This year’s theme of Asset Excellence was based on the VigilantPlant concepts. Customers took in a technology fair that fully embraced virtually every Yokogawa solution on the market and the integrated products of 12 preferred business partners. This approach clearly demonstrated Yokogawa's commitment to being a total solution provider.

The conference schedule featured events as varied as discussions by business leaders of world trends, presentations by Yokogawa executives on the Yokogawa IA direction, and workshops and breakout sessions on themes of asset management, IT security, plant safety, abnormal plant situations, and life cycle management that address current customer needs.

In essence a user conference is a platform that follows the principle of supply and demand. So, part of the program was reserved for a users only session, and from this came a list of requirements that Yokogawa will address in the months to come. One of the items to be discussed will be the optimal platform for fostering communication between customers and Yokogawa. The steering committee will meet on a regular basis to monitor progress.

An event like a user conference is a unique opportunity to expose participants to the "Yokogawa experience." Such events always revolve around the three key factors of having great speakers, learning new things, and talking with peers.

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, was a beautiful setting for this event. Sometimes called “The City of 1000 Spires,” its history goes as far back as the 1st century. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon and evening events, which included a city walk around, visits to the beer trail and the old Jewish quarter, and a Mozart tour with a mini concert. The evenings were very informal and pleasant, a perfect occasion for people to meet, network, and share experiences.