Dow Corning Executive Promotes the Power of Innovation at Fortune China CEO Forum

2012-06-08   来源：润滑油情报网 网友评论 0 条

Beijing, China – Today, at the 2011 Fortune China CEO Summit in Beijing, Mr. Jeremy Burks, Greater China President of Dow Corning Corporation, has shared his views and insights on innovation. According to Burks, China’s economy must transform itself into a high value-added model, and companies must find new ways to innovate to compete in the market. With a total investment of more than 1.5 billion US dollars in China, Dow Corning, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology, and innovation, has brought the world’s most advanced silicone-based products, services and production technology to its China businesses.

“The pace of industrial transformation provides huge opportunities for companies focused on innovation,” Burks said at the Summit. As a panel speaker for “Industrial Upgrade and Transformation,” Burks also shared his insights on the possible future growth engines and competitive tools. The panel included Mr. Jia Kang, President of the Research Institute for Fiscal Science, Ministry of Finance.

Burks used his own company’s recent innovations in silicon-based technology and solutions to make his point.

“Dow Corning has centered its strategy around efforts to increase its presence in markets tied to megatrends, such as the drive for efficiency, increased focus on alternative energy, clean water, and the rapid urbanization,” Burks said. “The industrial transformation has provided ample growth opportunities for Dow Corning, as silicones or silicon play an important role in almost every new technology.” Examples include photovoltaic solar panels, solid-state LED (light emitting diode) lighting, and construction sealants that allow more expansive use of glass in green buildings that allow in more natural light.

“New products are an important aspect of innovation, but not the only one,” Burks said. “Successful companies must become experts in adapting to changing conditions – being resilient, always looking ahead, and changing not only their products but also their businesses to best serve their customers.”

In Dow Corning’s case, a key solution was to adopt a two-brand strategy. The Dow Corning® brand focuses on full service and solutions offerings for customers who want innovation, customization and solutions beyond products. Its no-frills XIAMETER® business model and brand was introduced in 2002 with 400 silicone products and has now expanded to a portfolio with thousands of standard products through a web-enabled order platform. Customers purchasing via www.xiameter.com follow easy-to-order process and straight-forward business rules that include minimum- and multiple-order quantities, lead times, and standardized services, which enables increased efficiency and results in the brand’s ability to offer competitive, market-based prices. Today, it is the world's largest web-enabled portal for high-quality, standard silicon-based materials.

To further serve the needs of its growing customer base in China and throughout Asia, Dow Corning last year officially opened its US$50 million China Business and Technology Centre in Shanghai, China. The Center integrates a cutting-edge research and development facility with Dow Corning’s Greater China Headquarter office to enhance the company’s innovation capability and better position the company for further growth in China. In addition, the company set up China’s largest and most advanced silicone manufacturing site in Zhangjiagang, with a joint investment of 1.8 billion USD. The Zhangjiagang site will ensure high quality, reliable and cost effective supply of basic siloxanes that Dow Corning’s Shanghai Songjiang production site can convert to finished products. Meanwhile, the Songjiang site expands its ability to manufacture newly-developed finished products, new downstream applications and products that are developed at China Business and Technology Center. The three key sites complement each other to better position Dow Corning in China and Asia.

Organized by Fortune China and Pan-Pacific Management Institute (PPMI) as well as supported by the State Asset Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), over 300 business elites, including executives from a number of Fortune Global 500 Companies, and government representatives gathered together at the Fortune China CEO Summit to discuss this year’s summit theme - “China’s New Role in the World Economy”.