May 1997 • Volume 7 • Number 5
APICS '97
APICS General Session Speaker Lineup Packs Power
The 1927 New York Yankees' lineup was known as "murderers row"
because of its power from top to bottom with legendary players such
as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Seventy years later, the featured
speakers lineup for the 1997 APICS International Conference and
Exhibition is also packed with hard hitters, including noted
television journalist Sam Donaldson, author and consultant Tom
Peters, and president and CEO of the W.H. Brady Co., Katherine
Hudson.
SAM DONALDSON
For 30 years, ABC's Sam Donaldson has been one of television's
most recognized journalists. Since 1989 he has co-anchored "PrimeTime
Live," where his investigative reports have covered such
controversial issues such as government waste. In one report,
Donaldson exposed the continued operation of a U.S. Navy air station
in Bermuda as a vacation playground for the military brass at the
expense of taxpayers. Donaldson also investigated one of the worst
friendly fire accidents in U.S. history involving two U.S. Air Force
fighter planes that shot down two U.S. Army helicopters over northern
Iraq killing 26 people. In addition, he delved into the past criminal
history of Richard Allen Davis, convicted in the kidnapping and
murder of Polly Klaas, exposing the California criminal justice
system's failure to keep Davis off the streets.
On the lighter side, Donaldson and "PrimeTime Live" co-anchor Diane Sawyer joined then President Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush on a live tour of the White House living quarters. They also co-anchored a broadcast from inside the Kremlin, where they toured its palaces and provided a rare look at Vladimir Lenin's private apartments.
From 1977 until 1989, Donaldson served as ABC's chief White House
correspondent, and he aggressively took advantage of every
opportunity to ask questions of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald
Reagan. In fact, in what became a classic of political entertainment,
Donaldson would shout questions at Reagan as he walked from the Oval
Office to a helicopter or limousine and the president would cup his
hand to his ear, smiling and pretending not to hear.
TOM PETERS
Any company that thinks it's on top of everything from management
processes to profit margins need only encounter Peters for a short
time to be brought back to the reality that things may not be as good
as they seem. Peters is, by nature, an iconoclast and, by his own
description, a prince of disorder and a professional loudmouth.
Whatever he is, hundreds, if not thousands, of companies have called
upon him for a no-holds-barred appraisal for improvement (if they are
doing well) and survival (if they aren't).
Peters is the author of "In Search of Excellence" and three subsequent books (all ranked at or near the top of the New York Times best-seller list). His latest book, "A Provocateur's Guide to Management 2000," will be released later this year. Peters is described by Business Week as business' "best friend and worst nightmare." Peters presents 75 or more seminars each year throughout the world, has written more than 100 news articles and has created or hosted numerous television network broadcasts and corporate training films.
Peters is the founder and chair of The Tom Peters Group, three
training and communications companies headquartered in Palo Alto,
Calif.
KATHERINE HUDSON
Becoming a CEO is something many aspire to, but few men — and
even fewer women — actually make it. Katherine Hudson made it in
1994 when she was named president and CEO of the Milwaukee-based W.H.
Brady Co., an international manufacturer of coated films and
industrial products. By joining Brady after 23 years at Eastman Kodak
Co., where she was a divisional vice president and the top-ranking
female executive in the company, Hudson became the first female chief
executive of a major public company in Wisconsin. Since taking the
reins at Brady, she has increased company sales by 23 percent and net
income by 53 percent. But as important as bottom-line numbers are as
a measure of a CEO's and a company's success, there are other
considerations as well.
Hudson has often said that "fun" is an important component to a healthy workplace environment. Hudson walks around the factory floors joking and speaking informally with Brady employees as a means of connecting with them on a personal level.
Somewhat unconventional, Hudson is also known for her sense of humor. While at Kodak, she once sent IBM a pair of pink socks for submitting a proposal that "knocked her socks off," and at her first Brady management meeting she persuaded all the executives to wear Groucho Marx glasses and noses, then lined them up for a photo in front of a wall of lavatories that she called the "Great Wall of China."
E&R Foundation Arranges Informal Session with Goldratt at APICS
'97
The APICS Educational & Research (E&R) Foundation has arranged for APICS '97 attendees to meet informally with Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Ph.D., the father of the theory of constraints, on Monday, Oct. 27, from 5-7:30 p.m. This question-and-answer session takes place before the performance of Goldratt's play, "Uncommon Sense," which begins at 8 p.m. that evening.
Tickets for this freewheeling forum with Goldratt, author of the best-seller "The Goal," and the new book "Critical Chain," are $50. Refreshments will be served and proceeds will go to the E&R Foundation's funding of applied research for integrated resource managers. Tickets for the play are $45.
For more information, contact Mike Lythgoe, director, APICS E&R Foundation, at (800) 444-2742 or (703) 237-8344, ext. 2202, or by e-mail at [email protected].
FedEx Plant Tour Set
On Monday, Oct. 27, from 7:30-10 p.m., conference attendees can get an inside look at the Federal Express facility at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The Dulles facility is one of the company's key processing centers.
Educational Session Highlights
Running the gamut from the basics to advanced skills and practices
in integrated resource management, to the so- called "life skills" of
financial management and nutrition, educational sessions at an APICS
conference offer something for everyone. Following are highlights of
some of the more than 100 sessions that will be offered at APICS
'97.
Learn the Language of Software Before Buying
Software is one of the most critical and expensive acquisitions for
any company, and purchasers are often overwhelmed by the terminology
and acronyms. An AlliedSignal representative will present
"Manufacturing Software for the Buzzword-Challenged — How to
Tell MRP from ERP," a session to help attendees gain an understanding
of software tools available for manufacturing companies, a
familiarity with acronyms, and information about the future direction
of software for manufacturing companies from the perspective of the
neophyte.
The Internet as a Business Tool for Improving Operations
Some may think of the Internet as more style than substance, but
one of the world's most respected and successful companies believes
otherwise and will share its story at APICS '97.
During APICS '97, a representative from General Electric (GE) will
offer a case study of how GE's lighting division has used the
Internet to dramatically improve purchasing and logistics performance
through a "Trading Process Network." By doing so, GE has achieved
substantial benefits in cycle time reduction, virtually eliminated
paper and mail processing in purchasing, and gained electronic,
real-time access to technical drawings and specifications.
The Art of Listening
Many people can hear, but listening is another matter. Believe it or
not, basic active listening is a skill that can be learned and
applied to communications in the workplace and in personal
relationships.
This session will explore the importance of listening skills and the reasons people do not always "hear" what others are saying. Attendees will learn and practice techniques to improve their listening skills, how to demonstrate interest in what others are saying, and how to encourage others to open up and communicate the necessary information.
Washington Offers a Bounty of Scenic and Cultural AttractionsThe Washington, D.C., metropolitan area offers unique
attractions in many areas — architecture, historic
sites and art galleries to name a few. The nation's capital
takes on a special beauty in autumn, and APICS has arranged
a number of tours to round out attendees' conference
experience. For those attendees who wish to set their own sightseeing agenda, Washington's subway system (known as the "metro"), cabs and buses make it easy to get around to all the city's attractions. |
For more information about APICS '97, call APICS Customer Service at (800) 444-2742 or (703) 237-8344 and request a copy of the Advance Conference Brochure (item #04066).
Copyright © 1998 by APICS — The Educational Society for Resource Management. All rights reserved.
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