Tom Gaasenbeek

My focus is Computer Integrated Manufacturing or CIM and I have been heading up industrial networking companies since 1992 in this sector. I have taken a company public (e-Manufacturing Networks Inc.), filed patents (like Dynamic Computer Aided Machining), given speeches and written articles on the subject of "InterNetworking FActory Floors to the World". As an early adopter of the internet (Aug 1996) I noticed that machine tools, especially Computerized Numerical Controls (or CNCs), were not network capable or at best were quite limited. I started a quest to open up the real-time information on our factory floors - trying to be the "Steve Jobs" (RIP) of our industry and make our companies into teh "Cisco of the Factory Floor". Today I am running the next generation Nexas Networks Inc. and have started a blog called CIMToday at blogspot. Our manufacturing productivity in North America needs to "Automate the Automation" and I am active in this effort. From MTConnect, which is a common XML schema for factory floor communications to Lean Manufacturing - everything is needed to help the world. Sustainability, waste reduction, nimbleness, world class quality - all rely on this effort. Let's continue the conversation and make a difference...