IMS along with partners ASA, Aerosud, ASM International, CAMASA, CSIR and PDES Inc held an IMS ManuVation 4.0 workshop in Pretoria, South Africa on February 25-26 at the CSIR International Convention Centre. The two-day workshop included presentations from Professor David Romero of the World Manufacturing Forum on the 2018 WMF report, Dan Nagy of IMS on the 4th industrial revolution driving workforce innovation, General Robert Mansfield of Solomon Bruce Consulting on aerospace readiness and Johan Steyn of Aerosud on South African aerospace preparedness and impact of digitalization.

Following the plenary session, Dr. Steve Ray of IMS and Carnegie Mellon University presented pre-workshop survey results to define breakout groups for

the workshop session. During the two-day event four

working project groups were formed in the areas of simulation, additive manufacturing, business systems, and IoT. South African manufacturers worked together to find common issues in areas of non-competitive or pre-competitive research in order to enable best practice solutions for their businesses

If you are interested in joining one of the project clusters or in hosting an IMS ManuVation Workshop in your area please email: dnagy@ims.org.

IMS International and partners Politecnico di Milano and Confindustria Lombardia held the seventh edition of the World Manufacturing Forum on September 27th and 28th at the Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Italy. The international event on manufacturing produced record numbers with thirty international speakers and 900 participants from over 40 countries. This years’ record turnout coincides with the newly formed World Manufacturing Foundation from partners Intelligent Manufacturing System, Confindustria Lombardia and Politecnico di Milano. The new foundation’s success is indicative of the global outreach achieved by the World Manufacturing Forum.

IMS hosted the first World Manufacturing Forum regional event in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 18th, 2018. The event, “Manufacturing Revolution to Promote Global Resilience,” took place in conjunction with the Manufacturing Indaba at the Sandton Convention Center. The session aimed to address how the industrial transformation inspires education, sustainable development, and societal impact. IMS Managing Director and WMF Board Member, Dan Nagy, began the program by introducing the new World Manufacturing Forum Foundation. He noted that the WMF will now expand to include an annual Global Report along with regional events and new involvement opportunities. He also presented global partners UNIDO, the European Commission, and Regione Lombardia and previewed the 2018 program which will be released at the end of July. Professor Marco Taisch of Politecnico di Milano and WMF Scientific Chair presented the WMF Global Manufacturing Report. He explained that the report will be white paper on the future outlook of manufacturing and will include expert opinions from industry innovators. The report will also outline 10 key short and long term recommendations for industry.

The program continued with two expert panels, Session One: “Policies Advancing Manufacturing Development and Global Cooperation” and Session Two: “Solving the Manufacturing Skill Challenge: Creating a Skills Marketplace.” Session one focused on how to harness the full potential of the fourth industrial revolution to boost competitiveness in the global manufacturing industry by reinforcing international cooperation, promoting investment, and advancing the proper application of technology. Session two discussed how information on job evolution and skill requirements are used by South Africa to review and renew and develop 

their education and training systems. Panelists also discussed development of a national framework to support coordination between education and training, skilled workers, and the labor market to create a skills marketplace. Audience members were able to ask panelists questions during Q&A periods and were invited to a networking and collaboration coffee. All those in attendance were invited to attend the 2018 edition of the WMF.

14 May, 2018

IMS was invited as a guest to tour German manufacturing companies and meet with industry, local economic development agencies and research institutions by the TransAtlantic Cluster Initiative. The tour was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to promote dialogue and understanding of how industry 4.0 technologies are being integrated into small to large companies, and to expand their network through face-to-face meetings. The tour group included experts from industry and industry-related institutions who exchanged best practices, shared common challenges. The week-long tour visited companies in Hessen (Darmstadt), Baden-Württemberg (Stuttgart), and Niedersachsen (Hannover). Dan Nagy noted that personal highlights of the tour included state-of-the-art manufacturers (Festo, Zeiss), SME’s in the process of integrating new technologies (Nass Magnet), augmented reality labs and holodeck (Fraunhofer, Daimler), a super-computing facility (HLRS), and state-of-the art training labs (Technische Universität Darmstadt, Arena2036, Deutsche Messe). Outcomes from the meeting included expansion if the IMS network and possible support for future collaboration. 

