CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va - GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc., a unit of GE Infrastructure, held its first annual "Discover Series" Users Conference, May 23 - May 26, 2005, in New Orleans. The Discover 2005 Users Conference - with more 500 participants including international end users, OEMs and systems integrators - focused on sharing automation best practices to meet business challenges. GE Fanuc announced that plans are under way for the second annual Discover Series Users Conference, to be held in 2006, with dates and location to follow.With 56 different sessions to allow attendees to customize their time, the Discover 2005 Users Conference featured best-practice sharing from Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Nissan North America, Alstom Power, CH2M HILL, and more. Parker Shannon, project manager and lean manufacturing expert with Toyota, Don Richardson, director of manufacturing industry solutions with Microsoft Corp., and Scott Donnelly, senior vice president for GE Global Research, provided keynote addresses. The conference also highlighted best practices and initiatives from GE, such as Lean Six Sigma, Manufacturing Digitization, Change Acceleration, and Work-Out. Eight hands-on workshops offered users experience with groundbreaking automation applications and solutions - ranging from new data management techniques to motion control to plant-wide production management to controller strategies. "I was very impressed with the 'Object of My Efficiency' Workshop," said conference attendee Bill Stewart with Dynegy's Midstream natural gas business. "The GE Fanuc Users Conference has been the Super Bowl of automation."Participants also had the opportunity to view leading-edge innovation in a Technology Showcase and take advantage of on-site expertise. Philippe Marsaud with GEM A86, noted, "I have been very impressed by the quality of listening of all of the GE Fanuc team and the dedication to help us find a good solution."Furthermore, leading automation integrators presented new techniques for optimizing existing equipment assets, proven methods for achieving regulatory compliance, design practices for high availability systems, and many other topics. Regarding Premier Solution Provider Binnington Development Corporation's presentation on high-speed data acquisition, Rick Merritt with Procter & Gamble commented, "Although the MES data I typically deal with does not require high-speed data collection, the presentation reminded me that just because you can't see a problem with your current toolset, doesn't mean a problem and a solution do not exist. The correct tool, whether it be high-speed data acquisition, Proficy Plant Applications, Proficy Real-Time Information Portal, or others, can allow companies to identify hidden problems and subsequently solve them."Complementary technology partners at the Users Conference included Microsoft, Intel, Digi International, Analog Devices, STMicroelectronics, Stratus Technologies, and Woodhead Industries while featured GE Fanuc Premier Solution Providers included ASECO Integrated Systems, Control Dynamics International, Synapse Systems, System Technologies for Industry, and Wunderlich-Malec - all in an international forum that attendees could discover throughout the conference with a guided tour or on their own.About GE Fanuc AutomationGE Fanuc Automation, a joint venture between GE and FANUC LTD of Japan, delivers automation hardware and software designed to help users reduce costs, increase efficiency and enhance profitability. With solutions and services catering to virtually every industrial segment, GE Fanuc Automation provides a diverse array of capabilities and products, including controllers, embedded systems, advanced software, motion control, CNCs, operator interfaces, industrial computers, and lasers. Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, GE Fanuc Automation is a part of GE Infrastructure and combines the diverse global strengths of the GE family with the local presence customers need to design, develop and maintain their automation investments. For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com
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