FEED FORWARD

Conversation Network, by Gary Mintchell

Perhaps I was premature in my whining about being shut out of the conference sessions at last February’s ARC Advisory Group Forum in Orlando.

What had happened was that so many sponsors of the event wanted time with editors at press conferences and meetings that, for the first time in 10 years, I went to the Forum but attended no sessions. I’ve always found it a good way to get an overview of industry thinking.

What started me down this road of thought was a piece on Leo Laporte’s podcast “This Week in Tech” (TWIT). The panel discussed a new phenomenon occurring at high-technology conferences - “lobbycon.” Since it is well-known that most good conversations and learning happen during breaks in the hallways or lobbies of conferences, people are starting to show up at conference sites without paying for seats. They just meet people in the lobby. Hence, lobbycon.

Now, I’m not advocating this as a widespread movement. After all, if no one paid for the conference, then there wouldn’t be a conference in the first place to draw people together to network. But if much of the value of a conference is in the networking, then maybe I wasn’t so shut out at ARC Forum after all. Maybe I got much, or most, of the value of the conference by meeting with so many people... Read more...

» Pinto’s Prose: ISA Identity Crisis, by Jim Pinto
Although strongly supported by the ISA executive board, the proposed name change from “Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society” to “International Society of Automation” was not approved during the October ’07 meeting of Society delegates.

Requiring a two-thirds majority, the motion came up just a few votes short.

The discussion was interesting. ISA leadership sees clearly how the Society must expand beyond instrumentation in order to grow. But current members, mostly with instrumentation backgrounds, don’t really want to become a small part of a different Society. And therein lies the rub... Read more...

ANNOUNCEMENT

ARC Advisory Group’s 12th Annual Orlando Forum

Learn innovative and best-in-class strategies to achieve operational excellence at ARC’s Winning Strategies and Best Practices for Global Manufacturers Forum. Come away with best practices to use immediately to revitalize your company’s approach. February 4-7, Orlando, FL.
Click here for registration details >>

ANNOUNCEMENT

Benchmarking Leveraging Working Capital in Manufacturing

Please tell us your company’s experience regarding your operational systems, analytics, simulation and modeling capabilities as it applies to understanding, managing, and optimizing working capital in manufacturing. In appreciation for your time in participating in this research, we will provide you with a complimentary copy of this study when it publishes.
Click here to begin the survey >>