Session ID:

VS2-01

Learning First Product Development
Developing/applying technical knowledge for fast, robust, early design convergence

The basic premise of lean anything is the removal of waste in the value stream of the process. In production, it is primarily the removal of waste in the material flow through the supply chain value stream. In product development, it is about the waste in knowledge. Typically, knowledge is lost in the heads of people walking out the door; it is lost in the heads or personal files of engineers; it is lost through myriads of other reasons.

Toyota has built a product development system that focuses on how to capture that knowledge early, how to apply it to ensure the feasibility of sets of alternatives, and to record and continually develop it for generations of new products. It does require a rigorous attention to technical detail and an understanding of the physics that impact product decision making. This presentation will explain how Teledyne Benthos and Teledyne TapTone have been able to apply those techniques within their product development processes. It takes commitment to change, it takes early focus on learning, it is a journey, but the rewards are beginning to show, and the potential can lead to dominating performance.

Teledyne Benthos is a leading provider of high technology products and integrated systems that are used for measurement, inspection, data collection and communication in remote and challenging marine environments.

Products include geophysical survey systems, side scan sonar systems, glass flotation spheres, acoustic releases, hydrophones, underwater modems, pingers and other oceanographic products for both deep and shallow water applications.

Teledyne TapTone provides inspection systems which enable packagers to test, analyze, pass or reject cans, jars, bottles, and other containers for various types of defects - all in a fraction of a second. TapTone systems are the most cost-effective, high accuracy inspection systems available anywhere in the world

Ron Marsiglio, President

Ron is President of Teledyne Benthos. Teledyne Technologies acquired the publicly traded (NASDAQ) Benthos, Inc. in January 2006. Ron was first appointed President, CEO and Director of Benthos, Inc. in June of 2001. He was hired to lead the resurgence of this $25 million 40 year old technology company with 140 employees. Success at Benthos was achieved by creating a lean enterprise culture that, helped increase margins from 28% to 44%. Pre-tax profit in 2005 was $2.3 million, versus a loss of $3.3 million in 2001.

Before joining Benthos, Ron spent over 20 years at Philips Electronics. He joined the company in 1975 in their Consumer Electronics Division. He began in product management and was promoted to VP of Marketing in 1981. In 1991, he was promoted to Senior VP and General Manager of the $1.1 billion television business that employed over 5,000 people.

In 1995, Ron was promoted to President and CEO of Philips Automotive Electronics; with $200 million in sales and 1,800 employees. In 1998, Philips sold its automotive business to VDO and Ron continued as President and CEO . He was appointed to the Board of VDO Control Systems in Germany with responsibility for the North American region and the global automotive sensor business. In 1999, he was appointed President and CEO of all North American VDO operations, with sales of $400 million and 2,700 employees. In 2001, Siemens purchased this business. Ron joined Benthos later that year.

Ron graduated from the University of Illinois with a BSEE and received a MBA, in finance, from Loyola University of Chicago.