November 13, 2007
11:00 AM — 1:00 PM
or
1:30 PM — 3:30 PM
Location
TechSolve
6705 Steger Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45237
These sessions are open to any executive at no fee; however, pre-registration (invite-only) is required because space is limited. Each session is limited to 15 attendees.
Please contact me at deshpande[AT]techsolve.org, if you are interested.
Smart Machine Platform Initiative
In an effort to retain and grow the U.S. manufacturing industry, several organizations, including TechSolve, began to take action. Not unlike the game changing technologies that last impacted the manufacturing world, numerical control (NC) in the 1950s and then computer numerical control (CNC) in the 1960s, the Smart Machine Platform Initiative (SMPI) was established to look beyond CNC and into the next game-changing technology—Smart Machines. Smart Machines would have the capability for equipment and process controls to begin to make decisions during the manufacturing process.
SMPI is a five-year effort that is aimed at bringing together research organizations, government laboratories, industry participants, academia, and technology providers to develop, demonstrate, disseminate, and implement smart machine concepts. The program is structured to foster a quick and speedy transition of developed technologies into the U.S. manufacturing infrastructure. SMPI is a partnership with numerous manufacturers, TechSolve, ARDEC and U.S. Army Benet Laboratories.
Agenda
The two-hour session will include a description of the technologies and demonstrations of how the Smart Machining System will impact your bottom-line.
Smart Machining System technologies that will be demonstrated include:
Intelligent Machining: a technology that will virtually simulate the machining processes so that it can generate, verify, and optimize tool paths and cutting conditions in order to achieve maximum performance
On-Machine Probing: an inspection routine where the data is used to make adjustments to the process to minimize non-conforming parts All demonstrations will be conducted in TechSolve’s state of the art testing facility the M. Eugene Merchant Technology Development Center.
These sessions are open to any executive at no fee; however, pre-registration (invite-only) is required because space is limited. Each session is limited to 15 attendees.
Please contact me at deshpande[AT]techsolve.org, if you are interested.
The Future of Manufacturing Conference
November 14, 2007
8:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Location
TechSolve
6705 Steger Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45237
There is no fee for attending the conference, but registration (invite-only) is required. The conference will include a continental breakfast and lunch.
Please contact me at deshpande[AT]techsolve.org, if you are interested in attending the conference.
Smart Machine Platform Initiative
In an effort to retain and grow the U.S. manufacturing industry, several organizations, including TechSolve, began to take action. Not unlike the game changing technologies that last impacted the manufacturing world, numerical control (NC) in the 1950s and then computer numerical control (CNC) in the 1960s, the Smart Machine Platform Initiative (SMPI) was established to look beyond CNC and into the next game-changing technology—Smart Machines. Smart Machines would have the capability for equipment and process controls to begin to make decisions during the manufacturing process.
SMPI is a five-year effort that is aimed at bringing together research organizations, government laboratories, industry participants, academia, and technology providers to develop, demonstrate, disseminate, and implement smart machine concepts. The program is structured to foster a quick and speedy transition of developed technologies into the U.S. manufacturing infrastructure. SMPI is a partnership with numerous manufacturers, TechSolve, ARDEC and U.S. Army Benet Laboratories.
Conference Highlights
See how Smart Machines, the next generation of equipment and process controls, will not only execute commands, but also modify and optimize instructions prior to the execution step. This look-ahead ability to modify and optimize will be based on a sophisticated system of sensors and controls that will know and understand the process conditions and parameters as well as the health of the equipment and the tool required to perform the task. The conference topics include: Health and Maintenance Technology, Machine Tool Metrology, and Supervisory Systems. Health and Maintenance tracks the condition of various machine tool elements and tooling, while Machine Tool Metrology creates an understanding of the accuracy and repeatability of the equipment and determines the difference between the reported position and location of the cutting tool versus the actual. The Supervisory
System handles the management and communication of sensor data to the various interdependent technology systems. This decision-making Supervisory System will also direct adjustments within the Smart Machine System. Be among the first to witness the game changing technology in Smart Machines.
Agenda
The conference will be a series of seminars and demonstrations designed to give you an understanding of the entire Smart Machining process.
