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COFES 2009 Agenda

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Noon Registration and Badge Pick-up Opens

Attire for COFES is weekend casual (no suits); shirts with collars; sandals or sneakers. Shorts are okay.
 
3:00
PM
 		 Special Session: CAD/PLM Market Survey Results
 
Brad Holtz
Cyon Research
CAD/PLM Market Survey Results
Cyon Research has long been studying the factors behind market movements. Brad will discuss some more recent findings from Cyon Research's latest study.
 
As last year, this is an informal session. Lots of information, but also lots of interaction and discussion.
Open to all COFES Attendees and their guests.
4:00
PM
 		 Special Session: What’s Going to Stick to the Wall Next Year? 
 

Kathleen Maher 
Jon Peddie Research
What’s Going to Stick to the Wall Next Year?
 
A look at current trends and how they'll manifest themselves by 2010. Hindsight is easy and telling the future is a fool's game but it is possible to identify trends and see some early opportunities. One of the most valuable tools we have is to look at new products in the light of past introductions. After all, current theories about product acceptance, including the Diffusion Curve, the Hype Curve, Geoffrey Moore's Chasm, Gordon Moore's Law, and the Practicality Gap, were developed by looking at the past. We’ll look at current trends and product categories with an eye to spotting near-term winners.
 
  
This is an informal session. Lots of information, but also lots of interaction and discussion.
Open to all COFES Attendees and their guests.
5:00
PM
 		 Special Session: International Business Update
 
Allan Behrens
Cambashi
International Business Update
Many consider that the true effect of recent tumultuous shifts has yet to be crystallized. While these are certainly testing times, many believe that now is the time to invest in the upturn. There are many examples showing opportunity and short-term gain at global, regional, and national levels—the challenge is how to balance often unknown risk with perceived opportunity.  
 
As last year, this is an informal session. Lots of information, but also lots of interaction and discussion.
Open to all COFES Attendees and their guests.
6:00 -
8:00
PM
 		 Business Reception and Technology Suite Open House   Spouse & Guest-only Mixer 
Opening business reception. First formal opportunity for COFES Newbies to meet their Hosts. Technology Suites have been set up for you to discuss corporate direction, business development, and potential partnerships. They are NOT demo rooms—the vendors are here to talk, not sell. This is your opportunity to sign up for appointment time slots.
Music, food and refreshments.
*Restricted to COFES 2009 Attendees. Their spouses and guests are invited to a spouse- and guest-only mixer and may join them later at the welcome reception.
 		 While COFES Attendees are at their business reception, their spouses and guests will be treated to a wine tasting mixer/reception before they join us in the welcome reception at 8 pm. Enjoy the food, refreshments, and music in a relaxed setting.
*Open only to badged spouses/guests of COFES 2009 attendees.
 
7:45
PM
 		 COFES 2009 Opening Intro

 

Welcome, introductions, orientation, and schedule.
8:00 -
10:00
PM
 		 Welcome Reception
Bring your spouse and join all COFES Attendees and sponsors for this evening social.
Music, food and refreshments.
*Guests of COFES Attendees must be registered and must be wearing their badges during the event.
 

Friday, April 17, 2009

7:30
AM
 		 Introductions and Breakfast
Each COFES attendee from the user community is assigned a leading industry consultant who will act as their host for the event. The host's primary responsibility is to make sure that you get the most value possible out of the event and introduce you to key industry players. Plan to meet your host/introducer for breakfast.
 
 Attire for COFES is weekend casual (no suits); shirts with collars; sandals or sneakers. Shorts are okay.
 
8:30
AM
 		 Kickoff: Opening Session and Call to Order
Your hosts, Cyon Research, will set the stage for the day's activities. 
   
9:00
AM
 		 Keynote: Innovative Engineering for a Disruptive Time 
House~Chuck.jpg  
Chuck House
Media X
Innovators are a special breed, especially valuable in disruptive times. They also can be difficult, irritating, even maddening -- let alone hard to identify and harder still to corral and "manage". Chuck, himself historically a maverick and an intrapreneur, will describe the process and politics of innovation in the context of key characteristics of innovators. Chuck's focus: how to identify and develop innovators, how to motivate (and avoid demotivating) them, along with processes and tools that make your task easier for taking advantage of these critical people for your company's future success.
 
