The RSTechED conference hosted by Rockwell Automation focused on giving attendees useful tools and information they need to navigate the current business climate. Rockwell Automation Inc, headquartered at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, serving customers in more than 80 countries. This 12th annual weeklong user and partner event took place at Orlando from June 21-26 and saw more than 1,050 registered attendees.

The conference was conceived after witnessing the economic challenges that manufacturers are facing these days. Participants attended executive speaker presentations, technical sessions, hands-on labs, special interest group discussions and customer panels. All topics focused on leveraging information to improve business results. According to Ralph Carter, President, Rockwell Software, “Manufacturers today need to optimise productivity by making high-value improvements that boost both profitability and sustainability.”

Manufacturing 2.0
Senior executives and managers from dozens of companies met at the Manufacturing 2.0 Executive Forum, held in conjunction with RSTechED, to gain information about driving immediate cost savings and improving business performance through technology. Renowned Harvard Business School manufacturing professor and ‘Enterprise 2.0’ author Andrew McAfee provided insight into the impact of IT on the structure and performance of businesses.



During a series of four panels, industry eaders addressed key industry trends like the latest costsaving trends in the industry, strategies in supply chain efficiencies, improving decision making, tracking, tracing and compliance trends and the best practices for sustainability.

These sessions provided senior manufacturing, IT and operations professionals with insights on how top companies are drawing value from IT-driven manufacturing and leveraging technology initiatives to quickly demonstrate real results.

Asset management software
At RSTechED, Rockwell Automation announced the addition of process device configuration using field device tool (FDT) technology to its FactoryTalk AssetCentre asset management software. Process device configuration helps process manufacturers increase reliability of instrumentation and simplifies regulatory reporting compliance efforts.

The capabilities also help improve product quality in applications where conditions are tied directly to process parameters, such as temperature, pressure flow.

Past experiences and future insights shared
A highlight for many RSTechED attendees was the opportunity to attend any of the three two-hour customer panel discussions addressing the latest technology trends. Panelists from Colorado
Springs, Hershey Company and Newnes-McGehee shared their thoughts and experiences related to cutting-edge HMI solutions. Representatives from Barber Foods, Nestle and General Mills discussed best practices for manufacturing data collection and reporting.

Meanwhile, panelists from Alcoa, Genzyme Biosurgery, Georgia Tech and Wyeth engaged in lively discussions about historical data collection and tracking.