Morning Seminar
Health & Maintenance Technology
By using diagnostic and prognostic evaluation tools, this technology monitors and assesses the overall health/condition of the Smart Machining System and develops a proactive maintenance schedule.
Noon Seminar
Machine Tool Metrology
This seminar discusses the creation of a science based understanding of the differences in the reported and actual position of a cutting tool to maximize accuracy.
Afternoon Seminar
Supervisory System
Realizing “First Part Correct” is possible with an integrated Supervisory System that coordinates process monitoring and controls through seamless, real-time communication to provide the optimal machining solution.
All demonstrations will be conducted after the seminars in TechSolve’s state of the art testing facility the M. Eugene Merchant Technology Development Center.
There is no fee for attending the conference, but registration (invite-only) is required. The conference will include a continental breakfast and lunch.
Please contact me at deshpande[AT]techsolve.org, if you are interested in attending the conference.
8:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Location
TechSolve
6705 Steger Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45237
There is no fee for attending the conference, but registration (invite-only) is required. The conference will include a continental breakfast and lunch.
Please contact me at deshpande[AT]techsolve.org, if you are interested in attending the conference.
Smart Machine Platform Initiative
In an effort to retain and grow the U.S. manufacturing industry, several organizations, including TechSolve, began to take action. Not unlike the game changing technologies that last impacted the manufacturing world, numerical control (NC) in the 1950s and then computer numerical control (CNC) in the 1960s, the Smart Machine Platform Initiative (SMPI) was established to look beyond CNC and into the next game-changing technology—Smart Machines. Smart Machines would have the capability for equipment and process controls to begin to make decisions during the manufacturing process.
SMPI is a five-year effort that is aimed at bringing together research organizations, government laboratories, industry participants, academia, and technology providers to develop, demonstrate, disseminate, and implement smart machine concepts. The program is structured to foster a quick and speedy transition of developed technologies into the U.S. manufacturing infrastructure. SMPI is a partnership with numerous manufacturers, TechSolve, ARDEC and U.S. Army Benet Laboratories.
Conference Highlights
See how Smart Machines, the next generation of equipment and process controls, will not only execute commands, but also modify and optimize instructions prior to the execution step. This look-ahead ability to modify and optimize will be based on a sophisticated system of sensors and controls that will know and understand the process conditions and parameters as well as the health of the equipment and the tool required to perform the task. The conference topics include: Health and Maintenance Technology, Machine Tool Metrology, and Supervisory Systems. Health and Maintenance tracks the condition of various machine tool elements and tooling, while Machine Tool Metrology creates an understanding of the accuracy and repeatability of the equipment and determines the difference between the reported position and location of the cutting tool versus the actual. The Supervisory
System handles the management and communication of sensor data to the various interdependent technology systems. This decision-making Supervisory System will also direct adjustments within the Smart Machine System. Be among the first to witness the game changing technology in Smart Machines.
Agenda
The conference will be a series of seminars and demonstrations designed to give you an understanding of the entire Smart Machining process.
Morning Seminar
Health & Maintenance Technology
By using diagnostic and prognostic evaluation tools, this technology monitors and assesses the overall health/condition of the Smart Machining System and develops a proactive maintenance schedule.
Noon Seminar
Machine Tool Metrology
This seminar discusses the creation of a science based understanding of the differences in the reported and actual position of a cutting tool to maximize accuracy.
Afternoon Seminar
Supervisory System
Realizing “First Part Correct” is possible with an integrated Supervisory System that coordinates process monitoring and controls through seamless, real-time communication to provide the optimal machining solution.
All demonstrations will be conducted after the seminars in TechSolve’s state of the art testing facility the M. Eugene Merchant Technology Development Center.
There is no fee for attending the conference, but registration (invite-only) is required. The conference will include a continental breakfast and lunch.
Please contact me at deshpande[AT]techsolve.org, if you are interested in attending the conference.
CCD coming soon !
