Under the Arch

GANNON SBDC, BEN FRANKLIN ANNOUNCE $25K CONTEST WINNER

Intelligent Manufacturing Solutions of Millcreek Township has been selected as the winner of the Big Idea $25,000 Business Plan Contest, the Gannon University Small Business Development Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners announced.

The announcement was made during a press conference in Gannon University’s Waldron Campus Center. State Senator Jane M. Earll was on hand to present a check to company officials.

Intelligent Manufacturing Solutions, led by its president, Thomas R. Pherson, has been developing a product called Intelligent Assembly. The product integrates both hardware and software and is designed to serve as a complete data collection, management, and reporting system for manufacturing operations. One of its benefits is the need for only minimal customization during product installation and deployment.

Intelligent Assembly, a touchscreen computer, collects data from the factory “floor” and feeds that data back to management via a company network or the internet. The result is that management can more effectively track and monitor productivity and efficiency.

Intelligent Manufacturing Solutions, located in the EBCO Industrial Park, recently installed the product at an automotive parts manufacturer in Mexico. The manufacturer, Parker Hannifin, produces aluminum air conditioning tube assemblies for Honda Motor Co. and was looking for a way to better meet Honda’s quality standards. Specifically, Parker Hannifin needed to ensure that it was able to comply with new mandates issued by Honda for parts traceability.

In recent years, Honda and other automakers have begun to place more emphasis on the ability to easily and accurately trace all parts used during the vehicle manufacturing process. The automakers are becoming more cognizant of the fact that they can improve overall product quality if they are able to trace parts from their suppliers.

With the development of the Intelligent Assembly product line complete, Intelligent Manufacturing Solutions now expects to focus heavily on marketing and educating potential customers on the benefits of the product, including the cost savings realized through increased efficiency and improvements in overall quality control.

About the contest

The Gannon University Small Business Development Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners annually sponsor the Business Plan Contest, designed to give new companies and entrepreneurs an opportunity to acquire valuable financing.

Applicants to the contest were required to submit an application and three-page business plan. The submissions were judged on their basis of innovation as well as the applying company’s potential for both commercial success and to create jobs in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Those companies selected as finalists from the initial applicant pool were required to submit a more detailed 10-page business plan and to formally present it to a panel of judges.

Applicants had to meet several requirements to be eligible, including that the company did not formally exist prior to March 27, 2004. In addition, the business owner and the company had to reside, or plan to reside, in Erie, Crawford, Mercer, or Warren counties. The company also had to be focused on manufacturing and/or technology and had to have an interest in developing new products or processes. The company also could not have a proposal in process with Ben Franklin Technology Partners through Sept. 27.

OUR EVENTS

Monday, January 10 – Classes resume: First day of spring semester classes.
Friday, January 14 – Faculty and Staff Community meeting: 3 p.m. in the Yehl Room.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Tony Fulgenzio. Michael O'Neill. Beth Shick. Jennifer Mailey. Susan Kerner. Sandy Driscoll. Celia Feldman. Rosanne Tupek. Rev. Casimir Wozniak. Thomas Lieb. James Tracy. Doug Zimmerman. Cholhok Abol. Yvonne Wright. Carol Peterson. Perry Hilburn. Stephen Haeseler. Don Holl. Joseph Dimperio. Tracy Harrington. Bethany Rowe. Janet Armbruster. Emmett Lombard. Patrick Barlow. Sally LeVan. Harvey Long. Blanche Lozar. Douglas Hazlett. Joe Luckey. Nancy Goodman. Edward Hawley. Lee Morest. Chol Dhel. Teraza Koul-Arop. Laura Tracy. Jack Marcus. Kara Morgan. Lesley Hite. Melinda Baginski. Mary Carol Gensheimer. Jami Klingensmith. Greg Duffin.

THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE

Monday, December 20 – Downtown Improvement District commercial enhancement committee meeting; Gannon women’s basketball – Avalon Classic (Dec. 20-21).

HEARD ON CAMPUS

Under the Arch will not be published Monday, Dec. 27 with the university being closed for the Christmas holiday. The next Under the Arch will be Monday, Jan. 3.
Offer your congratulations to Shawn Clerkin, director of theatre and assistant professor, theatre, communication, and fine arts. Shawn was ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America on Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie. He extends his thanks to the Gannon Community for its support and prayers.
Dissertation defense: Bruce Kobal, a doctoral degree candidate in counseling psychology, will defend his dissertation at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, in Palumbo room 3225. His dissertation is titled, An Investigation of The Lived Experience of the Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania. The Gannon Community is welcome to attend.
The office of New Student Services asks faculty and staff to encourage students to apply for positions as summer 2005 orientation advisors. Applications are available in the New Student Services office and are due by Jan. 28. For more information call ext. 7596.
On Jan. 13, Kimberly Hajec, enrollment advisor, will visit Lancaster High School in Lancaster, N.Y., to represent Gannon in a College Planning Panel. Hajec will give five presentations in which she will outline Gannon and the admissions process and answer students’ questions.