Special Note Greg Burk, Twin Cities EMS Chapter Chair:

The presentation outlined below will be presented at the IEEE Engineering Management Society International Conference in early August.  The author/presenter is our very own local EMS Chapter Vice Chairman, Ben Manning.  The presentation on July 25, 2002 will be a practice run for Ben.  Although the presentation is titled "Strategic Sourcing in the Defense Market", there is plenty of good information about Strategic Sourcing that will be presented that is applicable to all markets.  Please come and support your local chapter by giving Ben some constructive feedback on his presentation.

About the Topic:

Strategic Sourcing applies strategic decision-making at the front
end of the supply chain to identify the key technologies to be procured for
future programs.  These technologies become the focus for intensive
marketplace analysis to identify the key suppliers with whom we should
develop strategic relationships.  These strategic relationships can range
from preferred pricing and information sharing to collaborative R&D
investments and shared product lines.

We believe that Strategic Sourcing will provide significant benefits to our
business in a variety of ways, beyond the obvious positioning to win key
programs.  The standardized technical approaches provided by a smaller
number of key technologies will enable greater flexibility in acquisition or
development of key technical skills.  Strategic Sourcing provides a medium
for executive level involvement with partners; this can produce collateral
benefits to the business in other areas.   Strategic Sourcing provides early
insight into partner technology roadmaps and product development plans,
which help lower the risk of technology selection.  Strategic Sourcing
provides additional encouragement for partner technical support in
demonstrations, proposals, and related marketing activity.

This presentation will provide an overview of our approach and current
status in implementing the front-end activities in the LMTS Strategic
Sourcing process.  We will share lessons learned in the development and
implementation of the process and an evaluation of its utility to date.

About the Speaker:

Ben is currently manager of Strategic Technologies for Lockheed Martin
Tactical Systems in Eagan, MN.  He grew up in Northwest England and moved to
the USA in late 1971.  He has been with the same company for 33 years,
starting at Univac and through a series of mergers ending up with Lockheed
Martin.  For much of the past 20+ years he has managed R&D projects in a
variety of areas related to computer technology.

Ben has been very active in the local IEEE Section: he is currently Vice
Chair of the Twin Cities Engineering Management Society chapter.  Previous
activities include: 2001 Twin Cities Section Chair, 2000 Twin Cities Section
Vice Chair, 1999 Twin Cities Computer Society Chair, and IEEE Sections
Congress '99 Closing Ceremony Chair.  In 1998 he received the IEEE Twin
Cities Section "Outstanding Engineer" award.  Ben has a BS in Computer
Science and an MS in Software Engineering.

Cost:

Free.