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A Powerful Idea: Lightning Manufacturing

Just months after launching the Digital Greenhouse initiative, Gov. Ridge announced another powerful idea with a decidedly high-tech flavor: the Lightning Manufacturing Project. It's a breakthrough venture that brings the speed of the Internet to the power of manufacturing.

The project's essence lies in collaboration. By harnessing the power of the 'Net, companies across Pennsylvania form "virtual corporations" which play off each other's strengths for mutual advantage. The Virtual Corporation Management System provides a secure architecture for facilitating a flexible and dynamic procurement process.

Groups of companies now can quickly and efficiently exchange information, undertake procurement and purchasing activities, access technology and technical knowledge and form new companies to meet product and procurement requirements.

"The Virtual Corporation Management System is a perfect example of how e-business solutions . . . are helping manufacturers develop new trading relationships across industries and geographical boundaries," says Greg Lock, global general manager for IBM Industrial Sector -- one of Pennsylvania's partners in the new venture.

The Lightning Manufacturing Project strikes at the driving force behind job creation and retention -- new market and sales opportunities. The participating companies employ 20,000 workers in Pennsylvania and purchase $700 million worth of Pennsylvania-made products each year. But those firms estimate that the initiative could boost purchases of state products by some 10 percent annually, thereby expanding sales growth and employment opportunities.

"The Lightning Manufacturing Project has the potential to revolutionize the speed with which companies can collaborate and deliver products," Gov. Ridge says. "This project, with the Virtual Corporation Management System at its core, will allow manufacturing industries across the Commonwealth to compete and flourish in the digital economy."

Another Technology Edge: SelectSites And SelecTech-Sites Adding yet another arrow in the state's quiver of high-tech weaponry, Gov. Tom Ridge in January announced SelectSites and SelecTech-Sites -- a new initiative designed to give Pennsylvania a competitive edge in attracting corporate facilities. "In today's intensely competitive world, we must position Pennsylvania to take advantage of every good opportunity that comes our way," Gov. Ridge said in announcing the new program. "Through this initiative, we can immediately identify sites now ready for development, and market those sites to potential job-project investors. By doing so, we will give Pennsylvania one more edge on the competition." SelectSites and SelecTech-Sites will identify sites for technology-intensive development (e.g., those offering specific technological and telecommunications advantages) and help firms get up and running faster. While a few other states have attempted to assure sites are ready for development, none has focused on the important technology needs that companies face today. The SelectSites and SelecTech-Sites initiative was developed by the Governor's Action Team as a collaborative partnership among the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA), the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, a broad consortium of electric, gas, rail and telecommunication utilities and key technology stakeholders across the Commonwealth. "Once again, the Commonwealth sets the standard for creative and customer-driven economic development programs that will be well received by present and future companies relocating to Pennsylvania," PEDA President David Carver says. Pennsylvania officials worked in consultation with Fluor Global Services' Global Location Strategies group, which assists its industrial and commercial clients in determining the optimal geographic allocation of resources and facilities around the globe. Fluor has developed specific criteria to differentiate between a SelectSite and a SelecTech-Site designation. There are two levels of minimum technology criteria for each development type (heavy industrial, general manufacturing, light industrial/assembly, office-technical services center, office-call center, warehouse and distribution/logistics, research and development and commerce development). Properties designated as SelecTech-Sites must meet a higher level of technology readiness. For more information on this new initiative, visit www.state.pa.us or www.paselectsites.com.