Managing Automation- July 2008

07-08 CONTENTS Managing Automation OPINIONS DEPARTMENTS Integration Industries Vol. 23 No. 7 Technology Strategies For Progressive Manufacturers 16 COVER STORY: 6 l Take 1 By David R. Brousell WHO ARE TODAY’S INFLUENTIAL THINKERS? BY JEFF MOAD How do we go about changing our organizations to optimize the use of systems and applications technology in our manufacturing companies? MA profiles seven thought leaders who are defining and advancing trends that are likely to have a lasting effect on manufacturing practices and technology. 14 l Notes By Joshua Greenbaum After integration and maintenance, IT budgets don’t have a lot of spend left for innovative solutions. So vendors are knocking on lineof-business doors. THE ROBOT REVOLUTION 24 l SPECIAL REPORT 54 l Next By Rober t Malone BY STEPHANIE NEIL Talk about culture shock. Advancements in artificial intelligence and more powerful, yet affordable, technology are moving robots out of enclosed environments and integrating them into the workforce. Careful observation, coupled with critical analysis, can help manufacturers discern beneficial advances amid the snake oil. Product Scan l 41 l Advertiser Index l 52 l Transformation TechWatch 30 l TRANSFORMATION Is the Price Right? By Chris Chiappinelli 34 l INDUSTRIES Without a Trace By Jef f Moad NEWS in PERSPECTIVE 8 l HP’s Acquisition of EDS May Face Integration, Global Delivery Challenges Most executives intuitively know that pricing matters, but few have the tools to determine either how much it matters or how to start fixing it. But that may be starting to change. Business model changes and increasing regulatory scrutiny are putting pressure on aerospace suppliers to improve and automate the processes by which they share part and subsystem lifecycle information with OEMs. 9 l Rimini Plans to Woo SAP Support Users 10 l Rockwell Steps Up Its Activities in Software 38 l INTEGRATION B y M a r t y We i l 11 l Microsoft Targets the Process of Innovation Harvesting the Suggestion Box Too many manufacturers ignore the information generated by their customer service processes. Now an emerging set of tools can help them improve products and processes by capturing, analyzing, and applying this valuable data. 12 l Supply Chain Standouts Honored by AMR Cover Photo: Jupiterimages MANAGING AUTOMATION magazine (ISSN 0895-3805) is published monthly by Thomas Publishing Company, LLC. 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001. J.E. Andrade, Chmn. of the Board; C.T. Holst-Knudsen, Pres.; R.J. Anderson, V.P., Planning.; E.V. Dillon, V.P., Mkg.; M. Peipert, V.P., Finance; I.J. Molofsky, V.P., Human Resources. Executive Office: 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001. Tel: 212-695-0500. Managing Automation: 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010541. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Station A, P.O. Box 12, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5 No charge for subscriptions when requested by qualified readers in the U.S.A. and its possessions. Subscriptions to others in the U.S. are $60/year. In Canada, $75/year. All other countries, $125/year. Single copies within the U.S. are $10.00. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. MANAGING AUTOMATION (USPS 001-181). Postmaster: Please send address changes to MANAGING AUTOMATION, P.O. Box 1156, Skokie, IL 60076-9794. ©2008 by Thomas Publishing Company. All rights reserved. MA and Managing Automation are registered trademarks of Thomas Publishing Company. July 2008 3

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

Managing Automation- July 2008 Contents Take 1 HP's Acquisition of EDS May Face Integration, Global Delivery Challenges Rimini Plans to Woo SAP Support Users Rockwell Steps Up Its Activities in Software Microsoft Targets the Process of Innovation Supply Chain Standouts Honored by AMR Notes Who Are Today's Influential Thinkers? The Robot Revolution Is the Price Right? Without a Trace Harvesting the Suggestion Box Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

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