Well if not the Indian food chain, which I thought is an unexplored business opportunity the Indian Coffee chain ‘Café Coffee Day’ has quick spotted the opportunity. The Indian coffee giant chain Café Coffee Day (CCD) has announced that it will soon open international branches in US, Europe and Middle East. A division of Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd. (ABCTCL), it is commonly known as Coffee Day or CCD. It opened its first cafe in 1996 on Brigade Road in Bangalore, and today has the largest cafe retail chain in India - with 436 cafes in 69 cities. For more information, please click here. At last, I can (atleast try to)replicate the good old days during my under graduation when I used to spend uncountable number of hours sipping over a hot cup of coffee at CCD. I have some unforgettable memories associated with CCD. The CCD on the Fergusson college road - Pune was the "grand" venue for my grand “first date”. Can anyone forget his or her first date? The CCD proved to be very lucky for me. I got married with Nirupama (first date at CCD) last summer in India. We try to remember and cherish our college day by going to omnipresent Starbucks. However, this is too artificial ... I really miss my hot CCD coffee (that does not mean that I hate or do not like Starbucks coffee). We sincerely hope to see a CCD very soon somewhere in and around Cincinnati, Ohio.
Book Review: Winning Nice
Recently, I read “Winning Nice: How to Succeed in Business and Life Without Waging War” by Dawna Stone (Winner of the Apprentice: Martha Stewart and founder of Her Sports + Fitness magazine). Dawna brings in her myriad of experience and explains some real world situations and their solutions. Every chapter also has a sweet short ending summarizing the contents and listing the action points. Dawna also chips in experiences and success stories of some well-known names including Oprah Winfrey, Jim Marshall, Tim Wilkins, Bill Gates, Steve Forbes Cheryl Richardson and others. The book is divided mainly into two sections the basic seven skills to build your foundation and further tips and techniques to apply for a bright future in business and life.
The section of resume and interview preparation is very good in content. Recent graduates and job hunters watch out for this section. The best part of the book is that Dawna has done a great job of translating her experience effectively into words in a simple and consistent language. Instead of being very philosophical, the book explains some real world issues and their solution. The language is simple, consistent and easy to understand. Some of the success stories are well explained to clarify the point at hand. Dawna also has touched upon some social issues in work place like sexual discrimination. The only weakness I found was that the book sometimes become a little repetitive and stretches itself around the main point.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and should prove a helpful resource to head start my career next week.
Feeling of “being a part of...”
Yesterday was my first day at work as a full time employee of a company. Six months ago I had a similar experience of the first day of work at work but as an intern and not a full time employee. Though both the times I was excited and eager there was a considerable difference in my goals and perception.
Firstly when I joined as an intern I knew this is going to be a short-term assignment. The goal was to make the most of it, try to gain as much knowledge as I can and try to get a full time position if the work and environment is favorable. I was never interested in company structure, policies or internal affairs. I remember when I just joined the company’s vice president left the company which somehow created a panic situation. Everyone was concerned about the company’s future and organizational change it will create. But I was least concerned, I was more focused on the task I was assigned and setting my foot in a completely new area. As an intern you are more focused on solving the current problem at hand (so that you can make that initial impression on your supervisor) and coming up with quick results. As my internship was in the research labs I was also interested in publishing papers and filing patents which will strengthen my resume. I never tried to get a broad understanding of field I was working. Everything was task specific and anything else was categorized as ‘others’.
On the contrary yesterday’s experience was completely different. The excitement level was may be the same but my perception and goal was completely different. I was more focused on understanding the company structure, organizational internal policies and broad understanding of my work responsibilities. I was scheduled for various meetings with “other” departments, meeting with HR and a welcome lunch with my manager. There was a certainly a feeling of “being a part of” as against being a foreigner. Also there was much more respect and importance given (that does not mean that in the earlier case there was no respect) where my whole team welcomed me and there were introductions with some senior members of the company. In the earlier case nobody knew (except my supervisor and core team) that I was a new employee (sorry… intern) in the company. Feeling of “belonging” to something makes you act and think in a different way. I hope I do a good job as a full time employee as I did when I was an intern (which helped me to get this job). Wish me best luck.
