Caterpillar Director Dr. Lou Balmer-Millar to Keynote at CIMdata’s Simulation & Analysis Workshop

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - March 17, 2015 - PRLog -- ANN ARBOR, Michigan, 17 March 2015—CIMdata, Inc., the leading global PLM strategic management consulting and research firm announces that Dr. Lou Balmer-Millar, Director of Research and Advanced Engineering for Caterpillar, Inc. will make a keynote presentation at CIMdata’s Simulation & Analysis Knowledge Council workshop which will take place at the Caterpillar Visitor Center in Peoria, Illinois on April 29 & 30.

Dr. Balmer-Millar will speak during the afternoon of April 29, after workshop attendees have had the opportunity to participate in a tour of the Caterpillar Visitor Center. In her keynote address, “Product Development: Keys for Success,” Dr. Balmer-Millar will discuss some of the keys to successfully developing products to meet the challenges of globalized markets, difficulty finding talent, and the rapid movement of technology, turning them in to opportunities for long-term success.

Dr. Balmer-Millar is responsible for the execution and governance of Caterpillar’s technology strategy, overseeing technology development in the areas of energy and transportation, machine and machine systems, automation and enterprise solutions, factory technology solutions, advanced materials, virtual product development, and advanced manufacturing. She joined Caterpillar in 2001, following seven years leading research efforts in the areas of materials and chemical engineering at the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

CIMdata’s annual North American Simulation & Analysis Knowledge Councilworkshop is a must-attend event for industrial organizations and PLM software and service providers involved with simulation for product development. It provides independent education and a collaborative networking environment where ideas, trends, experiences, and relationships critical to simulation and analysis germinate and take root.

The theme for this year’s workshop is Leveraging Simulation for Competitive Advantage. Presentations and interactive sessions will address the following critical areas: simulation governance, platforms for simulation and analysis, and simulation data management. Attendees should expect to gain a solid understanding of current best practices and of the work that CIMdata’s Simulation & Analysis Knowledge Council is undertaking.

Dr. Keith Meintjes, CIMdata’s Simulation & Analysis Practice Lead, will serve as the facilitator for this workshop. For more information visit http://www.cimdata.com/en/education/knowledge-council-workshops/sa-workshop-2015

About Dr. Lou Balmer-Millar

Dr. Lou Balmer-Millar is the Director of Research and Advanced Engineering for Caterpillar Inc. In her role as director, she is responsible for the execution and governance of Caterpillar’s technology strategy. Dr. Balmer-Millar oversees technology development in the areas of Energy and Transportation, Machine and Machine Systems, Automation and Enterprise Solutions, Factory Technology Solutions, Advanced Materials, Virtual Product Development, and Advanced Manufacturing.

In previous roles at Caterpillar, she led the introduction of diesel particulate filter products as part of the Aftertreatment & Cooling Product group and held the role of Product Manager for Caterpillar’s Fuel Systems division. Dr. Balmer-Millar currently serves as Caterpillar’s representative on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Engine Manufacturers Association and has served on the Board of the Energy Technology Institute. She joined Caterpillar in 2001, following seven years leading research efforts in the areas of materials and chemical engineering at the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

She earned a BS in Engineering from Penn State University in 1987 and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1993. Dr. Balmer-Millar has authored or co-authored over 40 technical publications. She is a member of the American Ceramic Society, the American Chemical Society, and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

About CIMdata

CIMdata, a leading independent worldwide firm, provides strategic management consulting to maximize an enterprise’s ability to design and deliver innovative products and services through the application of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions. Since its founding in 1983, CIMdata has delivered world-class knowledge, expertise, and best-practice methods on PLM solutions. These solutions incorporate both business processes and a wide-ranging set of PLM-enabling technologies.

CIMdata works with both industrial organizations and providers of technologies and services seeking competitive advantage in the global economy. In addition to consulting, CIMdata conducts research, provides PLM-focused subscription services, and produces several commercial publications. The company also provides industry education through PLM certificate programs, seminars, and conferences worldwide. CIMdata serves clients around the world from offices in North America, Europe, and Asia- Pacific. To learn more about CIMdata’s services, visit our website at www.CIMdata.com, follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CIMdataPLMNews, or contact CIMdata at: 3909 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA; Tel: +1 734.668.9922; Fax: +1 734.668.1957; or at Oogststraat 20, 6004 CV Weert, The Netherlands; Tel: +31 (0) 495.533.666.