Dow
Corning Announces Business Transformation Focused on Efficiencies,
Innovation and Sustainability for Customers
June 9, 2009
Dow Corning today announced that it is creating "the world's
largest online marketplace for silicone materials." As part
of this, Brian Chermside, vice president and chief marketing officer,
explained that the company is doubling the number of standard products
to 2,100; all standard silicone products manufactured by Dow Corning
will now be available under the XIAMETER brand, Dow Corning's web-enabled
business for selling standard silicone products. Other features
include a new order entry platform with enhanced self-service functionality;
volume quantity options; and the option to buy from distributors.
The expanded online marketplace is part of the company's new business
transformation that Chermside said is focused on efficiency, innovation
and sustainability for its customers. For example, he said the new
web business is designed to create efficiencies for its customers.
As part of the company's emphasis on innovation, Chermside said
they are also focusing on delivering specialty products, specialty
technologies and services for customers who want and need customization.
"We take a broad view of innovation at Dow Corning and believe
it isn't just about developing new products
it's about thinking
differently about business challenges and opportunities," said
Chermside. "What distinguishes an innovative company is its
ability to look at the future and to anticipate needs."
In doing that, Chermside explained that they have conducted a detailed
assessment of trends and see "developing green power and energy-efficient
technologies as becoming the defining measure of sustainability
and security for the next 40-50 years."
They are looking at this growth in three time frames: short-term
through commercialization; mid-term through their innovation acceleration
model; and long-term through "our business incubator, which
studies emerging mega-trends and discontinuities in the markets
we serve."
Sustainability is the company's third area of emphasis. Chermside
said they anticipate more than 50 percent of its innovation portfolio
will be on projects linked to sustainability and that a significant
area of focus will be solar power.
"[The solar industry] represents a $19 billion market
Dow Corning is in the midst of a $5 billion-plus investment in the
solar industry," says Chermside. In addition, Dow Corning announced
the opening of a second Solar Solutions Applications Centers; in
addition to one in Michigan, the company has also opened a facility
in Korea.
As Chermside closed his discussion he added, "We are transforming
our company to help our customers be innovative, efficient and sustainable.
Now more than ever we believe companies want a business partner
that helps them navigate through these difficult times as they ready
for the upturn."
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