Two industry experts to deliver keynotes at WBF's 2006 North American Conference

Jan. 11, 2006
Two experts, representing leading industry giants - Andy Chatha, President of the ARC Advisory Group and Margaret Walker, Vice President of Engineering Solutions for The Dow Chemical Company - will deliver keynote addresses at WBF's 2006 North American Conference, slated for March 5 - 8 in Atlanta, Georgia. As experienced leaders in the industry, they will present their insights on implementing the Conference theme in respective industry operations: "Manufacturing & Automation - Jazzing It Up."Andy Chatha, President of ARC Advisory GroupAndy Chatha, President of ARC Advisory Group, will share his far-ranging industry experience by opening the Monday morning general session of the conference. Andy has more than 30 years' experience in enterprise applications and automation as an executive advisor, market analyst, project manager and software engineer. He started his career in 1970 at General Electric Company of UK as a systems engineer for the design and implementation of large computer-based enterprise automation projects. Today, as President of ARC, he provides leadership to the organization and guides its research and client activities. Over the past 15 years, Andy has provided advice and counsel to many leading manufacturing companies around the world.Margaret Walker, Vice President of Engineering Solutions, The Dow Chemical CompanyHeading up the Tuesday program as keynoter is Margaret R. Walker of The Dow Chemical Company. With more than 30 year's experience at Dow, Margaret is Vice President of Engineering Solutions, Technology Centers, and Dow's Global Manufacturing and Engineering Work Process. She joined Dow in 1974 and held a series of increasingly responsible positions in Operations, gaining extensive experience in process development and scale-up, plant modernization and process improvement projects.Margaret has served as a plant superintendent for two different plants. And from 1993 to 1995, she was Director of Materials management for Dow's Performance Products Group.In 1995, Margaret was named Global Business Director for the Contract Manufacturing Services business, and in 2001 was named Director for Dow Process Automation, Work Process, and Learning for Manufacturing Engineering. In 2003 and 2004, Margaret was given additional responsibilities for the Technology Centers and for Dow Design and Construction, and was named to her current position in July 2004.Margaret has been named a distinguished Engineer from Texas Tech University, and in 1997 received The Dow Chemical Company Genesis Award.Together, these exciting and experienced individuals will set the tone for the value-oriented papers and presentations to follow on each day.  “We are very pleased to have these outstanding keynote speakers on our program,” says Bill Stewart, Jr., Program Chairman for the 2006 North American Conference and Regional Engineering Leader - West Virginia/Pacific for Dow Chemical.  “This year’s program will also deliver practical information on the use of ISA-88 and ISA-95, two very exciting industry topics.”   About the 2006 North American ConferenceWBF's North American Conference will be held March 5 - 8 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel near the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, GA. As the recognized leader in supporting the process automation and operations needs of the technical and management professionals in process manufacturing, WBF is offering a highly diversified, multi-level program. There will be dual tracks on Monday afternoon, with one track focusing on "The Automated Plant," and the other track (co-sponsored by MESA International), concentrating on Plant to Enterprise Integration. The MESA-sponsored session will feature an interactive 1.5-hr P2E Security panel discussion, "What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You."  Other Conference sessions include: "Looking to the Future," which will feature a panel of top trade journal editors, who will discuss Future Trends in Automation; Professional Concerns, Automation Techniques, and Automation Tools. Extras available at the Conference include five tutorials: Applying the S88.01 Standard; Implementing Manufacturing Operations Management & Business Integration Using ISA 95; an Update on SP99; A "Legal Toolbox" for Process & Automation Engineers; and B2MML & SAP - Business to Manufacturing Integration.      The Conference is open to both WBF members and non-members who are interested in learning, networking and sharing success stories on how to improve manufacturing processes, increase quality and share valuable information throughout the enterprise. The Conference includes an exhibit and networking events. Full program information, as well as on-line registration and hotel reservations, is available on www.wbf.org.About the WBF
WBF, established in 1994, is a not-for-profit Forum for Automation and Manufacturing Professionals, promoting the exchange of information on the management, operation and automation of manufacturing processes. Members include end-users, vendors, consultants and academicians. In addition to hosting an annual conference with formal presentations and technical papers, the WBF integrates a variety of management and technical disciplines needed to advance batch, continuous and discrete manufacturing knowledge and technology. Visit www.wbf.org for membership information and additional details on the 2006 North American Conference or contact Sylvia Heidemann at 407-774-5764 X107; [email protected].

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