2 April, 2018

IMS attended the NIST Model Based Enterprise Summit on April 2nd.  The goal of the MBE Summit was to identify challenges, research, implementation issues, and lessons learned in manufacturing and quality assurance where a digital three-dimensional (3D) model of the product serves as the authoritative information source for all activities in a product's lifecycle. The theme of the 2018 MBE Summit was Empowering the Digital Transformation with an Integrated Lifecycle. The model-based community has moved beyond the question of “why is MBE important” to “how do we deploy MBE?” This Summit (the ninth of the series) focused on empowering the industrial shift to MBE with recommend practices and how-to guidance. For more information please visit NIST.

9 November, 2017

IMS hosted a World Café workshop on the subtopic of simulation at the 2017 WMF. Participants outlined visions and opportunities for strategic growth and drivers that foster the use of simulation were identified. These drivers included the need to replicate more complex processes, value engineering, technology such as 5G and ubiquitous computing, low capital expenditure, customization, smart production, and carefully crafted government policies and strategy. While barriers such as lack of user knowledge, missing standards, and immature technology exist, participants agreed future of simulation is promising and encourages further R&D efforts. 

7-9 November, 2017

The WMF2017 took place in Monterrey, Mexico on 7-9 November 2017 at the Parque Fundidora to explore  the theme “Towards a Digital Market and Connected Manufacturing Ecosystems”. Global policy experts and industry leaders from large multinationals to small-to-medium sized enterprises, and academic leaders discussed the policy, economic, social, and technical challenges that influence global manufacturing.

Speakers presented policy views supporting and defining manufacturing mega-trends such as the digitalization of industry, challenges for SMEs in the global marketplace, manufacturing intelligence, social innovation as a driver for new products, services, and technologies, financial challenges that affect industrialized and emerging economies, the circular economy and zero waste, and other disruptive technologies.

3-4 October, 2017

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Mr. Abraham Tijerina,  IMS Chair, was an Industry 4.0 Panelist at the Industrial Innovation Information Days held by the European Commission in Brussels on 3-4 October.

The aim of the event was to:

• Build the basis for the future of Industrial Research in Europe

• Inform relevant Industrial Technologies providers & users about EU activities in the field

• Enhance cooperation among Industrial stakeholders.

9-12 September, 2017

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Jack Harris, IMS Head of Delegation and Chair-elect, General Manager PDES, Inc. presented “Industry 4.0 for Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers” at the SFSA Fall Leadership Meeting is September 9-12, 2017 in South Lake Tahoe, CA at The Landing. Along with other information, Mr. Harris discussed the IMS Project Clustering initiative as an opportunity to help SME’s innovate with new technologies.

The Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) is a multi-disciplinary research organization within the Pennsylvania State University and is a major node of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which is operated by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). The goal of CIMP-3D, which also supports the mission of NAMII, is to advance enabling technology for broad adoption of additive manufacturing within the industrial base. CIMP-3D is operated in conjunction with Sciaky Inc. and Battelle Memorial Institute.

7-8 September, 2017

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Jack Harris (Director – Aerospace States Association) and Dan Nagy (Managing Director – IMS) presented “Promoting Growth and Sustainment in Aerospace and Defense SMEs” at  the National Council for Advanced Manufacturing annual meeting. 

19-20 June, 2017

IMS will present an update of its Additive Manufacturing Cluster outcomes at the Picasso “Trans-Atlantic Symposium on ICT Technology and Policy” meeting.

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5G Networks, Big Data, Internet of Things and Cyber Physical Systems for a Smart Society” on 19-20 June 2017 in Minneapolis Minnesota. IMS will contribute to day two of the meeting (Tuesday, 20 June 2017), then hold an international project cluster meeting on its next Industry 4.0 topics on day three (Wednesday 21 June 2017).

10 March, 2017

IMS conducts a Project Clustering Workshop in Los Angeles, CA.

6-9 December, 2016

IMS will hold a follow-up workshop for it’s Additive Manufacturing project clusters and will launch new clusters under Industry 4.0 topics. We are in the process of selecting topics and searching for relevant research. The workshop is planned to be held in South Africa in conjunction with a major manufacturing conference.

