Wherever it is, the new Tesla site promises to comprise a sprawling agglomeration of state-of-the-art manufacturing knowhow in a nascent industry with a robust nexus of R&D work that also could end up transforming other verticals. That’s a given when an entrepreneur with the track record of Elon Musk invests several billion dollars in a plant that could have a footprint of as much as 10 million square feet, equal to the size of 80 Home Depots.
Over the years, the United States has lost its lead in battery-manufacturing technology to China. The high-profile failures of a handful of federally funded “green” startups in that space – such as A123 Systems, which ended up being bought out by a Chinese company – has underscored that failure. At the same time, despite the investment of many billions of dollars in advancing battery propulsion of automobiles, even Tesla hasn’t improved the range of EVs by orders of magnitude.
The best chance for a quantum leap in such batteries might be a “gigafactory,” with its synergistic possibilities for advancement when coupled with R&D and supply-chain enhancements at the same site. At a recent Stanford Graduate Business School forum, the CEO of Taiwan’s Foxconn and the former CEO of Flextronics addressed the competitive synergies that can flourish when manufacturing, research and distribution capabilities are concurrent in one place – and how serendipitous “discoveries” often follow. That’s how the use of “Gorilla glass” for Apple’s iPhone evolved.
Outside of batteries per se, the most obvious possibility Musk hasn’t confirmed yet is that, in employing up to 6,500 workers, the “gigafactory” could also be the site of output of the next Tesla car, Model E. That vehicle is supposed to make the EV brand affordable to Everyman by halving the price of the current, hot-selling Model S that retails for about $70,000.
Manufacturing CEOs also are looking closely at the possibility that Musk might aim for a tie-up with Apple for the new plant which could, for example, take a revolutionary, clean-sheet approach to the question of automotive infotainment systems and “self-driving” automobiles. Apple just announced its CarPlay connectivity system for current, conventional autos at the Geneva International Motor Show, and Musk has announced that he’s met with the Apple brain trust.
There’s more: Musk said in part of his “gigafactory” announcement that he’s thinking about how its potential to double the world’s production capacity for lithium-ion batteries could ripple through the consumer-electronics and power-utility industries. The site will produce and sell storage batteries for utilities and other entities to capture solar, wind and hydro energy for peak periods, which could goose the fledgling distributed-generation industry in the United States and worldwide.
https://www.triplepundit.com/2014/03/teslas-gigafactory-produce-vehicle-batteries/
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2014/03/03/apple-could-be-a-big-winner-from-the.html
https://www.wired.com/autopia/2014/03/apple-carplay-competition/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhzwvO-pnDY
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