Firstly when I joined as an intern I knew this is going to be a short-term assignment. The goal was to make the most of it, try to gain as much knowledge as I can and try to get a full time position if the work and environment is favorable. I was never interested in company structure, policies or internal affairs. I remember when I just joined the company’s vice president left the company which somehow created a panic situation. Everyone was concerned about the company’s future and organizational change it will create. But I was least concerned, I was more focused on the task I was assigned and setting my foot in a completely new area. As an intern you are more focused on solving the current problem at hand (so that you can make that initial impression on your supervisor) and coming up with quick results. As my internship was in the research labs I was also interested in publishing papers and filing patents which will strengthen my resume. I never tried to get a broad understanding of field I was working. Everything was task specific and anything else was categorized as ‘others’.
On the contrary yesterday’s experience was completely different. The excitement level was may be the same but my perception and goal was completely different. I was more focused on understanding the company structure, organizational internal policies and broad understanding of my work responsibilities. I was scheduled for various meetings with “other” departments, meeting with HR and a welcome lunch with my manager. There was a certainly a feeling of “being a part of” as against being a foreigner. Also there was much more respect and importance given (that does not mean that in the earlier case there was no respect) where my whole team welcomed me and there were introductions with some senior members of the company. In the earlier case nobody knew (except my supervisor and core team) that I was a new employee (sorry… intern) in the company. Feeling of “belonging” to something makes you act and think in a different way. I hope I do a good job as a full time employee as I did when I was an intern (which helped me to get this job). Wish me best luck.
Why not an Indian food chain?
In corporate America, we have chains for every retails sector and food is not an exception. There are Italian (Olive Garden, Buca di beppo), Chinese (P. F. Chang), Mexican (Taco Bell, Chipotle and … ) and other American fast food stuff (and possibly junk) like Mac D, KFC, Burger King, Wendy, Arby and tons of other. The fact, which surprises me, is that there is no Indian food chain. Indian food is quite famous among the western world and especially in United States. Whenever I go to some good Indian restaurant, I see more people of non-Indian origin than Indians itself (based on the experiences at SFO, CA, Mountain View, CA, Palo Alto, CA and Cincinnati, OH). So why have not any entrepreneur thought of an Indian food chain endeavor? I disagree to the argument that there is a limited market or a narrow business opportunity in starting a Indian food restaurant. According to me if done in a cost effective way, standardized, cuisine adjusted to the western palate and with proper marketing effort, Indian food chain should be an excellent business opportunity, which for some unknown reason is still unexplored. Any thoughts?
Comprehensive Open Source Software List
I came across the most comprehensive open source software list titled ‘OPEN SOURCE GOD: 480+ Open Source Applications’. The article includes the software description and web links to their respective website. The list contains open source software in the field of accounting, content management systems, customer relationship management, email clients, graphics, video and audio tools and many others. It is the most comprehensive list I have ever come across. It also has links to other listings like Word press plug-ins, Fire fox plug-ins and resources for online productivity and media. Another comprehensive open source software list and reference can be found at Guy Snir’s webpage at http://eoslist.com/ .
Let us embrace the rich and effective open source products…
Let us embrace the rich and effective open source products…
Interview Tips
Here are some tips and insights I will like to share to crack an interview. The tips are based on my experience of job-hunting for past 3 months or so. The journey was not so smooth. Initially I was rejected at the telephonic interview stage itself, then at intermediate and final interviews before I got couple of good and above expected offers. I have listed some tips from my experience and literature studied.
* Be positive, affirmative and confident. When asked a question about your weaknesses just do not start listing one weak quality after another or give a plain answer like “I do not have any weaknesses”. Both answers will prove detrimental for your interview outcome. Here are some answers I used for my interviews.
Q. What are your weaknesses?
English writing skills
“I thought my English writing skills were not at the expected level required in the professional world. However, over the time I think I have successfully conquered my weakness. I have more than three research publications in a span of one year of my graduate study here in United States. I am also an active blogger and some of my articles have appeared in the newsletters of some leading professional organizations”
Challenging and innovative environment
“After my undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering, I started working in a software industry primarily providing services. The mundane and unchallenging work started killing my research aspirations. I started to feel that I am no more innovative or novel. At that point, I took the decision to quit my job and pursue my graduate studies. Today I am proud to say that I have a patent and a rich experience of working in research and consulting environment with some publications and conferences under my belt.”