17 November, 2016

The Korean Ministry Industry, and Energy (MOCIE) through KAIT, “Korea Association for ICT” will be sponsoring the “2016 Korea Research and Development Exhibition in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on 17 November 2016. IMS will send a delegation and speak about global cooperation through its project clustering program at the event. More information will be posted when available.

28-29 June, 2016

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Following the success of the 2015 event, the 3rd annual Manufacturing Indaba will be held on the 28 – 29 June 2016 at Emperors Palace in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. David Romero, IMS Project Coach, will give a speech regarding international cooperation at the event and the benefits to South Africa to expand beyond their borders.

South Africa’s economy is under pressure and as a result business confidence is in a decline.

The aim of the Manufacturing Indaba is to bring together business owners, industry leaders, government officials, capital providers and professional experts to discuss challenges and to brainstorm solutions. The success of South Africa depends on a strong and innovative manufacturing base working together to promote prosperity through manufacturing, science and innovation.

3-4 May, 2016

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The next edition of the World Manufacturing Forum will be held 3-4 May, 2016 in Barcelona Spain. Along with IMS, this year’s event will be hosted by FundacioCIM, Politecnico Milano, and INESCTEC. The WMF website was updated to reflect this announcement, and will be updated in the coming months with new information.

24-25 November, 2015

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By special invitation, IMS will attend the Korea Global Partnership Program in Seoul on 24-25 November. Organized by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KAIT), the event intends to facilitate business partnerships, technology transfer and joint R&D between Korean companies and overseas businesses and research institutes.

2 May, 2016​

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In conjunction with the European Commission, IMS will hold an international “Additive Manufacturing Project Clustering”. Following local meetings held in the European Union, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States to focus on topics of interest among industry and researchers, the international meeting will bring over 20 projects together to form new collaborations.

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19-20 November, 2015

The IMS International Steering Committee plans to hold its semi-annual meeting at the European Commission offices on 19-20 November in Brussels, Belgium. The delegates will discuss its five-year strategic plan and activities, new projects forming in Additive Manufacturing, and the upcoming World Manufacturing Forum 2016.

2 November, 2015

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A French delegation including officials and representatives of the French private sector will be in the US the first week of November to meet with US actors from the “advanced manufacturing” sector. As part of this visit, the Economic Service of the French Embassy invited IMS to a roundtable discussion on Monday November, 2nd for a luncheon meeting on advanced manufacturing in France and the US. The event is chaired by Mr. Benjamin Gallezot – deputy Director General of the Directorate General for Enterprise.

This roundtable will gather representatives of the US administration, think tanks, manufacturing associations, press and the French delegation.

29 - 30 June, 2015

IMS will hold a follow-up workshop for it’s Additive Manufacturing project clusters and will launch new clusters under Industry 4.0 topics. We are in the process of selecting topics and searching for relevant research. The workshop is planned to be held in South Africa in conjunction with a major manufacturing conference.

14-15 April, 2015

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IMS will speak at the 2015 South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo to be held in Greenville, SC at the TD convention center on Tuesday, 14 April during the plenary session. The program will discuss cyber security, venture capital and ecosystems for manufacturing startups, digital manufacturing and long term data retention, future supply chains, additive manufacturing opportunities, and other topics of high interest. IMS will speak during the session “Challenges and Opportunities for Next-Generation Manufacturing.”

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The keynote speaker will be Governor Nikki Haley. She will be joined by leaders from across the United Staes from industry, government, and academia.

9-10 April, 2015

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IMS will will at the NACFAM Annual Conference to be held in Arlington, VA on 9-10 April, 2015. The conference titled “Transforming U.S. Manufacturing – Challenges and Opportunities” will present NNMI’s contributions to the manufacturing transformation in the US, customer personalization in the manufacturing process, visions of the future supply chain, smart connected products, and other innovations. IMS will present during the session “Collaborating Globally – Manufacturing Locally”. IMS will present how international collaboration expands local manufacturing opportunities from multi-national companies to SMEs and SME clusters.

25-26 March, 2015​

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Organized by the National Academy of Sciences “Defense Materials Manufacturing and Infrastructure (DMMI) Standing Committee”, the Mar 25-26 workshop on “Globalization of Defense Materials and Manufacturing” was opened by Dr. Mike McGrath in the prestigious Members Rooms at the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington DC. At the opening keynote speech Ruth David, CEO of ANSER, said that “We need to leverage what others are doing” setting the tone of the meeting for global collaboration.

