Alcoa Inc. : Alcoa Among Top Technology Innovators Across America; Named to Information Week 500 List For Second Consecutive Year
09/12/2012| 11:10am US/Eastern
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Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today announced that it has once again been named
to InformationWeek
500, an annual listing of the nation's most innovative users of
business technology. It is the second year in a row Alcoa has
been included in the ranking, which spotlights the power of innovation
in information technology.
Alcoa was recognized for its Smart Manufacturing initiative, which
involves leveraging IT technology to drive profitability and
efficiencies in a manufacturing setting.
"A critical part of Alcoa's IT strategy is to draw upon our current set
of technologies, as well as focus on new opportunities to provide higher
business value to the corporation and to help the company drive further
profitability and efficiencies through innovative solutions," explains
Alcoa Chief Information Officer Nancy Wolk. "Smart manufacturing within
Alcoa includes efforts that range from large-scale business-wide
solutions to smaller-scale targeted projects."
Examples of Alcoa's smart manufacturing projects include a comprehensive
system that encompasses process control, shop floor manufacturing
information systems and support services that enables Alcoa's seven
widely dispersed alumina refineries to operate as an integrated global
system.
"The system has been responsible for significant benefits through
process optimization as well as reductions in emissions and raw
materials usage," Wolk says.
An example of a smaller-scale smart manufacturing project is Electronic
Daily Management Boards, which couples real-time information
distribution with easy-to-read production updates. At one Alcoa site,
the boards boosted process efficiency by 28 percent and contributed to
productivity savings.
"The InformationWeek 500 has recognized the most innovative users of
business technology for 24 years, and this year's innovations were
particularly impressive," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob
Preston. "What the editors looked for are unconventional approaches--new
technologies, new models, new ways of grabbing business opportunities
and solving complex business problems with IT."
The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as
it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather
than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary and fabricated
aluminum, as well as the world's largest miner of bauxite and refiner of
alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry,
Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace,
automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoaź wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa's operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for 10 consecutive years and approximately 75
percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
Alcoa
Investor Contact: Kelly Pasterick, 212-836-2674
Media
Contact: Libby Archell, 212-836-2719
© Business Wire 2012
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