AHMA's Hardlines Technology Forum(R) Finalizes Program Details.IBM and Microsoft See Microsoft and IBM. Keynote; Retail Panel has International Flair SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- The American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA AHMA American Hardware Manufacturers Association AHMA American Holistic Medical Association AHMA American Hotel & Motel Association AHMA Atlanta High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA) ) today announced a full schedule of events for the 2007 AHMA Hardlines Technology Forum([R]) (HTF HTF Happy Tree Friends HTF Hard To Find HTF Highway Trust Fund HTF Heat Transfer Fluid HTF Hyper-G Text Format HTF Hardlines Technology Forum (American Hardware Manufacturers Association) HTF How To Fight ([R])) to be held April 22 - 25 in Orlando, Florida. Highlights of the conference include two keynote presentations from IBM and Microsoft Corporation; a retail panel that includes top retailers from around the U.S.A., as well as one of New Zealand's largest retailers for the hardware/home improvement industry, the unique-to-HTF([R]) Buyer/Seller Forum; and over 40 individual educational sessions covering a multitude of topics, including GTIN/GLN, Bar Coding, Data Syncronization, EC/EDI EC/EDI Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data Interchange , RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) A data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data. The tag, also known as an "electronic label," "transponder" or "code plate," is made up of an RFID chip attached to an antenna. and CPFR CPFR Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment CPFR Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (merchandising) CPFR Continuous Planning Forecasting & Replenishment CPFR Calling Party Forced Release . "This conference continues to be the premier technology conference for our industry, but its scope is reaching out further than ever before," said Timothy S. Farrell, AHMA's President and Chief Executive Officer, "so we constantly challenge ourselves to bring to HTF([R]) the newest and latest educational information, the most innovative solutions, and dynamic keynote presentations from industry giants. If you attend HTF([R]) this year, you're going to hear from IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Do It Best, True Value, The Home Depot, and, for the first time, ITM ITM See: In-the-money , New Zealand's largest group of independent Timber, Hardware and Building Supplies." Keynote Presentations This year's HTF([R]) attendees will hear keynote presentations from both IBM and Microsoft. To open HTF([R]) on Monday, Sal Calta, Vice President, Worldwide Manufacturing, Integrated Supply Chain for IBM will present "Manufacturing in a Globally Integrated Enterprise The globally integrated enterprise is a term coined in 2006 in the name of Sam Palmisano, CEO of IBM Corp, used to denote is a company that fashions its strategy, its management, and its operations in pursuit of a new goal: the integration of production and value delivery worldwide. ." Mr. Calta will discuss the emergence of a new corporate model -- the globally integrated manufacturer. He will show how multi-national companies can capitalize on the forces of globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation to create flatter, more efficient operating models, while at the same time build new capabilities to drive profitable growth. Tuesday's sessions will begin with "Manufacturing Continuum: The Melding of the Supply Chain" presented by Sharon Ward, Worldwide Manufacturing Industry Director of Microsoft Business Solutions at Microsoft Corp. Before joining the world of software at Microsoft, Ms. Ward worked in the manufacturing industry for 18 years at such notable companies as Bell & Howell, Litton Industries Inc., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices and Eastman Kodak Co. Another unique aspect of HTF([R]) is the Buyer/Seller Forum. On the second day of the conference, buyers (retailers, wholesalers, home centers, co-ops and distributors) meet to create "Top 10" issues they wish their e-business partners would do differently; knowing that in the next room sellers (manufacturers) will be making their own Top 10 list of what their customers could do better to be more efficient. On Wednesday, the buyers and sellers come together to share their lists; discuss the industry's most pressing challenges and work together to propose solutions. Consistently rated as one of the most valuable sessions of the conference, the Buyer/Seller Forum provides a unique opportunity for identifying areas for industry improvement and agreeing on constructive recommendations for achieving progress. About the Hardlines Technology Forum([R]) The 2007 AHMA Hardlines Technology Forum([R])will be held April 22 - 25, 2007 at Disney's Contemporary Resort Disney's Contemporary Resort is located at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company, first opened October 1, 1971, at which time it featured state-of-the-art facilities. in Orlando, Florida. The 2007 conference will offer signature keynote addresses; more than 40 breakout sessions on topics such as supply chain management, data synchronization, bar coding, RFID, data standards, and CPFR; an interactive buyer-seller forum; Retail Panel; tabletop exhibits; and networking opportunities. For more information on HTF([R]), visit www.ahma.org/htf. About the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA) The American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA) is a globally focused trade association of manufacturers, or providers, of hardware, home improvement, lawn and garden, paint and decorating and related products, as well as manufacturers' representative's agencies and trade publications. AHMA offers many valuable member and industry programs, services and activities including the AHMA Group Purchasing Organization A group purchasing organization is an entity that leverages the purchasing power of a group of businesses to obtain discounts from vendors based on the collective buying power of the GPO members. Many GPOs are funded by administrative fees that are actually paid by the vendors. (GPO), AHMA Strategic Sourcing, AHMA Low Cost Country Sourcing and related supply chain / strategic sourcing training programs, AHMA Manufacturers Showcases, AHMA University, AHMA Executive Conference and Annual Membership Meeting held in conjunction with International Hardware Week([R]), AHMA Hardlines Technology Forum([R]), AHMA / USA International Pavilions, Government Relations Programs, Member Benefit Vendor Programs, Member Cost Reduction Programs, AHMA Hardware Industry Relief Effort (HIRE), and the AHMA / Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. Partnership. For more information about AHMA, please visit www.ahma.org |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion