Use of Telepresence Meetings Can be Key in the Establishment of Lean Manufacturing Processes

London, United Kingdom, February 06, 2008 --(PR.com)-- By replicating an in-person meeting experience using high definition video, high resolution displays, and crystal clear audio, telepresence offers a unique way to streamline meetings, share data, and collaborate on processes critical to manufacturing. According to the US Department of Commerce (NISTIR 6383), telepresence “provides the ability to turn processes that involve multiple organisations and that are typically conducted sequentially, into processes that can be conducted concurrently and efficiently”. Minimising the use of resources associated with travel, product development, and production is one of the core tenets of lean manufacturing, which by definition, is the practice of “using less of everything” to take products to market quickly and profitably.

Attendees of Telepresence World 2008 London, which will take place 18th – 19th March at the internationally acclaimed ExCel London Exhibition and Conference Centre, will learn how telepresence is helping to shape manufacturing paradigms of the future and will provide a unique opportunity to experience telepresence technology. Live demonstrations will be provided by the world’s top telepresence providers, including Diamond Sponsors Teliris, Cisco, and Hewlett Packard.

Over the past few decades, the business community has witnessed the rise of the multinational corporation. Company CEOs and managers of these conglomerates quickly realised that the efficient coordination of widely distributed resources was a critical factor in their success or failure. With telepresence technology, global manufacturing firms can now manage distant facilities easily and effectively. Telepresence can be used not only for meetings, collaboration and development; it can also be used for supply chain integration, quality control, equipment demonstrations, plant tours, machine maintenance and checks, and customer-client interactions such as merchandise testing and focus groups.

More specifically, telepresence can help manufacturers gain advantage in the marketplace by:

• Enhancing collaboration in the research and development phase. Many telepresence systems incorporate document imaging and object cameras into their design. With telepresence, companies can show remote partners or developers close-up views of prototypes, experimental models, and annotate these models on screen to produce collaborative designs in real-time.

• Expediting training of the corporate workforce. New operational initiatives or technical improvements to manufacturing equipment and processes can be communicated to employees quickly and efficiently. Rapid training means less down time and enhanced return on investment.

• Speeding product time to market. Telepresence allows convenient customer and client interaction from anywhere in the world, providing immediate feedback on new offerings. Buyers can see new products in crystal clear detail without waiting for delivery service.

• Improving customer care. Superior customer service can attract new clients and investors while improving retention rates among existing ones. Telepresence technologies enable companies to provide virtual, personalised service to consumers, thereby reducing costly onsite travel time.

Delegates to the London conference will also have access to a concurrent exhibition located adjacent to the main conference hall featuring a variety of telepresence-related vendors and service providers, many of whom will be showcasing products designed specifically for customer service and manufacturing applications.

Diamond Sponsors of Telepresence World 2008 London include Teliris, Cisco, and Hewlett-Packard. BT has joined as a Gold Sponsor and Network Sponsorship will be provided by Masergy Communications. The Interactive Media & Collaborative Communications Alliance (IMCCA) and the European Association of Healthcare IT Managers are Strategic Alliance partners. Organisational Supporters include the International Society of Presence Research (ISPR), Digital Content Forum (DCF), the Communications Management Association (CMA), the British Computer Society (BCS), and the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE). Audio Visual (AV) Magazine, AV News, Connect World, CXO, Education Business, European CEO, Financial Sector Technology (FST), Government Technology, Health Business, Healthcare IT, New Media Age, Report Buyer, Total Telecom, and Videoconferencing Insight Newsletter are among a growing listing of Media Sponsors who have signed on to promote the event. Telepresence World 2008 London is presented in association with Frost & Sullivan and is a CarbonNeutral event.

Additional major sponsor announcements will be released in the next few weeks; however partner and exhibitor opportunities are still available; please email info@hemisphereinc.com for details. For further information about Telepresence World 2008 London, please see www.telepresenceworld.com.

About Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc.
Established in 1990, The Hemisphere Group has produced events throughout Asia, India, and the Americas. Their events portfolio includes conferences, seminars, and tradeshows on topics ranging from aerospace to finance. Known today as Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc., they provide expertise in the production and management of events relating to high-technology advancements (www.hemisphereinc.com).

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