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March 2006
Spring Sponsors Meeting
At MDM's Spring Sponsors Meeting, sponsors will convene to review the results of the campaign's current evaluation efforts and to integrate those results into the 2006 scope of work.

 
  CEE Program Meeting Showcases Motor Management
A session at CEE's December Program Meeting focused on motor management – what it is, what the benefits are and how it can be used to build stronger relationships with customers.
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  MDM Media Placements
MDM media placements can be used as marketing tools.
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Spring Sponsors Meeting

At MDM's Spring Sponsors Meeting, to be held April 6 in Rosemont, Ill., sponsors will convene to explore (and integrate) new information.

Attention will be focused on what we've learned through our recent evaluation efforts and what implications this work might suggest for the campaign's priorities and direction. We'll also be exchanging sponsors' perspectives about current market trends and conditions as well as developing a process for exploring common interests beyond Phase 2.

The evaluation discussion will center on our two current projects. First, MDM sponsors have contracted with Plant Engineering magazine to conduct a survey of its readers (similar to a survey that originally took place in 2003). The 2003 survey – given to senior-level managers, corporate engineering staff and facility managers – provided interesting insights into 1) general awareness and understanding of motor energy costs and basic motor management concepts, 2) motor management practices and 3) awareness and understanding of the advantages of NEMA Premium motors.

It is hoped that the 2006 survey, similar in design and content to the 2003 version, will enable us to draw comparisons with earlier results. Results and implications will be discussed at the April 6 meeting.

MDM campaign staff is also in the process of interviewing sponsors to better understand individual motivations, interests, priorities, level of satisfaction and involvement. Results and implications will be discussed at the April 6 meeting with the goal of further focusing the 2006 scope of work, making sure Phase 2 finishes up as strongly as possible. The responses received thus far are greatly appreciated.

Sharing information and engaging in direct dialogue among manufacturers, program administrators, service facilities and others is another goal of the meeting. Insights into industry trends and other sponsor specific information will be presented by the various stakeholder groups, followed by open discussion.

For more information, please contact Ilene Mason.

 

CEE Meeting Showcases Motor Management

Tens, hundreds, sometimes thousands of motors are humming away in most C&I facilities. These motors might be tucked into the corner, up on the roof, or on the production line. And as long as their motors keep running smoothly, most facility managers remain blissfully unaware that this equipment consumes large amounts of energy and is costing thousands of dollars a year to operate.

Empowering motor vendors with the knowledge and resources they need to help their customers take control of the motors operating in their facilities is what motor management is all about. At CEE's December Program Meeting in San Francisco, these concepts were presented to local motor vendors, motor manufacturers' representatives and other trade allies in a session titled, Help Your Customers Manage Their Bottom Line through Motor Management.

At the session, participants learned about motor management – what it is, what the benefits are and how it can be used to build stronger relationships with customers. They learned how to present these concepts to their customers by leveraging the third-party credibility of the MDM campaign.

Several MDM-developed tools were demonstrated, including the Motor Planning Kit, 1-2-3 Approach to Motor Management, MotorSlide Calculator and Simple Energy Savings Chart. Participants also had an opportunity to exchange ideas as well as ask questions about the tools and concepts presented.

"I extracted a lot of information from this presentation," said John Piekarczyk of the Vincent Electric Motor Company. "The session gave me ideas about how we can move past simply being a sales and repair facility to being one that also provides more comprehensive services to fit the motor needs of our customer."

Another significant benefit for those attending was the opportunity to speak with representatives from Pacific Gas & Electric, the local utility, about PG&E's motor incentive programs. Interested parties were able to learn about getting a similar program started or increasing participation.

Based on the positive feedback received from participants, we are looking into scheduling additional sessions in Boston and Dallas to share MDM's message, tools and materials with local stakeholders in those regions.

For more information about this session or if you would like help arranging a similar session in your area, please contact Ilene Mason.

 
 

MDM Media Placements

One of the main objectives of the MDM campaign is to create greater awareness of the benefits of motor management through media placements. Over the past few years, MDM has received attention in trade journals, newspapers, wire service stories and Web placements.

To date, there have been several hundred placements – including stories in Electrical Apparatus, Industry Week, Control Engineering, Maintenance Solutions and the Associated Press – resulting in more than 12 million impressions.

Media placements provide multiple benefits. They are unbiased, third-party verifications of the message we're all trying to promote. Sustained messaging by credible media outlets changes attitudes and educates stakeholders.

Reprints of placements can also be used as marketing tools. Salespeople and program administrators can include media clips as part of their presentations to potential clients. For information about obtaining bulk reprints, contact MDM Communications Associate Wendy McTyre.

A list of media placements (and corresponding Web links) is available on the MDM Sponsors Page.

Among the recent placements, the following should be of particular interest to MDM sponsors:

  • Plant Engineering (February 2006)
    A Proven Strategy to Control Rising Energy Costs
    The story presents the case for implementing a motor management plan to help manage energy costs. It references some current energy trends as well as case studies with examples of how motor management and premium-efficiency motors have helped companies reduce energy and costs. The building blocks of motor management and life-cycle costs of motors are also discussed.

  • Control Design (February 2006)
    Advances in AC Drive Technology
    This piece presents information about AC drives and motors becoming an alternative to DC and hydraulic-powered control solutions. It features contributions from MDM sponsors including ABB, Baldor and Emerson. MDM is listed as a contributing source for this story, and a link to the MDM Web site was provided.

  • World Cement (December 2005)
    Motor Management: A case study of the implementation of motor management for the RMC Pacific Materials Cement Division
    The story explains the implementation process and results of RMC's energy-management strategy. It also points out MDM sponsors' collaboration with plant facilities to implement NEMA Premium motors and other motor management strategies.

Case studies are also useful tools for explaining the MDM message. There 21 case studies available on the MDM Web site, including a new posting from MidAmerican Energy (Variable Frequency Drive Produces Savings for Manufacturing Plant), which highlights a rubber manufacturer's installation of a VFD on a 1500 hp motor.

To access these studies, use the "Case Studies" tab on the MDM home page or click here.