Chuck House
Chuck House is executive director of Media X, Stanford University's Industry Affiliate research program on media and technology. As a senior research scholar he is continuing his work in technology-enabled communications, collaboration, and community. Previously director of Intel Corporation’s Virtual Collaboratory, Chuck was senior VP of multi-media communication research for Dialogic (acquired by Intel in 1999), and President of Spectron Microsystems (sold to Texas Instruments). Chuck was part of the IPO executive team at Veritas Software, and SVP of R&D at Informix Software during the very successful turnaround years of 1991-93. He was 29 years at Hewlett-Packard, in a wide variety of roles at a number of divisions and groups. An IEEE Fellow for Logic Analysis technology, he also was President of ACM, the world’s largest Computer Science society.
10:15
AM
 		 Technology Suite Briefings 
Our Technology Suite vendors will present briefings on their advanced technology and research. 
 
Autodesk
Hilde Sevens
Senior Product Line Manager, Manufacturing Solutions
Extending Digital Prototyping
Learn about Autodesk’s plans to enhance the Digital Prototyping process using technologies from recent acquisitions including Moldflow, Algor, and NavisWorks.
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Autodesk
Brenda Discher
Vice-President, Manufacturing Solutions
Digital Prototyping and BIM
A discussion on Autodesk’s vision for a connected workflow that spans Manufacturing, Architecture, Engineering, and Construction.
 
 
Microsoft
Diego Tamburini
Senior Evangelism Manager
New Technologies for Software Developers
Microsoft will explore opportunities that exist for software developers to provide additional value to their customers with Windows 7 and the Azure Services Platform.
 
 
Nemetschek North America
Sean Flaherty
CEO
Nemetschek's Vision for BIM and Design
Nemetschek North America will discuss their technology vision for the future of design and BIM in the AEC industry.
 
 
PTC
Brian Shepherd
Senior Vice-President, Product Management
Social Product Development
PTC believes the market is ready for a measurable shift in the way products will be developed. The cornerstone of this shift is the marriage of social computing to product development, or what PTC is calling Social Product Development.
 
 
ShareVis
Nail Sudin
CEO
PLM with Model-Based Workflows
ShareVis will discuss its vision for “full enterprise PLM” through model based workflow using ShareVis/SharePoint, introducing processes that incrementally configured and deployed provide cost effective interaction with and creation of engineering and PLM information.
 
 
Siemens PLM Software
Bill Carrelli
Vice-President Business Development
Join Siemens for a lively discussion on the differences between PLM for medium-to-large enterprises and PLM for small-to-medium businesses. What are the key characteristics in providing innovation and engineering solutions to each kind of company?
 
 
SpaceClaim
Chris Randles
President & CEO
Direct Modeling
SpaceClaim will discuss their vision for direct modeling.
 
 
VX Corporation
Mark Vorwaller
President
Capturing and Sharing Knowledge
Can e-tools reduce the learning curve for engineering software and can they be adapted for capturing process knowledge and intent? VX will discuss their vision integrating knowledged capture and sharing within a CAD/CAM environment.
 
Also during this time slot:
The DaS Symposium 		  The Design and Sustainability Symposium: Exploring the intersection of design, simulation, and sustainability for the built (AEC) and manufactured environment.

 

COFES is a unique gathering of individuals from companies representing a wide variety of industry sectors, each with significant interest in software used to design the world around us. The DaS Symposium exists within that community to focus on how design software can facilitate the visibility of sustainability issues at the design stage. The goal of the DaS Symposium is to raise the issues that need to be addressed and to identify areas of common ground that may be best served by collaborative, rather than competitive solutions.

 

The DaS Symposium will explore how different sectors are facing the sustainability challenge and discuss areas of common ground. The urgency of compliance and certification in the AEC world (LEED, 2030 Challenge, etc.) and manufacturing world (ELV, REACH, etc.) are two of the drivers behind an increasing need for a tight feedback loop between software and designers at the earliest stages of design.

 

Founding members of the DaS Symposium include Autodesk, Building Smart Alliance, CIFE, Cyon Research, Gensler, Siemens, SolidWorks, Sustainable Minds, et al.
 
