Great Lakes Manufacturers Must Avoid ´Me, Too´ Technologies

DETROIT, May. 08 /PRNewswire/ --

DETROIT, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Great Lakes Region must avoid 'me, too' technologies and processes if it hopes to regain its rightful place as a manufacturing powerhouse, according to Donald A. McCabe, senior vice president of Manufacturing and Performance Excellence at Corning, Inc. McCabe will speak at the Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 9-11, 2008.

"We cannot achieve leadership given our location and associated cost with 'me, too' technologies and processes," said McCabe. "The breakthrough expectation needed for leadership will almost certainly require innovation."

"You built your industries with innovation leadership. We need to regain that spirit and expectation. Obviously execution will be challenging, but my experience is that an organization will rise to the level of our expectations. We simply need to have the courage to set the right expectations," he added.

"Corning has maintained its tradition of innovation for more than 100 years and calls its current R&D portfolio 'The Fifth Wave,'" said Edward A. Wolking, Jr., president of the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council, which is sponsoring the Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum. "We are very pleased Don will discuss that type of sustainable innovation at the Forum."

McCabe is responsible for the development and deployment of quality initiatives across the corporation as well as providing functional leadership for manufacturing at Corning. He joined Corning in 1973 and has served in various manufacturing, engineering and commercial positions in several divisions within Corning. He has held plant manager positions in both the U.S. and Europe and has had operation responsibilities for various International and U.S. locations. He also held the position of General Manager-Corning GmbH, responsible for Corning Environmental Technologies' European, African and South American locations.

A graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in business administration, McCabe has attended executive programs at Harvard Business School and Columbia.

Also speaking are such notables as: -- Jayson Myers, president and chief economist, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters -- William Testa, vice president and director of regional programs, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago -- Jane Warner, vice president, Illinois Tool Works -- Lt. Governor Lee Strickland, State of Ohio -- Dr. Jared Cohon, president, Carnegie- Mellon University

The Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum is sponsored by the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council. Some of the Partners in this event include:

-- Society of Manufacturing Engineers -- National Association of Manufacturers -- Chambers of Commerce of Chicago, Detroit and Toledo -- Provinces of Ontario and Quebec -- Pittsburgh Technology Council -- Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters -- Conexus Indiana -- Purdue University -- And many more

The Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum brings together manufacturing, business, academic and government leaders focused on promoting, enhancing and preserving manufacturing in the Great Lakes Region. Regional leaders from the eight Great Lakes States as well as the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec will gather to discuss the image of the Great Lakes region, innovation in manufacturing, the workforce and skills needed for manufacturing today and in the future as well as the borders and logistics requirements needed to succeed in today's global economy. The forum will be opened by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Forum sponsors include the Joyce Foundation, the Province of Ontario, National City Bank, Plante & Moran, ASG Renaissance, IBM, MAGNETWork and Deloitte.

About the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council:

The Great Lakes Manufacturing Council is a long-term relationship and collaboration of regional leaders from the eight Great Lakes States and the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec committed to the growth of manufacturing and the Great Lakes region. Its goal is to support a more competitive manufacturing base by promoting greater intra-regional communication and collaboration, best practices sharing and application and positive imagery that will attract retain and grow business.

For additional information about the Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum go to www.greatlakesmanufacturing.org or call 866.615.2182.

Contact: Martha Welsh (734.646.5372)

Maura Campbell (517.944.0811)