Managing Automation - September 2007 - (Page 21)

Here Are 10 Inno vators to Keep Your Eye On B Y D AV I D R . B R O U S E L L o you find it difficult keeping up with technology developments in manufacturing? Do trends in software, hardware, data collection, and networking seem to be moving faster and faster? Do you routinely receive e-mails, print mailings, and telephone solicitations about tech products that you simply can’t sort through, let alone comprehend? Well, if the answer to any or all of these questions is yes, you are far from alone. Tech information overload is a fact of business life today. But an equally important fact is that those responsible for running manufacturing companies still have an obligation to know what’s going on, what’s coming up, where innovation can be found, and where an edge for their companies can be obtained. In this spirit, I welcome you to Managing Automation’s third annual Companies to Watch report. Once again, this year, the editors of Managing Automation have selected 10 companies, most of which are relatively young and generally unknown, whose technology stories we found interesting. This year, our picks span a wide spectrum of manufacturing technologies, ranging from enterprise software, such as profitability and portal applications, to wireless and RFID products, to software for decision support and demand management. All of our chosen companies have done something new and innovative in their respective fields. Our objective and hope are that this Companies to Watch report will help reduce some of the time and labor it takes you to keep up with technology trends in manufacturing. As always, let us know how we are doing. ACORN SYSTEMS INC. Cost/profit analysis APPRION INC. Wireless iDASHBOARDS Business intelligence INCUITY SOFTWARE, INC. Manufacturing intelligence INOVx SOLUTIONS, INC. 3D simulation OMNITROL NETWORKS INC. Wireless networks QUESTRA CORP. Intelligent device management RFIND SYSTEMS, INC. RFID SYNCHRONO, INC. Supply chain Photo: Rey Rojo TERRA TECHNOLOGY Demand management 21 September 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - September 2007

Contents Take 1 Europe’s Automation Chiefs Upbeat on ’08 Business Prospects Vendor Coalition Pushes Human Element of SOA Wireless: Users Still Approaching with Caution One Year Later, IBM Shows Plan for MRO’s Maximo Study: More Work Needed to Lure Next-Gen Talent Executive Q&A Notes Cover Story: 2008 Companies to Watch Special Report: The 2007 Progressive Manufacturing High Achievers Progressive Manufacturer of the Year Business Model Mastery Innovation Mastery Customer Mastery Supply Network Mastery Data & Integration Mastery Education & Training Mastery Operational Excellence Mastery Leadership Mastery Transformation: Orchestrating the Multi-Tier Supply Network Integration: The Timeless Quest for Accurate Data Industries: Maintenance No Longer on Schedule Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - September 2007

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