 
Kickoff; "Compression"
Opening presentation and introduction of the concept of "Compression," followed by an interactive discussion. Attendees are requested to view Ken Hall's presentation from COFES 2008: http://cofes.com/2008/kenhall prior to the symposium
 
10:55
PM
 		 Break
 
11:00
AM
 		 Analyst Briefings
We've invited some of the brightest and most talented analysts and thinkers to give brief presentations on issues they view as critical, with the remainder of each 40-minute session a working discussion. These discussions are strictly limited to no more than 24 people at a time.
 
House~Chuck.jpg  
Chuck House
Media X
Keynoter's Session
An interactive discussion on the topics raised in Chuck's keynote.
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Deke Smith
Cyon Research
BIM Changes Everything
We have heard about big BIM and little bim. That’s just the starting point. In the end, BIM will change responsibilities, liability, insurance, financing, fee structure, and just about everything else we have come to know about the industry of design, construction, and operation of buildings. What does that imply for us during the transition period? How far and how fast will we go?
 
Don Brown
CPDA
Scorecard on Mechatronics
Mechatronics takes design and engineering across the domains of mechanical, electronic, and software development. The cross-disciplinary aspects of design coordination dominate any evaluation or scorecard for mechatronics. We’ll discuss a scorecard for mechatronics best practices, drawn from detailed assessments and discussions leading mechatronics customers.
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Joe Barkai
Manufacturing Insights
Will PLM Shake Off Its CAD Roots?
After three decades or so of PLM software innovation, PLM software vendors and their customers still alike see PLM principally as a CAD software application—adoption by other product lifecycle practitioners and decision-makers has not come close to its potential. What are the barriers to broad PLM adoption? What technologies and/or business practices could make PLM’s more prevalent?
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Jim Brown
Tech-Clarity
Design, Engineering, and Social Networking
Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs, wikis, microblogs, and other social networking applications connect communities, share information, and establish relationships. What does that mean within the context of business? What unforeseen consequences are emerging these tools move into design and engineering? What are the implications for innovation and sustainability? What about connections that cross a firm’s boundaries, like links with your supply chain or channel?
  
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Jon Peddie
Jon Peddie Research
Why Virtual Worlds Fail
No single company can build a complete virtual world on its own, just as no single company can build a 787 or an A380. There are too many aspects and facets involved. The humongous lack of simple standards (like 6-32 screws) mean that each virtual world developer has to reinvent the wheel for everything from the APIs to CPU, the communications, physiological, stereoscopic, and graphics rendering issues. Collaboration and building on the developments of others are the key enablers.
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Tom Pennino
TP Technologies
Interdependency of EDA and MCAD
Electronic systems are pervasive in all mechanical systems including automotive, aircraft, consumer, telecommunications, computing, and gaming. EDA design (concept, synthesis, design, verification, manufacturing) is interdependent with mechanical design, component information systems, and PDM/PLM. We have a long way to go in addressing this interdependency, not to mention the added complexity of bringing the design of embedded software into the mix.
 
Also during this time slot:
The DaS Symposium 		 
Integrating Sustainability into the Design Process
Starting with presentations on tools for integrating sustainability into the design process, we follow with an exploratory discussion about the emerging "sustainability performance software" sector and opportunities for joint action.
 
11:50
AM
 		 Analyst Briefings
Analyst briefings, round 2, with different analysts, different topics.
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Phares Noel
Cyon Research
Factory-Floor Time-Bomb
On the factory floor, most equipment is often unique, with custom drivers running on old PCs, with various releases of OS service packs and anti-virus protection. While these systems may not be connected to the intra-plant network, they still need to be protected from service reps with infected laptops.
Unfortunately, if the latest service packs are installed, they may overwrite the customized environment and cause havoc. The only option is to have the original equipment vendor (if they're still in business) to re-certify the system with the new updates, and the fee to perform this service typically (often with justification) is exorbitant.
What systems are really vulnerable? Does the threat of incompatibility have any real teeth in it? Is this a real issue or just hype? What is the real risk and what can be done to mitigate it?
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
David Prawel
LongView Advisors
Extending the Reach of Product Data
Product data is a strategic company asset. Much of a firm’s budget is dedicated to create and manage product data, including all of engineering, much of IT, and a good share of other budgets. Yet this key asset remains locked within the domain of engineering, due to complex issues. New tools are addressing some of these issues, but much work remains. What is needed to take the next step towards extending the reach of this key asset?
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Ken Versprille
CPDA
Trends in Design Data Quality
Have companies established and documented standards for CAD data and have they developed the necessary process and tools to make sure they can validate that those standards are followed? By defining and promoting the use of corporate CAD standards, companies can discover and derive consistency, establish a best practices process, and improve integration with downstream disciplines in their development process. We’ll discuss guidelines for CAD Data Quality maturity levels.
 
