Keynote Named for 2009 Collaboration & Interoperability Event

Glenn Gise, Senior Technology Manager at Black & Decker, will give the keynote address to kick off the fourth annual conference, a two-day event covering current challenges and solutions in design collaboration.

Mr. Gise implemented Black & Decker's first PDM system back in 1994 and recently worked closely with other managers in a new company-wide effort to update overall digital processes. The company had inherited product data from diverse PDM systems through business acquisitions, creating complications in interoperability. His presentation will examine the re-framing of the PDM problem, explain the challenges of the large-scale migration, and weigh in on many of the essential issues of collaboration and interoperability in a manufacturing enterprise.

Migrating into a unified global PLM system takes every ounce of IT resource an organization has, says Gise. At Black and Decker, our situation is made more complicated by the sheer magnitude of our global product portfolio and operational footprint. Virtually everyone has heard of a Black and Decker product. It takes a huge distribution and support organization to maintain this global presence and positive brand impression. To make matters even more complex, no company can grow without acquisition - we're no different. Each new acquisition brings a completely different IT environment, supply chain, distribution and MRO operation. I'm at the CIC to say if Black & Decker can do it, so can you.

Glenn's experience at one of the world's most respected manufacturers tells a story that I think encapsulates a situation we're seeing in manufacturing industry-wide. Companies frequently find themselves in a very complicated spot when it comes to interoperability with multiple CAD and PDM systems, and start to realize the drag on resources and responsiveness, says President of Longview Advisors David Prawel. It's an endemic problem, but one that also leads to huge opportunities. Glenn's story at Black & Decker demonstrates the strategy and leadership required to bring about transformative effects.