Throughout the day some of the challenges heard from the IMS perspective included intellectual property protection when working in a collaborative environment, limited funding for research, and the difficulty in forming consortiums. Dan Nagy (International Office), Steve Ray (US), and David Romero (MX) explained how these concerns can be addressed and how sustainable manufacturing and cross-platform technologies can and should be developed collaboratively through the IMS program. They also presented some project success and opportunities that drew interest from both government and industry representatives spurring off-line discussions for future collaboration.

13 November, 2014

Dr. Mauro Caocci, IMS Project Development Coach, will attend the “Brokerage Event for Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing” on 13 November, 2014 in Brussels. Please contact Mauro if you would like to discuss IMS opportunities at this event.

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A brokerage event for the incoming H2020 NMBP work program is organized by the European Technology Platform NANOfutures with the collaboration of EUMAT and Manufuture. It will take place on the 13th of November 2014 in Brussels.

10-11 November, 2014

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The Intelligent Manufacturing Initiative (IMI) Symposium launched the IMI effort that will increase the economic competitiveness of the U.S. and Mexico in manufacturing for the global market. The IMI accomplishes this by incorporating Information Technology capabilities into all aspects of the manufacturing process from the R&D phase to optimized workflow to system-wide networking to advanced materials to advanced system controls and maintenance to distribution, as well as addressing the needs for a skilled workforce and the financial investments needed.

A brokerage event for the incoming H2020 NMBP work program is organized by the European Technology Platform NANOfutures with the collaboration of EUMAT and Manufuture. It will take place on the 13th of November 2014 in Brussels.

21 October, 2014

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IMS will attend the “Information Days on the Research PPPs on Factories of the Future, Energy-efficient Buildings, Green Vehicles and Sustainable Process Industry in Brussels, 21 October 2014.

1-2 July, 2014

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IMS held the third successful World Manufacturing forum on July 1-2, 2014 in Milan, Italy. The event took place at the Palazzo Mezzanotte where over 400 participants and 40 speakers gathered for the two-day program. Industry executives, government officials, and academic leaders from forty-five different countries were represented. Eight sessions were held ranging from the topics of global manufacturing policy and cyber security to venture capital and robotics from SMEs. IMS worked to create and plan the event by collaborating with the WMF and Politecnico di Milano.

3 June, 2014

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Dr. Mauro Caocci, IMS MTP Project Development Coach, will deliver a speech titled “IMS: a suitable organisation to support an International Platform for Additive Manufacturing” at the “14th AM Platform Meeting General Assembly” at the European Commission’s Covent Garden Building, 6 Place Rogier, Brussels on 3 June. Dr. Caocci will discuss the IMS strategy for Additive Manufacturing and opportunities for research including possible partners and projects.

5-7 March, 2014

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Dr. Mauro Caocci, IMS MTP Project Development Coach, will deliver a speech titled “IMS: a suitable organisation to support an International Platform for Additive Manufacturing” at the “14th AM Platform Meeting General Assembly” at the European Commission’s Covent Garden Building, 6 Place Rogier, Brussels on 3 June. Dr. Caocci will discuss the IMS strategy for Additive Manufacturing and opportunities for research including possible partners and projects.

9-11 April, 2014

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Industrial Technologies 2014 is scheduled for 9-11 April in Athens, Greece, at the Athens International Conference Centre Megaron.  With over 1,200 delegates and 150 high-profile international speakers from industry, research and government in attendance, we expect vibrant discussions and opportunities to spur research innovation and collaboration.  We welcome conference attendees to stop by the IMS booth to discuss their manufacturing research priorities.

Mr. Bob Kiggans, Chairman of IMS International, will be participating in the panel discussion on Smart Manufacturing Systems of the Future: Flexible, Adaptive and Safe.

The Industrial Technologies 2014 conference integrates nanotechnology, biotechnology, advanced materials and new production technologies. The event offers opportunities for developing valuable research and industry collaborations, and showcases cutting-edge research, latest innovations and rising companies from all around Europe.

