Engineering a Competitive Edge: Using Technology to Drive World-class Performance

摘要

Good morning and thank you for the kind introduction. I am delighted that this forum exists to bring together so many professionals in material sciences and technology. The resulting exchange of information can only benefit the future of manufacturing. I was honored - and a bit shocked - to be invited to deliver the keynote this morning for the Materials Science & Technology Conference. I do have an engineering education, but it has been a long time since I have served in that role. However, I do believe that the discipline of my engineering experience was excellent preparation for the role of corporate executive. And so it is from that perspective that I will speak to you this morning. In my brief time with you, I would like to impress upon you the importance of technology to our economy, our security and our quality of life. I'll share with you how Kennametal has, through process, discipline and a talented work force, tripled our new-product sales as a percentage of overall revenue. And finally, I hope to share with you the urgency of an impending crisis that threatens America's long-held and coveted position as a world leader in technology and innovation.