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            Auburn University - University Relations
                         (334) 844-9999
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 8/4/95                                     Bob Lowry

AU MAJOR PLAYER IN MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
     AUBURN -- Auburn University, the University of Alabama and the 
state Department of Economic and Community Affairs are sponsoring
a  three-day conference, starting Monday in Birmingham, on
manufacturing  technology.
     The conference -- "The Vision 20/20: Manufacturing and
Alabama"  -- will begin at 11:45 a.m. at the Tutwiler Hotel with
remarks by Dick  Compton, Gov. Fob James' executive assistant for
economic development.
     Pat Zenor, a management scientist at the Auburn Technical 
Assistance Center who is coordinating the conference, says the
meeting is  aimed at developing a statewide manufacturing
technology assistance plan  for small and medium size companies.
     "We are excited that more than 64 participants representing 
manufacturing companies, state and federal agencies, professional 
associations, economic developers, academia and legislators will
attend  this conference," she says. "Certainly, this conference
will lead to the  better utilization of Alabama's resources to
assist our manufacturing  industry and greater economic development
for the small and medium-sized companies.
     Key speakers include Phil Austin, chancellor of the UA System, 
who will address the conference at 8:15 p.m. on Monday, and David
Wilson,  associate provost and vice president for University
Outreach at AU, who  will speak on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m.
     Other conference speakers will include David Barley of ADECA, 
Greg Bennett of the Beville Center in Gadsden and David Swanson of
the  National Institute of Standards and Technology. Sandra Janoff
of  SearchNet, a non-profit consulting firm in Philadelphia, will
lead the  interactive conference.
     Henry Burdg, director of the Auburn Technical Assistance
Center  and the Auburn Industrial Extension Service, says the
conference will  "provide the groundwork for better use of
management and technology  resources which will enable Alabama to
be competitive in today's global  market."
     "Many small manufacturing companies play an important role in
the  competitiveness of American industry," he said. "They comprise
most of  the manufacturing establishments and provide the vast
majority of  manufacturing employment. But many of these small
firms are not reaching  their potential."
     The conference is being funded by a grant from
Washington-based  NIST, which gave similar grants to 24 other
states. # # # aug95:AU-conference
     CONTACT: ATAC, 334/844-4659.