The main topics include:

• European and global developments in the high-tech arena,

• Re-industrialisation and regional development in Europe,

• Technological and entrepreneurial opportunities especially for the Balkan and Mediterranean states, and

• Opportunities in Horizon 2020 in the field of enabling technologies.

The event takes place during the Greek Presidency of the European Council and has received funding from European Union Seventh Framework Programme.

4-5 February, 2014

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IMS will hold an international manufacturing R&D workshop to be held at the UPC – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona Spain. The program includes reviews of the Horizon 2020 call for IMS, MANUNET II: Network of National and European Regional Funding Organizations, a European expert on trends for standards in additive manufacturing, ten (10) current projects, three (3) new projects looking for partners, and a review of the upcoming World Manufacturing Forum (www.worldmanufactiuringforum.org).The community that meets at the ICE conference is not only very active in projects, initiatives, and paper production; it has evolved and gained general academic and business reputation. The Technology Management Council of IEEE now is co-sponsor of the conference and publishes the papers on IEEExplore, and it is the EUROMOT European edition of the IA- MOT conference. With ACM, IMS, and PDMA e.V. joining, ICE is evolving into the leading European meeting place for raising questions, framing concepts, and bringing together concrete projects and initiatives in engineering, technology and innovation.

10-13 June, 2013

Venue: David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

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With the U.S. government considering additive manufacturing as a transformational technology, five federal agencies – the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration – are investing $45 million toward the newly created National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII).

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RAPID is North America’s definitive additive manufacturing event and the longest running industry forum for promoting the advancements and latest technology developments that combine 3D imaging with additive processes and 3D printing.

11-14 June, 2013

The Factories of the Future (FoF) PPP aims to support the development of enabling technologies to foster innovation in the EU manufacturing sector, in particular by SMEs as Manufacturing still played an important role in the European economy, constituting 21 % of the Union’s GDP. Some 230 000 enterprises, many of them SMEs, directly provided more than 30 million jobs – some 20 % of EU employment – with twice that number in related services. European manufacturing is also dominant in international trade, leading the world in areas such as car manufacture, machinery and agricultural engineering.

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The event will be co-hosted by the international trade show EPHJ (Geneva, 2013 June 11-14, www.EPHJ.ch ) which is the most important annual event in Switzerland in the field of high precision machines- tools, micro-technology and manufacturing on the whole.

18-19 November, 2013

The IMS Horizon Workshop is an event in order to develop competences and to educate
beneficiaries and members from industry and research on new global approaches to
manufacturing strategy stemming from IMS 2020 roadmap.

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The goal with the third IMS Horizon Workshop is to create new research constellations for
future projects which will address vital sustainability aspects in the manufacturing sector.

9-12 September, 2013

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IMS has been a longtime supporter of this conference through particpation and sponsorship. Once again IMS is proud to support this conference and on behalf of the organizers, we would like to announce this “Call for Special Sessions”.

APMS 2013 International Conference

Advances in Production Management Systems

10-12 September 2013

State College, PA, USA

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21-23 May, 2013

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Robert Kiggans, IMS Chairman, will deliver a keynote address at the Collaboration and Interoperability Congress (www.3dcic.com) to be held on 21-23 May, 2013 in Colorado Springs, CO. The topic for his keynote address is: "The Way Forward for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation“

17 May, 2013

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Following the IMS International Steering Committee meeting to be held one day prior, IMS will conduct a manufacturing research workshop at the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) complex located adjacent to the Charleston International Airport. By invitation only, participants will hear briefings on research programs from experts in Europe and North America, a preview of the World Manufacturing Forum 2013, and an overview of IMS. They will also be briefed on the new IMS projects LinkedDesign “Linked Knowledge in Manufacturing, Engineering and Design for Next-Generation Production” and SuPLIGHT “Sustainable and Efficient Production of Lightweight Solutions” using aluminum alloys.

8-9 May, 2013

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SUMMIT is NCDMM’s premier annual event for encouraging collaboration and innovation among government, industry, and academia.

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As NCDMM celebrates its 10th anniversary and embarks on its next decade of delivering manufacturing innovation, it seemed fitting for this year’s SUMMIT theme to focus on “Celebrating a Decade and Innovating the Future.” Dynamic presentations will be given on the importance of promoting innovation across the entire manufacturing innovation spectrum—product, process, policy, and education.