 
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Jay Vleeschhouwer
Financial Analyst
Wall Street Perspective on the CAD/PLM industry

Jay Vleeschhouwer, formerly of Merrill Lynch, will lead this discussion on the outlook for the industry, on recent financial and merger news, and on what investors care about.
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO

Bruce Jenkins
Ora Research
Strengthening Simulation’s Impact
Pulling simulation and analysis into the front end of product development, and making CAE usage pervasive throughout projects and programs, have become critical goals. Which new approaches – process wizards, isogeometric analysis, abstract modeling, standards-based integration platforms, simulation-specific data management, process management, or others are yielding the greatest returns?   
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Dave Jordani
Jordani Consulting Group
BIM – Innovation Under Construction

Enthusiastically and successfully promoted for several years now, BIM has altered the future vision for the AECOO industry. To morph this vision into reality, it’s time to transition the dialog to address the magnitude of changes that will unfold. Some suggest that industry is ready to transition out of an innovation/early adoption mode in a quest for more pragmatic and broader use of BIM. What’s needed to get us to the next phase of BIM adoption?  
Also during this time slot:
The DaS Symposium 		 
The Role of the Engineering Software Provider in Sustainability
Starting with two brief presentations on software vendors' sustainability programs, we follow with a brainstorming session on the opportunities for action.
 
12:40
PM
 		 Lunch
 
2:15
PM
 		 Technology Suite Briefings 
 
Autodesk
Hilde Sevens
Senior Product Line Manager, Manufacturing Solutions
Extending Digital Prototyping
Learn about Autodesk’s plans to enhance the Digital Prototyping process using technologies from recent acquisitions including Moldflow, Algor, and NavisWorks.
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Autodesk
Brenda Discher
Vice-President, Manufacturing Solutions
Digital Prototyping and BIM
A discussion on Autodesk’s vision for a connected workflow that spans Manufacturing, Architecture, Engineering, and Construction.
 
 
Microsoft
Don Richardson
Director, Global Innovation and PLM Industry Strategy
Solutions for Product-Driven Businesses
Microsoft will discuss how product-driven businesses can make better decisions by utilizing SharePoint Server and PerformancePoint Services for business intelligence, analysis and collaboration. Includes an interactive demonstration of a proof-of-concept solution that leverages Aras Innovator and Actify SpinFire.
 
 
Nemetschek North America
Sean Flaherty
CEO
Nemetschek's Vision for BIM and Design
Nemetschek North America will discuss their technology vision for the future of design and BIM in the AEC industry.
 
 
PTC
Brian Shepherd
Senior Vice-President, Product Management
The Environmental Compliance Challenge
The list of environmental regulations geared toward reducing the use of hazardous substances in products is growing. PTC will discuss how leading manufacturers will need to understand and control the chemical makeup of their products—or risk millions of dollars in blocked shipments or costly supply chain disruptions.
 
 
ShareVis
Nail Sudin
CEO
PLM with Model-Based Workflows
ShareVis will discuss its vision for “full enterprise PLM” through model based workflow using ShareVis/SharePoint, introducing processes that incrementally configured and deployed provide cost effective interaction with and creation of engineering and PLM information.
 
 
Siemens PLM Software
Bill Carrelli
Vice-President Business Development
Join Siemens for a lively discussion on the differences between PLM for medium-to-large enterprises and PLM for small-to-medium businesses. What are the key characteristics in providing innovation and engineering solutions to each kind of company?
 
 
SpaceClaim
Chris Randles
President & CEO
Direct Modeling
SpaceClaim will discuss their vision for direct modeling.
 
 
VX Corporation
Mark Vorwaller
President
Capturing and Sharing Knowledge
Can e-tools reduce the learning curve for engineering software and can they be adapted for capturing process knowledge and intent? VX will discuss their vision integrating knowledged capture and sharing within a CAD/CAM environment.
 
