Business and Technology Experts Convene at ASME Annual Meeting to Discuss New Approaches (5/15/08) To see how business organizations are adapting to new challenges brought by the global economy and shifts in technological practices, consider the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the newest design in commercial air transportation. The Dreamliner, scheduled to launch in early 2009, will incorporate highly sophisticated avionics, advanced communications, engines that will consume 20 percent less fuel than today’s similarly sized commercial aircraft, and many other state-of-the-art capabilities. To bring all these cutting edge technologies to bear on the new airliner, Boeing served as a large-scale integrator, creating a far-reaching global network consisting of interdisciplinary design teams and a supply chain of more than 70 companies. “I do not believe such an innovation as the 787 could have been planned and developed without a globally-focused strategy involving multidisciplinary design teams,” said Ahmed K. Noor, Ph.D., eminent scholar and William E. Lobeck professor of aerospace engineering at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va. Noor will be among the speakers at the 2008 ASME Annual Meeting next month in Florida, joining other technology leaders who believe that to be successful in today’s global market, companies and their employees — particularly engineers — must seek opportunities for strategic collaboration and interdisciplinary partnerships. “We are seeing a cultural shift in the way business organizations operate and carry out product development,” Noor said. “Companies are collaborating globally in the effort to leverage technology, knowledge, human talent, and other resources necessary to innovate and compete.” According to Noor, businesses are transforming into what he calls “global collaborative enterprises.” While business models differ from company to company and from industry to industry, one common trait of the global collaborative enterprise is the use of “mirror zones” enabling around-the-clock, 24-hour product design and development capabilities. Noor says that globally-focused collaborative strategies are evident throughout industries, from healthcare and telecommunications to automotive and aerospace. “Global collaboration is having a profound impact on business, and for engineers it could represent the next major advance in the profession,” he said. An increasing number of colleges and universities in the United States as well as Europe have established programs that teach interdisciplinary collaboration and global product development. Old Dominion has begun the Center for Advanced Engineering Environments that connects engineers and computer scientists from dispersed locations around the world. “Engineers must be ‘systems thinkers’ and become adept at synchronous design in virtual design environments,” said Noor. Centered on the theme “Innovative Partnering: Interdisciplinary Challenges to Designing the Future,” the 2008 ASME Annual Meeting is set for June 7–11 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista. The conference will include three plenary sessions titled “Envisioning the Future,” “Critical Skills Needed to Overcome 21st Century Challenges,” and “Partnering: Interdisciplinary Approaches Are the Keys to Success.” Joining Noor will be senior executives and engineers from IBM, Westinghouse Electric, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and other leading firms and organizations. Panel discussions will be led by Michael Rogers, futurist-in-residence, at the New York Times Company. Rogers is one of the nation’s leading experts on the impact of technology on business and society. To find out more about the Annual Meeting, visit www.asmeconferences.org/annualmeeting08. IGTI to Honor Six Gas Turbine Professionals at Turbo Expo ASME's International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI) will recognize six individuals for service and achievement at the ASME Turbo Expo 2008 next month in Berlin. IGTI will honor Theodore H. Okiishi, John D. Denton, Budimir Rosic, Matthew J. Driscoll, Thomas Habib, and Nicholas Cumpsty in a special awards ceremony to be held June 9 at the Estrel Berlin Hotel and Convention Center. The ASME Turbo Expo, which also includes a technical program and equipment exposition, runs from June 9–13. At the ceremony, which starts at 10:15 a.m., Theodore Okiishi will receive the 2008 R. Tom Sawyer Award for important contributions to the activities of IGTI and the gas turbine industry. A professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University, Okiishi has directed many research programs in engine components for GE Aviation, the U.S. Air Force, and other industrial and government partners. An active member of ASME who achieved the rank of ASME Fellow in 1992 and received the Society's Dedicated Service Award in 2005, Okiishi also serves as an adviser to the government on research and economic development. John Denton and Budimir Rosic will be the joint recipients of the 2006 ASME Gas Turbine Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the literature of gas turbines. They are the co-authors of the paper, "The Control of Shroud Leakage Loss by Reducing Circumferential Mixing." Denton's academic career includes teaching positions at the University of East Africa and Cambridge University, where he also served as director of the esteemed Whittle Laboratory from 1984 to 1990. At the Whittle Laboratory, Denton carried out research and experiments on aerodynamics and also developed numerical methods for predicting gas and steam flow in turbine systems. His numerical methods have been widely adopted. Rosic has worked in the areas of cogeneration, aerodynamics, energy resource planning, and plant monitoring. While at the Whittle Laboratory, he was involved in research programs for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Siemens Power Generation, in which he collaborated with Denton on experimentation in the aerodynamics of low-aspect ratio turbines and control of shroud leakage flows. IGTI will present the 2006 John P. Davis Award, recognizing technical papers that describe applications of technology to solve real problems, to Matthew Driscoll and Thomas Habib for their paper, "Advanced Degradation Rates for High Power LM 2500 Applications." Driscoll is lead engineer for propulsion gas turbine engines at the U.S. Navy, where he is involved in engine systems assessments and acquisitions. His technical expertise also encompasses component design, repair, and life-cycle management. Habib is the team leader in the Marine Gas Turbine Lifecycle Support Branch of the U.S. Navy, where he has worked for 27 years. Nicholas Cumpsty will receive the 2008 Aircraft Engine Technology Award. A professor of engineering at Imperial College in London, Cumpsty served as chief technologist at Rolls-Royce from 2000 to 2005, and currently remains with the engine manufacturer as an adviser and consultant. A former director of the Whittle Laboratory, he has written two textbooks that are widely used in academic circles. For more information on ASME Turbo Expo 2008, visit www.asmeconferences.org/te08. ASME Joins Forces with the Quality Council of India on Standards and Conformity Assessment ASME and the Quality Council of India (QCI) have entered into a memorandum of understanding intended to create opportunities for both organizations to share in the development of standards and conformity assessment activities beneficial to India's emerging industries and growing economy. Drawing upon ASME's expertise in standards development, the memorandum of understanding with QCI is designed to enhance the ability of both organizations to exchange knowledge in the development of codes and standards. The agreement will expand the ability of ASME and QCI in supporting the needs of India's population by aiding in the development and use of international best practices, standards and conformity assessment for health and safety, and the protection of the environment. Under the agreement, ASME will assist QCI in the planning and development of personnel certification programs in the critical oil and gas industry sectors, and provide criteria for qualification of third-party inspection bodies in these industry sectors. In addition, ASME will provide QCI with industry codes and standards, and explore ways to offer jointly sponsored industry awareness programs. Likewise, QCI will exchange information about criteria of qualification of third-party conformity assessment bodies and personnel certification programs in the oil and gas industries. QCI will promote the use of ASME codes and standards within India industry sectors and support the awareness of ASME courses and programs. Established in 1997, QCI is an autonomous body of the government of India jointly with India industry to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure for conformity assessment bodies. QCI exists to help India achieve and sustain total quality and reliability in all areas of life, including work, environment, products and services, and at the individual, organizational, community and societal levels.

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