SUMMIT 2013 promises to be yet another exciting and informative event filled with opportunities to meet, network, and brainstorm with colleagues from throughout government, industry, and academia. Based on feedback from attendees of past SUMMIT events, this year we’ve adjusted the structure of SUMMIT 2013 to allow for even more networking sessions!

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The Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) is a multi-disciplinary research organization within the Pennsylvania State University and is a major node of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which is operated by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). The goal of CIMP-3D, which also supports the mission of NAMII, is to advance enabling technology for broad adoption of additive manufacturing within the industrial base. CIMP-3D is operated in conjunction with Sciaky Inc. and Battelle Memorial Institute.

22-23 January, 2013

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IMS will speak about international collaborative research to leaders in the pharmaceutical industry at the IFPAC® Annual Meeting, January 22-25, 2013 in Baltimore, MD, USA. The four day forum will focus on the latest developments in Process Analytical Technology including emerging techniques, new applications, instrumentation, software, standards, and a look into the future. Mr. Dan Nagy, Managing Director, will speak in the Friday morning Session IV  “Intelligence Based Manufacturing” about the benefits of global collaboration, IMS services, and a sneak peek at planning for the World Manufacturing Forum.

16-18 October, 2012​

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The WMF 2012 will be held in Stuttgart 16-18 October, 2012 at the Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle in the Hegel-Saal. This event is by invitation only, and you may visit the World Manufacturing Forum website for more information.

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The Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) is a multi-disciplinary research organization within the Pennsylvania State University and is a major node of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which is operated by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). The goal of CIMP-3D, which also supports the mission of NAMII, is to advance enabling technology for broad adoption of additive manufacturing within the industrial base. CIMP-3D is operated in conjunction with Sciaky Inc. and Battelle Memorial Institute.

18-20 June, 2012

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The  conference  emerged  from  a  series  of  workshops  on  “CE”  as concurrent engineering in the early 1990s. This method came with the opening of the doors of engineering departments to- wards  other  corporate  functions  as  well  as  to  cooperation  with  other  firms.  “CE” therefore increasingly stood for concurrent enterprising as the study of Concurrent Engineering and its effects on organizational and business concepts, namely the extended, virtual and networked enterprise. Since the pioneering days in the early 1990s, Internet became reality. In the information society collaboration across boundaries is normal, and innovation a general priority. In networks this is often based on individual initiative or entrepreneurship. CE topics therefore are more relevant today than they were back then.

The community that meets at the ICE conference is not only very active in projects, initiatives, and paper production; it has evolved and gained general academic and business reputation. The Technology Management Council of IEEE now is co-sponsor of the conference and publishes the papers on IEEExplore, and it is the EUROMOT European edition of the IA- MOT conference. With ACM, IMS, and PDMA e.V. joining, ICE is evolving into the leading European meeting place for raising questions, framing concepts, and bringing together concrete projects and initiatives in engineering, technology and innovation.

16-17 May, 2012

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World Manufacturing Forum 2011, under the title “Innovation in Global Manufacturing”, was held 16-17 May 2011 at the Villa Erba, Cernobbio, Como Lake, Italy, with over 310 policy and industry leaders participating. 

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On the first day, top-level representatives from leading industries and trade associations, and government officials discussed whether government policies relate to industry needs and whether they have kept pace with the current global realities. On the second day, parallel sessions exploring issues and projects to find solutions were discussed. The event was open to non-IMS countries and organizations.

The intervention from Mr. Black, Group Senior Vice President, Quality and Operational Excellence, ABB Group (Switzerland), Mr. Masahiro Kitano, Vice President and Executive Officer, Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan), and Mr. Vallampadugai S. Arunachalam, Chairman, Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (India) addressed critical questions and explored emerging trends that are now setting today’s manufacturing paradigms. 

The community that meets at the ICE conference is not only very active in projects, initiatives, and paper production; it has evolved and gained general academic and business reputation. The Technology Management Council of IEEE now is co-sponsor of the conference and publishes the papers on IEEExplore, and it is the EUROMOT European edition of the IA- MOT conference. With ACM, IMS, and PDMA e.V. joining, ICE is evolving into the leading European meeting place for raising questions, framing concepts, and bringing together concrete projects and initiatives in engineering, technology and innovation.