Also during this time slot:
The DaS Symposium 		 
Simulation for Sustainability
Presentations on both building energy and city-scale simulations, followed by exploratory discussion on how to scale-up solutions worldwide, and opportunities for action.  
3:00
PM
 		 Analyst Briefings
Analyst briefings, round 3, with different analysts, different topics.
  
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Steve Wolfe
Cyon Research
Affordable PLM
In an age of tight budgets and broken promises, manufacturers will no longer spend lavish sums on costly, unreliable PDM systems. What new business models and technologies can enable customers to achieve the benefits of PLM without the high costs and long deployment schedules that have characterized PLM systems? Join me for a brain storming session about how PLM should look in the 21st century.
 
 
Chad Jackson
Aberdeen
The Innovation Transition
Many manufacturers consider themselves lucky when an epiphany results in the next great disruptive product. For others, it’s no accident—they find a way to repeat those market-shaking events. How does a company transition from “maybe lightning will strike” to a practice where innovation is a core competency?
  
 
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Marc Halpern
Gartner
Designing Green: Practical or Pipe Dream?
Gobs of good intention, government support, and regulatory legislation may not overcome the challenges of realizing green design, particularly now. Will manufacturers and governments support green design initiatives in the throes of the worst economic downturn since the 1930s? Discuss these issues and practical steps, strategies, best practices, and supporting infrastructure that will encourage manufacturers to adopt green design, yet also appeal to the profit motive.
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Monica Schnitger
Schnitger Corporation
Shifting Channel Models
PLM suppliers typically rely on a mix of channel and direct sales to reach their customers. Many are reviewing their IT budgets to reduce overall spending, while maintaining high-priority investments. Will the vendors, resellers, and customers work together? What are the implications to the ways vendors will be going to market? Will this be a permanent change, or will the eventual upside have us revert to the old ways?
 
 
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Terry Wohlers
Wohlers Associates
Additive Fabrication for Mass Customization
Custom products is big business. It's about to get a even bigger with advancements in additive fabrication (AF). AF technology makes it economically feasible to manufacture in small quantities. New business models are developing around custom product manufacturing and some involve consumers in the design process. We’ll discuss the role of software in this new megatrend for consumer design and manufacturing.
 
 
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AUDIO
Martin Fischer
CIFE
The Promise of VDC
Virtual design and construction (VDC) software is critical to bringing sustainable engineering to building projects around the world. Wymmiwyg (what you model & measure is what you get) is not yet a reality today because of a lack of reliable data about the performance of the built environment, a lack of computer-interpretable analysis methods, and the fragmented knowledge and incentives in the responsible organizations. What software and processes work today? What are the long-term opportunities? What barriers stand in the way of harnessing VDC software for sustainability?
 
Also during this time slot:
The DaS Symposium 		 
Common Ground
Brainstorming discussion. Exploration of opportunities for collaboration among vendors. Opportunities for leadership in expanding customer awareness and removal of roadblocks.
 
3:45
PM
 		 Break
 
4:00
PM
 		 Maieutic Parataxis: Exploring Concepts
Maieutic: The midwifery of knowledge.
Parataxis: The juxtaposition of ideas, without connection or conjunction

We will be hosting a series of five-minute vignettes drawn from topics and ideas that, while perhaps not yet fully formed, are likely to impact your thinking about how we design, build, and interact with software in the future.  

Take a look at http://cofes.com/mp to see the Maieutic Parataxis presentations!
 
5:15
PM
 		 Free
5:45
PM
 		 Buses leave The Scottsdale Plaza Resort for Evening Under the Stars
Buses will be leaving from the main entrance of The Scottsdale Plaza Resort*
 
*Guests of COFES Attendees must be registered and have paid a supplemental registration fee in order to attend this event 
6:30
PM
 		 Evening Under the Stars at La Puesta del Sol
We're headed up into the desert once again, with truly wide-open spaces and a sweeping view of the sky. A great western cookout under the stars. And for those who want a closer look at the magnificent Arizona sky, we have a couple of major-league telescopes. A COFES highlight!
 
*Guests of COFES Attendees must be registered and have paid a supplemental registration fee in order to attend this event 
 
9:30
PM
 		 Buses Leave the Evening Event for The Scottsdale Plaza Resort
We will return to the resort between 10:00 and 11:00 pm.
 

