An exchange of ideas between professionals in business, government and academia will highlight the fourth annual Alliance With Industry Conference at Brigham Young University April 1 and 2.
Those attending will visit sessions designed around the theme of "Succeeding in a More Competitive World." Sessions and workshops will focus on issues that strengthen organizations to compete in international markets and to increase quality throughout their organizations.Harvard professor Stephen Wheelwright, author of the best-selling book, "Dynamic Manufacturing," will be keynote speaker and discuss "Revolutionizing Product Development." Other speakers include Kathy Kolbe, president of Kolbe Concepts, and Roger Glunt, president of the National Home Builders Association.
Among the participants will be Alamo Learning Systems, Battelle Memorial Institute, BYU, Coopers & Lybrand, Cummins Engine Co. Inc., Electronic Data Systems Corp., Easton Aluminum, Geneva Steel, Harvard University, Retro Link Associates, SDRC, Spring-Board Innovation, 3M Corp., UNISYS Corp., Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy and WordPerfect.
The annual event is jointly sponsored by the College of Engineering and Technology and the Marriott School of Management at BYU. Provo Economic Development and the Commission for the Economic Development in Orem will also serve as hosts.
Four topics will form the basis of the conference.
- Robust Teamsmanship. Under this topic will be ideas of empowerment, management, participation and use of teams for solving problems, developing products and learning.
- Variability in Products and Processes. Using the title "Taguchi and Beyond," this topic will deal with controlling, compensating for and reducing the impact of variability.
- Concurrent Processes for Product Development. Ideas will include structuring, managing and communicating in parallel fashion for reduced cycle time.
- Strategies for Changing Paradigms in Organizations. Suggestions on changing from current thinking and modes of operating to total quality organization will be discussed.
Those attending will be encouraged to participate actively in the workshops and sessions. The themes and topics apply to many industrial contexts.
For more information about the conference, contact David Anthony at 378-5780.