Key Leaders from General Motors and Whirlpool to Join Keynote Speaker Line-up for CPDA's PLM Road Map™ 2007

Stamford, CT, For Immediate Release – Collaborative Product Development Associates (CPDA), a provider of critical analyses for PLM decisions, announces that Detlef Bielohlawek, Global Director - CAD and Visualization, General Motors and Dr. Thomas Gielda, Director, Global Mechanical Structures and Systems, Whirlpool Corporation will join Dr. Durward K. Sobek and Michael Kennedy with keynote presentations at its annual PLM Road Map conference, to be held at The Inn at St. John's, Plymouth, Michigan on September 19 and 20.

In his presentation, Globalization Challenges: Supporting the Transformation to Global Engineering with Global Information Technology, Detlef Bielohlawek will discuss how GM transformed Product Development from a group of regional engineering centers into one global development organization. To facilitate this transformation, IT initiated a world-wide effort structured to enable global virtual engineering. Detlef Bielohlawek will describe the path taken ­ from the communications and technical challenges experienced to the benefits that ensued. Learn more about the tools, synergies, opportunities, risks, and personal impacts that were encountered on the way.

Dr. Gielda’s presentation, Driving Simulation-Based Design in the Home Appliance Industry, will show how simulation has become integral to the design process for the reduction of physical prototypes, the evaluation of design functional objectives, and the shaping of design decisions up front at Whirlpool Corporation. Dr. Gielda will share lessons learned in driving a major paradigm shift and will update us on progress achieved to-date following Whirlpool's recent implementation of MSC SimEnterprise™.

Now in its 14th year PLM Road Map™ 2007 is a strategic conference focused on the critical trade-offs that shape product development. PLM Road Map™ 2007 enables attendees to explore first hand the progress, opportunities, and roadblocks leading-edge end-users are confronting.

More information and updates on PLM Road Map™ 2007 may be found at http://www.cpd-associates.com/index.cfm?content=include_conference07.cfm.

About CPDA

Collaborative Product Development Associates (CPDA) is a provider of critical analyses for PLM decisions. CPDA offers the latest in-depth, objective information for assessing technology and business goals. Coordinated by a group of experienced analysts, its cohesive suite of collaborative research programs leverages the efforts of top software designers and leading-edge users. CPDA's differentiation is its specific, deep, and pragmatic approach to the market, and a hands-on understanding of the technology required to drive successful implementations. CPDA’s collaborative research programs include Design Creation and Validation, Design/Simulation Council, PLM-Integration/Product Definition, and Product Value Management.

Contact: Cheryl Peck Cheryl.peck@cpd-associates.com 800-573-4756