Saturday, April 18, 2009

8:00
AM
 		 Breakfast
 
8:45
AM
 		 Morning Kickoff
Your hosts will set the stage for the day’s activities.
9:00
AM
 		 Keynote: Joel Orr
 
Joel Orr
Cyon Research
Remembering the Future
The world of engineering software has changed over the past decade, in small and large ways. But the changes we are going to see over the coming decade will dwarf the changes of the past. This talk will gallop through the milestones of the engineering software industry then dive into predictions for the coming decade. We'll also look at concrete suggestions for vendors and users in anticipating or responding to those predictions.
 
9:45
AM
 		 Keynote: Peter Marks
 
 

Peter Marks 
Design Insight
Blindspotting
 
Peter Marks has a track record of predicting what's next at the intersection of technology and human behavior. For example, he predicted the dot.com boom several years ago at COFES and more importantly described how to sort the eventual winners from the losers based on customer buying principles.

This year's keynote is based on Peter’s recent research on perceptual and cognitive filters and their impact on our current business challenges. We humans have more than fifty filtering mechanisms—blind spots if you will. The good news is they keep us focused. The bad news is that many of these filters are better evolved for detecting such things as saber toothed tigers than such risks as sub-prime mortgage based derivatives.

Many of our industries are now at an inflection point. As the saying goes, it's not so much what we don't know that hurts us, but we know for sure that isn't so. This year's talk will take a fresh look at the opportunities for innovation and renewed growth.  
10:30
AM
 		 Break
 
10:45
AM
 		 Discussions, Roundtables, and Appointments
We have set up rooms for meetings with a tight focus directed at specific groups of attendees. These 90-minute focused discussions are by the pool and near vendors' Technology Suites.
Discussions and Roundtables   Vendor Appointments

 

Cyon Research investigates issues in engineering and design. That research forms the basis for the issue topics for these group discussions. Meeting rooms are set up in suites around the pool, each with a different issue to discuss. Also, meetings among groups with a common interest.   

 

CLICK ON TITLE FOR AUDIO
Channel Evolution—This current economic downturn has made it abundantly clear: we can no longer assume that our current business models will continue to work in the future. We’re approaching a time (we may be there already) when business models will need to evolve at the same pace as our products do. Already we’ve seen major movements in the relationships between vendors, their go-to-market partners, and their customers. What does this mean for the channel? How will the channel evolve? What are the implications of Open Source, Crowd Sourcing, Customer Ownership, SaaS, and cloud-based “software on tap”?

 

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Collaboration 2020—How we work together depends in some measure on the shared environments we can easily create and participate in. During Maieutic Parataxis at COFES last year we learned about “extreme collaboration” (http://cofes.com/mp). What might be the leading edge of collaboration ten years from now? The market has proven that, given a vision, the tools and technology will get there. How do we conceive of that vision? Where do we look for inspiration for a vision of Collaboration 2020? What tools are we missing? Can we shoot for remote collaboration to be as effective then as face-to-face collaboration can be today? What can we envision for the changing nature of collaboration for engineering and construction professionals? What will be the impact on innovation? On productivity? On design quality?

 

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Innovating Everywhere: Helping Customers Secure Their Future—How should the engineering software world respond to an economy where many of their main customers are struggling, where energy and resources may be scarce, where strong customer demand is no longer a given, and where the globally extended supply chains that fueled recent growth are increasingly under political attack? Innovation is necessary to survival. And not just product innovation; process, workflow, business models, all need to be the focus of a sustained corporate commitment and investment in innovation. Planned innovation is needed. What can be gleaned from how we innovate in product design that we can apply towards innovation in the other areas of our business? Why does most innovation occur in small startups? What does that mean for how we address innovation outside of product design? How can we make innovation part of standard operating procedures for the bulk of engineering-related firms—not just the big ones or the pioneers? What are some of the best practices being applied by leaders?

 

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Is Direct Modeling the Interoperability “Holy Grail”?—Direct Modeling has come into its own in the past year and is here to stay. What’s not yet clear is the role it will play for the customer. One thing is certain: Direct Modeling is creating a renaissance in solid modeling, expanding alternatives and generating excitement. Is this technology a viable bridge to bypass our interoperability woes? Where? Why not? What does this mean for collaboration?

 

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Is SharePoint a Game Changer?—SharePoint has our attention. Everyone either has a SharePoint strategy or is working on one. Why? What’s going on? What’s role should SharePoint play in AEC? In design and manufacturing? How does it complement or conflict with existing systems? Is it a threat to traditional PLM providers?

