Square D Services sets Energy, Power Distribution and Control Conference for Sept. 9-11, 2008
A single-source event intended for anyone involved with facility maintenance, power distribution or plant automation, Square D Services’ annual Energy, Power Distribution and Control Conference will take place Sept. 9 to 11, 2008, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J., just outside of Philadelphia.

The goal of the conference is to educate professionals in areas that will increase safety, reduce lifecycle and facility costs, decrease equipment downtime and maximize power system reliability.

Educational sessions in the three technical tracks — Electrical Reliability, Energy Management and Automation & Control — will focus on new electrical safety standards, compliance regulations, technologies and electrical equipment modernization.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available upon request.

To register online for Square D Services’ Energy, Power Distribution and Control Conference, visit www.regonline.com/epdc08. Interested parties that prefer to register by mail or phone can contact Hal Theobald at 513-755-4226 or visit www.squared-services.com to download a conference brochure and registration form in PDF format.

The conference attendance fee is $475. Hotel rooms have been reserved at a group rate of $129 per night; attendees should mention Square D Services to receive the group rate.

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New book on PVC degradation and stabilization
The global renewal of interest in PVC can be attributed to application of non-toxic stabilizers and other additives. PVC degradation during processing and use was always one of the most essential elements of PVC science and technology. Many approaches to stabilization changed and some groups of stabilizers are not used in new production.

A new book, “PVC Degradation & Stabilization,” by George Wypych has Ph. D., shows new trends and directions that allow the formulation of PVC free of any toxic additives. Only four books have ever been published on PVC degradation and stabilization; two of them written by George Wypych. The last one on the topic was written in the 1980s.

Separate chapters review information on chemical structure, PVC manufacturing technology, morphology, degradation by thermal energy, and UV, gamma, and other forms of radiation, mechanodegradation, chemical degradation, analytic methods used in studying of degradative and stabilization processes, stabilization, and effect of PVC and its additives on health, safety and environment.

This book contains analysis of all essential papers published until recently on the above subject. It either locates the answers to relevant questions and offers solutions or gives references in which such answers can be found.

PVC Degradation and Stabilization is must have for chemists, engineers, scientists, university teachers and students, designers, material scientists, environmental chemists, and lawyers who work with polyvinyl chloride and its additives or have any interest in these products. This book is the one authoritative source on the subject.

The Table of Contents and more information can be found on the Web.

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Know your OSHA: OSHA Training Supervisor Manuals: What every supervisor must know about OSHA
Written with an emphasis on accident prevention, using established guidelines, “What Every Supervisor Must Know about OSHA,” provides guidance for organizations to ensure compliance with Federal Regulations. In fact, the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers use the text as part of their curriculum for the OSHA 500 “Train the Trainer” program, providing managers, supervisors and safety personnel with the tools and knowledge needed to provide and maintain a safe worksite.

Topics covered in this publication include:

• An overview of OSHA and how it works

• How to read regulations and penalties

• Steps for how to handle an OSHA inspection

• Training tips to make your presentation sizzle

• Accident affects on productivity

• Workers’ compensation expense and legal liabilities

Available in both general industry and construction these manuals will be sure to keep all supervisors aware of what they need to know about OSHA. Summit’s new OSHA Training Supervisor Manuals are proven to be effective and instructive with pertinent information that will keep all worksites in compliance with OSHA.

For ordering information, contact Summit at 800-842-0466 or visit www.safetyontheweb.com.

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Making the Green Leap – How APICS helps organizations improve the environment and the bottom line
As a result of increasing environmental awareness in the industry, new regulations and skyrocketing materials’ costs are putting pressure on every link of the supply chain. In addition, maintaining a higher level of environmental accountability requires companies to review ethical, legal and financial boundaries so that they align with the corporation’s goal of being a responsible social citizen.

For the foreseeable future, all operations managers will face the challenge of balancing the pressures of both increased environmental responsibility and continuous bottom line improvements.

As operations managers adapt to this new global reality, they have found one sure way to better evolve their organizations: Employee Training. By ensuring that employees receive rigorous training to best apply "green thinking" to the supply chain, managers can better ensure that efficiencies are achieved that both help the environment and streamline costs.

APICS The Association for Operations Management has become a critical player in the effort to help solve the green riddle surrounding the most pressing environmental issues. APICS has established a number of resources to help increase knowledge about environmental awareness and sustainability issues so that they can evaluate green strategies, measure and analyze based on green metrics and demonstrate the value of sustainability to management.

Tips on how you can help your organization make the Green Leap

• Free Webinars: APICS recently offered the first opportunity for operation management professionals to participate in a free webinar entitled, “Thinking about a Green Supply Chain?” Based on the proposition that green mandates will soon be commonplace at every level of the marketplace, new alternatives from product and packaging design through optimal delivery scheduling to inventory control were examined along with their impact on return-on-investment.

• Reward Excellence: In 2008, APICS revamped their Corporate Awards of Excellence Program to recognize the newest Best Practices in operations management so that it now includes an Innovation in Sustainability award to share how organizations are minimizing the impact of supply chain activities on the environment and keeping sustainability at the forefront of operations management. As progress is made, the need to recognize successes and share knowledge will be a key to the future.

• Sustainability Strategies: Sustainability and green strategizing will be a major focus of the 2008 APICS International Conference & Expo to be held in Kansas City, MO in early fall. John Repogle, the CEO of Burt’s Bees, will address the conference’s general session to share his expertise and recount how, since 1989, his company has maintained its ability to produce earth friendly, natural personal care products. The 2008 Annual International Conference & Expo will provide attendees the opportunity to tour several sustainable/green facilities in the greater Kansas City area, including Folgers Coffee Company, Kansas City Power and Light, Kansas City Star, Shatto Milk Company, SubTropolis and Wagner Industries.

• Evaluate Costs of Not Going Green: There are costs associated with going green, but what is often not explored is the cost of not going green. The 2008 APICS Conference program also contains a distinct Sustainability Learning Path to help attendees discover how best to apply green concepts to their daily work and examine the financial implications of sustainable purchasing. Attendees will be able to evaluate models and methodologies for greenhouse gas emissions and “greening” the supply chain to help them develop a successful sustainable company plan.

For more information about APICS’ innovative new programs and how they are helping businesses make the Green Leap, please contact Courtney Quattrini at 202-944-5029 or Angelo Terrana at 202-974-5099.

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Makita’s new interactive Action web pages focus on sponsored teams in racing, soccer and more
Makita U.S.A., Inc., has launched new Action web pages dedicated to the company’s accelerated presence in the world of live race events, action sports, and soccer. The pages can be reached from the Makita website, or directly at makitatools.com/action. It is a one-stop hub of information on Makita’s sponsored teams in motorcycle racing, off-road racing, Major  League Soccer, paintball, and more.

“Makita industrial quality power tools are engineered for professional tool users,” said Brent Withey, senior brand manager for Makita. “We know that pro tool users work hard, and we also know that racing and action sports are a big part of their lives off the jobsite. The new Action web pages let them follow all the action online with Makita’s sponsored teams in Supercross, Motocross, CORR and SCORE Off Road Racing, Major League Soccer, and more.”

Makita’s Action web pages feature Team Pages dedicated to each Makita-sponsored team. Team Pages include streaming video, photos, schedules, news, results, team information, and athlete profiles.

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