If you notice closely, I started with my weaknesses and effectively converted them to my strong points. This is what I mean by being positive.
* Ask questions. The Q&A session should not be unidirectional but an interactive session. This ensures that the interviewer is very much involved in the process and it also helps to reduce the number of questions. Ask questions about the job profile and show your curiosity in the organization structure, opportunities and business model. This will leave the interviewer with an impression that you have a genuine interest in working at his company. It will also demonstrate your communication skills and ability to question.
*There will be instances where you will not be able to answer some of the questions. Make sure you ask the answers to the questions at the end of the interview process. This will certainly leave the interviewer a positive interpretation about you and it will provide you a chance to add your thoughts/comments on the questions you were unable to answer earlier.
* Dress professionally with an appropriate appearance. It shows that you have respect and value for the person and the organization you are interviewing.
* It will be great if you can have your personal website listing your education, background, work experience and honors. Also, make sure you have listed the website URL on your resume.
* Please turn off your cell phones and other digital gadgets or at least turn them on the silent mode. This may sound a bit childish but I have personally being a victim of not taking proper steps in a haste.
* Make sure you understand the question before you start giving the answer. This is very necessary to keep the interview on track.
*Have a copy of your resume, publications, seminars, projects reports ready.
* Take notes, if appropriate. That means you should have a rough pad and a pen ready with you. It will also help you if you have to explain your point with help of a figures or a chart.
* Be punctual. Arrive some time before the interview and give yourself time to relax and be ready for the interview.
* One question I was asked during the interview was “How much salary are you expecting?” I was just not prepared for the question and after thinking a little bit, I gave some arbitrary answer. I made a terrible mistake.
Please have a range of salary and know your worth based on the job profile, company and location. Resources such as salary.com can be of a great help.
* A firm (not bone-crunching) handshake, smile on your face and a direct eye contact will leave a good impression.
* Notify your references about your interview with the specific company. This will keep them updates and assure you a positive feedback in case the company contacts them.
* Speak slowly but clearly. This is especially important if you are an international candidate having English as a second language. I know many of Indian friends who talk so fast that it is very difficult for a native English speaker to comprehend. Remember, clear communication is the key for success.
*Do not answer in air or try your luck in case you do not know the answer. It is always better to say, “I am sorry I am not aware of the answer at this point of time. But I will be more than happy to gain the required expertise and get back with you”.
* Avoid any strong perfume or scent usage, if any. The strong smell can some time annoy the interviewer. I have been involved in the reverse case when a woman interviewer used some strong perfume, which left me sneezing for initial ten minutes.
* Avoid any strong religious, national or personal beliefs or sentiments.
* Practice a mock interview with your friends, family relatives or coworkers. This will certainly increase your confidence.
* Do an in-depth research about the organization before the interview. Familiarize your self with the business, latest news, top management structure, products and other important facts.
* Send a thank you notification (hand written or email) appreciating time and effort for the interview. Also, make sure that you mention that you are very much interested in the job and the company and include your contact information.
Following the above tips certainly helped me to get the job. I wish you a very best luck for your job search.
* Be positive, affirmative and confident. When asked a question about your weaknesses just do not start listing one weak quality after another or give a plain answer like “I do not have any weaknesses”. Both answers will prove detrimental for your interview outcome. Here are some answers I used for my interviews.
Q. What are your weaknesses?
English writing skills
“I thought my English writing skills were not at the expected level required in the professional world. However, over the time I think I have successfully conquered my weakness. I have more than three research publications in a span of one year of my graduate study here in United States. I am also an active blogger and some of my articles have appeared in the newsletters of some leading professional organizations”
Challenging and innovative environment
“After my undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering, I started working in a software industry primarily providing services. The mundane and unchallenging work started killing my research aspirations. I started to feel that I am no more innovative or novel. At that point, I took the decision to quit my job and pursue my graduate studies. Today I am proud to say that I have a patent and a rich experience of working in research and consulting environment with some publications and conferences under my belt.”
