Strategy Session at RIT Examines State of Product Planning in Business

Open meeting of the RIT New-Product Development Forum set for Oct. 7

Product planning is fundamental to achieving success in today’s marketplace—or is it? That question is on the table for business leaders gathering at Rochester Institute of Technology.

“Is Product Planning Obsolete?” will be addressed during the next open session of the RIT New-Product Development Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 7. The event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Xerox Auditorium, James E. Gleason Building, on RIT’s Henrietta campus.

Speakers include Hugh Vallely, director of motorcycle product planning at Harley-Davidson (Assessing the Product Planning Process at Harley-Davidson); Michael Flynn, Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation director at University of Michigan (Automotive Product Development: Shifting Responsibility and Secondary Collaboration); George Broughton, Boats and Outboard Engines Division director of engineering at Bombardier Recreational Products (Running Against the Wind); Tom Matano, director of industrial design at Academy of Art College in San Francisco (Cultural Fabrics in Global R&D); and Stephen Dudra, manager of systems engineering at International Truck and Engine (Requirements Analysis Techniques that Align Design Specifications to Business Goals). John Ettlie, director of the Technology Management Center in RIT’s College of Business, will serve as moderator.

The RIT New-Product Development Forum, a partnership between RIT faculty and local businesses, is designed to address applied-research issues related to the successful introduction of new products and services. Bausch & Lomb, Carpenter Technologies, Exxon-Mobil Chemical, Gleason Works, ITT Industries-Goulds Pumps and Navistar-International Truck and Engine are participating in this initiative.

A continental breakfast will be served on the morning of the event, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Lunch will also be provided.

Registration is $100. For more information, visit RIT’s College of Business Web site at www.cob.rit.edu, or contact Angelo Fuino at 585-475-7431 or jafbbu@rit.edu.