Competitive manufacturing strategies will form the centerpiece of the debate at an upcoming plastics conference in Tampa, Fla.
Executive Forum 2006, Plastics News' annual chief-executive-offier-level event, will take place March 5-8 and feature 27 speakers in 2½ days. Some presenters will discuss the current state of resin markets, merger and acquisition trends, managing through crises such as the recent hurricanes and protecting intellectual property.
Heading the discussion on intense and increasing global competition will be economist Ernest Preeg, senior fellow in trade and productivity at the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI think tank in Washington. In his latest book, The Emerging Chinese Advanced Technology Superstate, Preeg presents evidence to demonstrate how quickly China is moving to transform itself from a low-skill, low-wage manufacturing outsourcing option into a high-tech force. And he claims the U.S. government is largely asleep at the wheel. Preeg, who has a Ph.D. in economics with 25 years of service in international government posts, will offer his prescription for addressing those issues.
Several senior plastics processing executives will weigh in as well.
Chris Morton oversees global plastics operations for Flextronics International Ltd. that run 1,400 injection presses and employ hundreds of toolmakers. As a $15.9 billion, Singapore-based contract manufacturer, Flextronics supplies the fast-moving electronics sector, making everything from laptop computers to cell phones. Morton will discuss the process for developing ``technology road maps'' for manufacturers of all sizes.
Mike Sullivan is the United Kingdom-based vice president of research and development and international projects for Rosti Technical Plastics, a 14-plant division of Copenhagen, Denmark-based Rosti Group. Sullivan will tell attendees how his company has managed global growth across linked manufacturing sites that stretch from Mexico and the southern United States to northern Europe and China.
Donnelly Custom Manufacturing has taken a different path. President Ron Kirscht will explain how the $20 million Alexandria, Minn., injection molding company has created and applied a clearly defined, narrowly focused business plan to carve out its own successful niche - short-run molding.
In a related presentation, Mary Scheibel, principal owner of Milwaukee-based marketing communications firm Scheibel Halaska Inc., will share insights into how her company has helped a modest-sized molder build a brand and market itself.
To register or for details on the event, visit http://www.plastics news.com/forum2006.