology” is being used and interpreted to mean only information technology and nothing else. Anthony Base Engineer, Panduit Corp. NATIONAL PARALYSIS To the editor, VALUE ADD To the editor, maonline managingautomation.com To read David Brousell’s Take 1 column, visit: u Faith in Technology www.managingautomation .com/takeone43 To read Robert Malone’s Next columns, visit: u Road Closed www.managingautomation .com/next45 u Quality Thinkers www.managingautomation .com/next42 In reference to your “Faith in Technology” column (Take 1, January 2008), in my view, the value of technology is not intrinsic, but value (or the lack of it) lies in the way the technology is applied. If technology is simply applied the same way as your competitors use it, the value is in slowing the pace of falling behind. Real value comes from applying technology in unique ways that optimize your own specific needs better than your competitors. I refer to “technology” in its general sense — that is, “the practical application of science to commerce or industry” and not limited to IT. I include the application of machines, materials, electricity, pneumatics, thermo- I found Bob Malone’s “Road Closed” column (Next, January 2008) very interesting on many levels. As a manufacturing professional, I have the same dilemma at the plant level, on the micro-economic level. Do I repair and inspect my equipment on a preventative basis or do I repair it when it breaks? Do I buy new equipment or continue to limp along with the old equipment? Do I buy a new ERP package or make do with the old one? Do I automate this process or continue to do it manually? Do I build it domestically or do I outsource the process? These questions become more difficult when the balance sheet is not favorable in the organization. The ability to make corrections is hindered because the payback is too long, the money is too tight, or the market is too volatile. The result: paralysis. There are various ways to solve these issues at the micro level. However, you are writing about the macro scale, about how our government addresses the issue of infrastructure. I do not care if it is Democrat or Republican: They both do not have answers in this area, for they do not know the cause and effect of the problem. They do not know what to change, let alone what to change it to, and, most importantly, they do not know how to cause the change. My question is: How do we get our elected officials to understand the issue as clearly as you are trying to explain it? As Eli Goldratt said, “Tell me how you measure me, and I’ll tell you how I will perform. If you measure me irrationally, then you cannot predict what my behavior will be.” To me, this sums up the current issue of national infrastructure. Are we measuring the right things when it comes to national infrastructure? I think not. Rick Denison Director of operations, Minneapolis QUALITY (OUT OF) CONTROL To the editor, It appears to me that most of the recalls and poor quality are coming from offshore (“Quality Thinkers,” Next, October 2007). When are our politicians going to quit giving our manufacturing jobs away to sub-standard manufacturing companies overseas just so some large corporation can add more to its bottom line and leave the rest of us to pay the social costs for the people left behind? If we are having trouble with quality over here, maybe it’s because we are supposed to compete with $.80/hour wages. Garry Griggs President, Magic Metals 8 March 2008 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma0108/index.php?startid=6 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma0108/index.php?startid=6 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma0108/index.php?startid=50 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma0108/index.php?startid=50 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma0108/index.php?startid=6 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma0108/index.php?startid=6 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma1007/index.php?startid=54 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thomas/ma1007/index.php?startid=54 http://www.managingautomation.com http://www.managingautomation.com/takeone43 http://www.managingautomation.com/next45 http://www.managingautomation.com/next42

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - March 2008

Managing Automation - March 2008 Contents Take 1 Mailbox Mitsubishi, IBM, and ILS Team Up to Make Integration Easy for Automakers Former Agile Exec Takes the Reins at Arena Solutions The Next Phase for 2006’s PM Award Winner Integration Firm Boomi Redesigns for On-Demand Ex-Wonderware Chief Takes Helm at Apprion Notes Cover Story: A Rare Breed Special Report: Where are Control Architectures Heading? Transformation: Back to Reality Integration: Getting Standards Under One Roof Industries: The Quest for the Perfect Order Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - March 2008

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