 

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Jumping the Gap—There is a widening gap between technology leaders and followers in the user community. A growing number of users are falling behind in technology implementation. How do followers jump the gap? What gets in the way? What can software vendors and their extended ecosystems do to bring more of their customers closer to the front of the line?

 

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Turning BIM Towards a Handoff-Focused Data Model—In spite of best efforts, good intentions, and strong support for IFCs, the BIM world still suffers from interoperability issues. We need a more granular approach that focuses on each of the potential handoff’s between parties. Some information needs to make the round trip. Other information may not be necessary for a direct handoff, but may have significant value downstream. How do we evolve our view of BIM to address this value? Is a handoff-focused data model a workable vision to address interoperability?

 

User Group Leadership Roundtable—Meeting among representatives of major user groups to discuss common issues and providing customer benefit. Representatives from boards of AUGI, COE, PLM World, PTC/USER, SWUGN, etc. By invitation.
 
Also during this time slot:
The DaS Symposium 		 
The Sustainability Challenge
Brainstorming roundtable exploring the systemic issues and challenges we face in achieving sustainability.
 
COFES 2009 will set up appointments in the Technology Suites for attendees, based on the information you provide in the registration form, to match you with the suites that hold the technologies and companies that will interest you. Your schedule will be given to you when you arrive. There are a limited number of pre-assigned appointments. During the Thursday evening reception you will have the opportunity to expand your schedule.

 

The following vendors are participating in COFES 2009 with Technology Suites:
Appointment times:
10:45
11:20
11:55
12:30
 1:05
 1:40
 2:15
 2:50
 
Lunch will be served in the Technology Suites for the 12:30 appointments 
12:15
PM
 		 Lunch
 
1:45
PM
 		 Discussions and Roundtables
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Abstract Modeling and Optimization: The Next Wunderkinds of CAE—The value of abstract modeling in CAE has only recently come to the attention of corporate leaders. Some have made major commitments to deploy abstract modeling. New tools for automated optimization are showing tangible benefits. These tools provide leverage for greater efficiencies, better design, and an opportunity for increased competitive advantage. What’s holding back rapid adoption of these technologies? What does it take to get up to speed? What are the challenges?

 

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Blurring Corporate Boundaries—Once upon a time, you could tell which company made something. That’s not true today. Companies incorporate the work of other companies into their products. The pyramid structure of yesterday’s supply chain is more of a vast and complex network of competing and collaborative relationships. “Coopetition” is rampant. Companies move from project to project, with a new set of relationships for each project. On top of that, overlay a workforce that has lost the expectation of long-term employment. We’re seeing these issues raise the level of complexity for IP ownership, and for corporate responsibility and liability. Where will this go next? What are the implications for building customer relationships? What impact will the coming shift to software-on-demand and cloud-based computing do to how engineering software is used and sold?

 

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Dealing with the Harsh Realities of our Customers—Software developers often have an idealized view of what their customers deal with. Reality is much more harsh, filled with problems and issues – all buried in the details of each customer’s specific situation. What are these nits that clog the wheels of progress? Can software creators design their way out of this, or is there something that makes this gap inevitable? What messages do customers want to convey to software vendors who don’t seem to be listening?

 

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Leveraging Gaming and Social Networking in Business—There’s a tremendous amount of activity, excitement, and innovation in Gaming. Likewise, Social Networking has reached the elbow of exponential growth. How can Gaming and Social Networking be leveraged within the context of business? How might we expect these to evolve? What about the expectations of the next generation who are growing up with Gaming and Social Networking as integral to the fabric of their daily lives? How can we be ready for them? What impact is pervasive Social Networking in a business context likely to have on design, engineering, and business processes?

 

Putting a Stake in the Ground: Visions of Future Interfaces—In many ways, the visions of our predecessors form the basis for what we invent. Describing the future makes it possible—it becomes something we benchmark against and try to achieve. Ivan Sutherland’s 1963 thesis, Sketchpad; Doug Englebart’s 1967 “Mother of All Demos”; and Apple’s 1986 Knowledge Navigator all played a role in setting such expectations. Dick Tracy, Star Trek, Star Wars, Minority Report, each provided a vision of ways we might interact with our “computers.” We’ll see new visions at Maieutic Parataxis. Who’s out there setting that vision today? How will changing the way we interact with systems and each other change what and how we create?

