Manufacturing Executive - September 2008 - (Page 3)

September 2008 ● Vol. 1 No. 2 Technology Strategies for European Industry Leaders OPINIONS 4 l Editor’s Letter By Paul Tate Do Europe’s manufacturers have the motivation to orchestrate widespread transformational change? 6 l Opinion By David Humphrey 12 l PART 1: INNOVATION OR EFFICIENCY? 17 l PART 2: THE INNOVATIONOGAP B Y D AV I D R . B R U S E L L A new reader poll of U.S. and European manufacturers shows serious gaps between the idea of innovation and the practice of managing it over time. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS B Y PA U L TAT E Emerging and globalised markets may be helping to offset the detrimental effects of America’s economic troubles on the rest of the world. 20 l Opinion By Lisa Bodell Manufacturers have come to realize that while the strategies of operational efficiency and innovation have their tension points, they have to figure out ways to do both. Appointing an innovation chief is a start, but companies serious about developing innovation strategies should decide what role the innovation team should play. 42 l Opinion By Pier francesco Manenti 24 l SPECIAL REPORT: GREAT ASPIRATIONS BY MARK HALPER DEPARTMENTS The MESA trade group hopes its guidebooks on five corporate initiatives, due at its autumn meeting in Prague, will finally vault MES into the pantheon of business software. Surveys reveal a disconnection between management strategies and actual practices when it comes to fostering innovation in European manufacturers. 8 l Starters By Mark Halper Rocking the Enterprise with Shop Floor Ties Take Two RFIDs and Drink Plenty of Optics How Green Is My Green? Thinking Inside The Box 28 l SUPPLY CHAIN The New Money Machine By Mark Halper 34 l BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE Forget the banks. Software and tech can keep money moving around your supply chain and improve your working capital. Food Distributor Turns Up the Heat on Manufacturers By Mark Halper New dashboard business intelligence technology gathers up disparate information to boost Bako UK’s purchasing power. 10 l Road Trip By Mark Halper 32 l PRODUCT DESIGN By Mark Halper Fruehauf Gets into High Gear with 3D CAD Spanish semitrailer maker finds relief from design flaws in 3D CAD and PDM systems. Now, about that ailing economy 36 l SOFT WARE By Paul Tate Manufacturers Face SaaS Hurdles Business transformation rarely happens without a little help from technology. The appeal of fast-start, pay-as-you-go, online IT solutions is gathering pace among European manufacturers, but companies still face challenges making software-as-a-service work in the real world. In Prague last spring, Manufacturing Executive spotted a liberation movement aimed at unleashing the value of the enterprise software that has cost manufacturers billions of euros per year. 40 l Dialogue By Paul Tate Manufuture’s chairman calls for urgent implementation of new ideas and technologies to keep Europe’s manufacturing sector world-class. Cover Photo: Purestock MANUFACTURING EXECUTIVE magazine is published April, September and November 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. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010541. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Station A, P.O. Box 12, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5. Postmaster: Please send address changes and undeliverable U.S. addresses to MANAGING AUTOMATION, P.O. Box 1156, Skokie, IL 60076-9794. ©2008 by Thomas Publishing Company. September 2008 3

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Manufacturing Executive - September 2008

Manufacturing Executive - September 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Opinion By David Humphrey Starters Road Trip Part 1: Innovation or Efficiency? Part 2: The Innovation Gap Opinion By Lisa Bodell Special Report: Great Aspirations Supply Chain: The New Money Machine Product Design: Fruehauf Gets into High Gear with 3D CAD Business Intelligence: Food Distributor Turns Up the Heat on Manufacturers Software: Manufacturers Face SaaS Hurdles Dialogue Opinion By Pierfrancesco Manenti

Manufacturing Executive - September 2008

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