I interviewed GE Fanuc CEO Jeff Garwood last week. As you would presume, he's a bright and articulate guy. In the GE of Jack Welch, he'd probably be rotated out shortly, but Jeff Imelt has stated that he'd like his managers to get a little deeper into their businesses in order to drive innovation--and that is exactly what seems to be happening at GE Fanuc.
Like the best of the CEOs and other executives I've interviewed over the past couple of years at Automation World, Garwood first of all reports extensive customer contact. I believe that is a key for success of any company. Looks like he has had success blending the Intellution acquisition with the existing Cimplicity group to form an expanded software group around the Proficy platform. The company is also blending the VMIC embedded systems acquisition with its PLC platform business thus expanding its hardware offering. He reports increasing sales at the company. Increasing investment in research and development, as well.
He reports that the blending of the Proficy software platform and PAC (programmable automation controller) platform reflect in a certain type of blending of discrete and process control. Similar to my report from the Profibus general meeting where Todd Lucey reported on the growing complexity of sales and need for sales people to have (or have access to) greater expertise, Garwood reports that GE Fanuc has found it necessary to deploy some direct sales people in addition to its existing distributor channel. Systems have been invented and deployed to give these people access to whatever vertical or horizontal expertise they need to help solve a client's problem.
Things sound on the upswing in Charlottesville.That's good for the industry.
9:20:21 AM 
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