Tunnel vision will give way to bridge-building as ITT Industries combines several stand-alone technology and product development initiatives into a single event being held from October 27-29 in Washington, D.C.
Last year, the first-ever Value-Based Product Development (VBPD) Symposium expanded on the long-standing Taguchi Symposium. This year, it will also include a one-day Technology Fair. Each of these events focuses on a specific aspect of technology or product development.
"We tend to treat product development and technology development as two totally separate functions," says Dick Arra, head of ITT Industries VBPD effort. "But they are both part of a continuum and we need to enhance the sharing of knowledge all along the innovation path."
Because the voice of the customer is a central component of VBPD, a number
of customers are also being invited to attend the event as presenters and
audience participants.
The VBPD Symposium will give participants insights and information on product
development methodologies, including robust design (the focus of past Taguchi
Symposiums), creating customer value and leadership of product development
efforts. The Tech Fair will follow the format of the old Fluid Technology
Tech Fair and offer value centers a way to share core technologies. Fair-goers
will have the opportunity to interact first with all their ITT Industries
co-workers, and later with peers from within their own management company.
"The Fair isn't a place for long, theoretical discussions," says Gunnar
Hovstadius, who organized the Fluid Tech Fair. "If one value center has
a product or technology that another can use, we are asking them to put
it on display and explain it's capabilities and benefits."
The two-and-a-half day event is expected to include nearly 300 delegates
from all four management companies. Hank Driesse, the president of ITT Industries
Defense & Electronics management company will host the proceedings, and
attendees will include product managers, engineers and R&D staff -- the
people who work directly on product development projects and technical challenges.
As Hovstadius says, "This is a chance for our product and technology guys
to get together and talk about real nuts-and-bolts issues."
A new company-wide award will be unveiled at the VBPD Symposium. The Engineered
for Life Awards will be presented on Tuesday evening, October 28, and winners
will be those ITT Industries employees how have made long-term, significant
technical improvements or contributed recent advances in product development
or innovation.
Each management company will select a winner -- or winners -- from their
business to receive the prize and accompanying cash award. Look for a list
of winners in the next issue of In Our Hands: extra.