Jeff is the VP for Windchill Digital Thread. His team leads Navigate, Visualization, Windchill UI and Digital Product Traceability. Prior to joining PTC, Jeff spent 16 years implementing and using PLM, CAD and CAE at Industrial, High Tech & Consumer Products companies including leading the first Windchill PDMLink implementation in 2002. He was active in the PTC/USER community serving as Chair for the Windchill Solutions committee and on the Board of Directors for PTC/USER helping to bring voice of customer input together and create a community where people could network for tools and processes. Jeff attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Lehigh University.
Meet Eric Horn: Chair of the PTC Technical Committee on Smart Manufacturing
Ever wondered what goes on inside the PTC Technical Committee for Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0? We sat down with committee Chair, Eric Horn, Practice Lead for PLM and Digital Transformation at Element Consulting to find out. Spoiler alert: it’s not all acronyms and ERP systems. There’s beer brewing and a lot of friendly banter too.
Q: Eric, tell us a bit about yourself. What’s your role and how did you get here?
A: I’m the PLM and Digital Transformation Practice Lead at Element Consulting, and I’ve been in the technology space pretty much my entire career. I started out as a mechanical engineer, but quickly found myself straddling engineering, manufacturing and IT. Over time, I became the “bridge” between business process and technology, and that’s what eventually led me to being chair of the Technical Committee, which we started back in 2018.
Q: What’s something people might not know about you?
A: I have an identical twin! We once showed up at the same conference and people kept greeting him as “Eric.” He had to keep saying, “I’m not Eric!” It was hilarious. Oh, and I also run a home brewery in my garage - unofficially called Wolf Brewery (a nickname from my Solar Turbines days that stuck when someone thought my last name was Wolf). I brew everything except IPAs. My former colleagues still wolf howl at me when I see them.
Q: What’s the vibe of your committee meetings?
A: Very informal with lots of collaboration around business needs and process flows. We share updates, then open the floor for questions and dialogue. Sometimes we even run unmoderated Q&A sessions where members just help each other out. It’s bidirectional, practical, friendly and fun.
Q: What challenges are you helping clients with right now?
A: The hardest part isn’t the technology; it’s integrating business processes and overcoming resistance to change. People often say, “We’ve always done it this way.” Our job is to show them how new tools like Windchill can streamline processes without doubling up systems. It’s a common theme that comes up some of our technical committee conversations and the community share their experiences and insights.
Q: What industry trends are you seeing?
A: Right now, there’s a big wave of ERP upgrades. Companies are being forced off of old systems, which is pushing them to rethink their business processes. That’s where smart manufacturing and digital thread conversations really take off.
Q How many members are in the technical committee and how often do you meet?
A. We have a couple of hundred members. Some people are very active, while others prefer to stay quiet and listen or learn from other people’s questions. We meet online twice a month and face-to-face once a year. Members can be as involved or uninvolved as they like.
Q: Why should someone join the Technical Committee?
A: Three big reasons:
- Be part of the solution - You’ll help shape new features and influence PTC’s product direction.
- Direct access to product managers - It’s rare to get face time with them, but committee members do.
- Community support - Instead of struggling alone with any issues you might have, you’ll be part of a network of experts who’ve “been there, done that.”
Q. OK, give us the final pitch on why people should join?
A. If you wait until new technology is released to learn about it, you’re already three to five years behind. Joining the Technical Committee means:
- You’ll stay ahead of Industry 4.0 trends.
- You’ll influence the tools you use every day.
- You’ll connect with a friendly, global community.
Your shortcut to the future of manufacturing
If you want to be future-ready, gain insider access and learn from peers who’ve already solved the challenges you’re facing, then the Smart Manufacturing / Industry 4.0 Technical Committee is the place to be.
There are more than 20 existing technical committees, covering a wide range of topics, from CAM and MBD to surfacing and system administration.
Click here to find out how to join us.
Behind the Scenes of Industry 4.0 (and a Garage Brewery)
Gain insider access and influence smart manufacturing solutions.
Join a Technical Committee