Automation Fair
This week's travels take me to Orlando and the Rockwell Automation "Automation Fair." Tuesday's event is aimed at media and analysts where the company presents trends and applications of automation technology.
The luncheon keynote was by Leo Reddy, founder and president of the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM, http://www.nacfam.org). The project Reddy pushes is certification for manufacturing technicians from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC, http://www.msscusa.org). As machines are automated, the need grows for technicians trained in automation and associated manufacturing skills.
The afternoon session was highlighted by Dennis Puffer, chief brewery operations officer and Flo Mostaccero, senior vice president technical services and business process development of Coors Brewery. The presentation culminated with a sampling of their product. The story was interesting, but really needed a little more detail, about Coors' travel toward World Class Operations status. Although automation plays a part, emphasis was placed on change management--getting people from the plant floor to top management--to think about business and plant operations in a new way.
Today, it's on to the trade show and total immersion in what Rockwell has been up to for the past year.
7:10:43 AM 
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