The interactive and fun “Connect Event” at this year’s Automation Summit was particu-larly memorable for all attendees! The Con-nect Event was an innovative, high-technology, speed-networking event that organized hundreds of “power” meetings between participants with similarities in their business interests. As each person entered the Session Room where the Connect Event was held, they were given an iPad to use for the event. A picture of each participant was taken using the iPad and the photo was uploaded to a database using a Siemens SIMATIC NET in-dustrial communication wireless Ethernet network. Based upon the results of a ques-tionnaire completed prior to the event, in-dividuals were “matched” with other partici-pants based on their common industry and technology interests as well as their geo-graphical proximity to one another. The meetings were scheduled from an algo-rithm designed by DMC, Inc. a Siemens Cer-tified Solution Partner. Using the Siemens wireless network, the

results of the matching process were trans-mitted to all iPads. Each person could then view a graphical representation of their personalized meeting schedule that in-cluded a picture of who they would meet, a location where they would meet and a pro-file of the person. All the participants were reminded that the tactical goal of the networking event was to make as many personal connections as possible in one hour at their brief power meetings. With that goal in mind, they were immediately challenged with learning how to use a custom iPad application writ-ten specifically for this event. The informa-tion sharing amongst the crowd of engi-neers was impressive! The energy in the room quickly escalated as the navigation and use of the iPad application was re-viewed by Keith Jones – President, Prism Systems, a Siemens Certified Solution Part-ner, who developed the application. In order to measure the number of connec-tions each person made at the event, each iPad had an application in which both

Connect Event makes an impressive impression at the 2011 Automation Summit

Connect Event Sponsors

In order to gain access to the

new Connect Event Online

Community website that

will provide supporting Connect

Event project information

and access to discussion

threads, go to

Siemens Support Portal and

request access to the Connect

Event Forum. It is necessary to

establish a Login Name, pass-

word and Nickname for the

Forum.

meeting participants agreed on a common interest they discovered during their discussions. The choices of com-mon interests that could be matched were personal rather than business related, such as hobbies or sports. This drove the discussions to a more personal level rather than purely business with the expectation that this would accelerate relationship building at not only the Automa-tion Summit, but beyond.

After a rapid learning curve, the engaging conversations and the quick transitions to each five minute meeting lead to impressive results. In 60 minutes, 80 participants held 384 meetings and made nearly 1000 personal con-nections. “What was most impressive was that the Con-nect Event set the tone for the rest of the conference by encouraging discussion, relationship building and creativ-ity. The Connect Event accomplished what it was de-signed to do; to strengthen the Siemens User Community, and to highlight the ingenuity of Certified Solution Part-ners,” according to Peter Treible – National Industrial Part-ner Manager – Siemens Industry, Inc.

During the event, the results of each connection were displayed on a back drop screen so each user and partner could see the connections being made in real time! While the networking increased, the Chairman of the Solution Partner Council and President of DMC, Inc., Frank Riordan summarized the expectations going forward. “Over the next 12 months all of the participants will be engaged in a pilot research project to share ideas on how to improve productivity, including the use of the iPad in the industrial automation environment. We will share the results of this event and the results of our research project at the 2012 Automation Summit!” This event portrays how the Solution Partner Program has matured and why it has become so successful over the last five years. Certified Solution Partners, who have earned the confidence of Siemens and the users, by com-pleting rigorous written and hands-on testing of their Sie-mens technology expertise, and have proven their abili-ties to deliver quality solutions, sponsored the event. The Connect Event itself is an example of a very successful and innovative solution designed and implemented in a very short timeframe and in close collaboration among Siemens, the Siemens User Advisory Board, and the Solu-tion Partner Council. Approximately 20 Solution Partner companies partici-pated in the 2011 Automation Summit in Orlando, Flor-ida. Their contributions at the Summit, with a theme of “Navigating the world of automation,” went beyond the navigation necessary at the Connect Event by delivering “Power User” presentations. These presentations focused on Novel Approaches to Problem Resolution, Maintenance & Operations, Safety and Cyber Security, and Improved Performance by Applying Automation Technology.

Siemens Industry, Inc. Solution Partner Program www.usa.siemens.com/solutionpartner