If you notice closely, I started with my weaknesses and effectively converted them to my strong points. This is what I mean by being positive.
* Ask questions. The Q&A session should not be unidirectional but an interactive session. This ensures that the interviewer is very much involved in the process and it also helps to reduce the number of questions. Ask questions about the job profile and show your curiosity in the organization structure, opportunities and business model. This will leave the interviewer with an impression that you have a genuine interest in working at his company. It will also demonstrate your communication skills and ability to question.
*There will be instances where you will not be able to answer some of the questions. Make sure you ask the answers to the questions at the end of the interview process. This will certainly leave the interviewer a positive interpretation about you and it will provide you a chance to add your thoughts/comments on the questions you were unable to answer earlier.
* Dress professionally with an appropriate appearance. It shows that you have respect and value for the person and the organization you are interviewing.
* It will be great if you can have your personal website listing your education, background, work experience and honors. Also, make sure you have listed the website URL on your resume.
* Please turn off your cell phones and other digital gadgets or at least turn them on the silent mode. This may sound a bit childish but I have personally being a victim of not taking proper steps in a haste.
* Make sure you understand the question before you start giving the answer. This is very necessary to keep the interview on track.
*Have a copy of your resume, publications, seminars, projects reports ready.
* Take notes, if appropriate. That means you should have a rough pad and a pen ready with you. It will also help you if you have to explain your point with help of a figures or a chart.
* Be punctual. Arrive some time before the interview and give yourself time to relax and be ready for the interview.
* One question I was asked during the interview was “How much salary are you expecting?” I was just not prepared for the question and after thinking a little bit, I gave some arbitrary answer. I made a terrible mistake.
Please have a range of salary and know your worth based on the job profile, company and location. Resources such as salary.com can be of a great help.
* A firm (not bone-crunching) handshake, smile on your face and a direct eye contact will leave a good impression.
* Notify your references about your interview with the specific company. This will keep them updates and assure you a positive feedback in case the company contacts them.
* Speak slowly but clearly. This is especially important if you are an international candidate having English as a second language. I know many of Indian friends who talk so fast that it is very difficult for a native English speaker to comprehend. Remember, clear communication is the key for success.
*Do not answer in air or try your luck in case you do not know the answer. It is always better to say, “I am sorry I am not aware of the answer at this point of time. But I will be more than happy to gain the required expertise and get back with you”.
* Avoid any strong perfume or scent usage, if any. The strong smell can some time annoy the interviewer. I have been involved in the reverse case when a woman interviewer used some strong perfume, which left me sneezing for initial ten minutes.
* Avoid any strong religious, national or personal beliefs or sentiments.
* Practice a mock interview with your friends, family relatives or coworkers. This will certainly increase your confidence.
* Do an in-depth research about the organization before the interview. Familiarize your self with the business, latest news, top management structure, products and other important facts.
* Send a thank you notification (hand written or email) appreciating time and effort for the interview. Also, make sure that you mention that you are very much interested in the job and the company and include your contact information.
Following the above tips certainly helped me to get the job. I wish you a very best luck for your job search.
Yahoo gears up!
Yahoo beefs up its search technology by integrating its Yahoo Music, Yahoo Movies and other services. Today I yahoo'd (not googled) “Eastern Promises” and got results giving a link to the movie on Yahoo movies widget plus show timings in the nearby theatres. In addition, a search for a famous artist like Shakira gives links to the Yahoo music widget with the most popular songs. I was very satisfied with the Yahoo assist feature. It was certainly at par with the similar suggest application by Google. Another difference I noticed is that Yahoo numbers its search results serially. Finally I yahoo'd and googled my name (i.e. Amit Deshpande) and found that Yahoo [253,000] had more search results than Google [157,000].
Will all these features be successful to bring back the lost glory for Yahoo? Can Yahoo be number one search engine? More than technology Yahoo will also have to change the perception of the users. Google has become a “verb” today. Can Yahoo beat it?
Will all these features be successful to bring back the lost glory for Yahoo? Can Yahoo be number one search engine? More than technology Yahoo will also have to change the perception of the users. Google has become a “verb” today. Can Yahoo beat it?
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