 

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The Next Big Thing – Making Current Building Inventory Less Inefficient—As a country, we focus much of our attention on the problems and opportunities for energy and sustainability improvements in the automotive sector. But Automotive is only a small component of the overall problem—and most vehicles on the road were built within the past 20 years, and therefore were subject to increasingly high standards. The operation of buildings consumes the biggest portion of the energy pie and has a huge impact on sustainability issues. And most buildings were built well before we paid much heed to energy or sustainability. New LEED-certified structures are good, but the vast majority of an effective program to reduce energy consumption and pollution MUST focus on addressing existing infrastructure. Perhaps we need a national building census to take stock of the problem and a carrot/stick approach to addressing the worst offenders first.

 

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Where AEC and MFG Meet—We’ve seen a great deal of activity recently in that nether region between AEC and manufacturing—fabrication of items designed to go into buildings. This includes shop drawings, steel design, curtain walls, and so on. Many who formerly relied on simple 2D tools are choosing dedicated tools, such as Tekla or Robobat for steel design. Others are looking at accepting BIM data from architects and moving the data to generic 3D PLM tools. Mainstream MCAD vendors are starting to pay attention to this market too. Is this a green-field opportunity? Can we all agree on a common playbook for this crossover area? Is an all-in-one life-cycle model feasible here?
 
Also during this time slot:
The DaS Symposium 		 
Common Ground for Leadership in Sustainability
Brainstorming. Goal 1: Synthesizing opportunities for common ground. How can the software community work together to deliver tools that entice customers to design in a more consciously sustainable manner? Goal 2: Identify specific actions we might choose to take, either as individuals, as firms, or jointly among firms, with particular attention paid to opportunities for leadership. Brainstorming to synthesize the opportunities for common ground for the software community to work towards delivering to its customers, tools that entice them to design in a more consciously sustainable manner; a vision of a sustainable future, and the specific actions we might choose to engage in.
 
3:15
PM
 		 Break
 
3:30
PM
 		 Congress - The Business of Design and Engineering:  It's the Economy, Stupid!
New Opportunities for Uncertain Times.

 

We've seen where we're headed: Point B. Right now we're at Point A. As businesses and as an industry, what needs to happen in order for us to get from Point A to Point B?

 

This working congress session is an open forum for examining the issues surrounding technologies expected to have an impact on design and engineering. The purpose of these discussions is to examine current issues, explore opportunities for a brighter future, consider approaches, and promote further dialogue.
 
5:00
PM
 		 Free
5:30
PM
 		 Reception
*Guests of COFES Attendees must be registered and have paid a supplemental registration fee in order to attend this event
6:30-
9:00
PM
 		 Dinner and Awards
Dinner and the closing session of COFES, including The CAD Society Industry Awards and the CADwire Innovator's Award.*
 
*Guests of COFES Attendees must be registered and have paid a supplemental registration fee in order to attend this event 

Sunday, April 19, 2009

6:30-
8:30
AM
 		 Early Riser's Breakfast (Cafe Cabana - Poolside)
For golfers and those with early flights
 
6:38
AM
 		 Golf     Guests Leaving
Grab a bite at the early riser's breakfast and meet at the COFES registration desk at 6:38 AM for your 7:00 AM tee time.

Lunch back at the resort immediately following the scramble.
Golf fee and reservation required (Golf fee is not included in COFES registration fee).
Transportation back to The Scottsdale Plaza Resort in time to make flights out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport scheduled for 3:00 PM or later.
 		 Transportation to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
 
8:30-
10:30
AM
 		 Sunday Brunch
Sunday Brunch (Cafe Cabana - Poolside)
Relax and enjoy the morning!
 
10:30
AM
 		 Intern Session
Each year at the end of COFES we sit down with the students who intern at COFES. This engaging and wide-ranging discussion has been incredibly enlightening--perhaps for them, but even more so for us. These next-generation leaders have much to contribute.
 

*This year, for the first time, we have invited The DaS Symposium to be co-located with COFES. DaS Symposium attendees will be joining us for the meals and keynotes and are welcome to attend other COFES 2009 sessions. COFES 2009 attendees are also welcome to attend The DaS Symposium sessions.
 

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