APC 2003 Annual Report Download - page 13

International lineup
Increasingly, we work to develop and patent products
that can be sold worldwide. Merlin Gerin low voltage
circuit breakers and Telemecanique contactors, for
example, are sold in virtually all our main markets
and, like other global products, enjoy leadership
positions based on reliability and technological
excellence. In addition, we try to standardize base
components as much as possible. Product design
and esthetics are then adapted to suit local require-
ments. This internationalization strategy allows us to
reach a maximum number of markets while optimiz-
ing production costs.
4. Strategy
Electrical Distribution and Automation & Control will
play a growing role in the 21st century. Global con-
sumption of electricity is set to double in the next
20 years. What’s more, a new era has dawned in
which electricity, automation and communication
technologies are converging. Smart buildings, with
electrical devices that can be remotely programmed
and monitored and that can communicate with each
other and users via the Internet, are gradually
becoming commonplace. The same is true for trans-
parent factories and infrastructure, in which electrical
equipment can communicate and be operated
remotely.
In response to the growing need for high quality
power, we have made it our mission to supply cus-
tomers in our various markets with reliable, high qual-
ity systems to help them enhance competitiveness,
safety and productivity in their core businesses.
We also want to offer them comprehensive, person-
alized solutions and services to met their needs in
more complex areas of power and control. Our ambi-
tion is to expand the use of our products and carve
out a position as the unrivaled global leader in this
growing market.
To make this vision reality, we have deployed our
strategy in several key directions:
Expand our product lineup
Demand is high for new products and services in our
main markets. As a result, we are working to expand
our product lineup to better serve the Residential,
Building, Industry, and Energy & Infrastructure mar-
kets. We have also identified an entire range of new
products and services to extend our current offer.
We are convinced that we can considerably increase
our sales and market share by developing products
internally, making strategic acquisitions and adding
services to our products.
Develop Transparent Ready
™
products,
equipment and services
Leveraging innovative products to widen our market
share means developing the Transparent Ready™
concept, which harnesses the power of the Internet
for Electrical Distribution and Automation & Control.
In the Building market, Transparent Building™appli-
cations are revolutionizing building management by
making it possible to monitor buildings and all the
functionalities of existing systems via a local area net-
work (LAN). Solutions have been designed to cover
all functions, from electricity, lighting and shade man-
agement, access control and intruder alert, to air con-
ditioning, elevators, and fire detection and alarms.
In the Industry and Infrastructure markets, Transpar-
ent Factory™solutions use automation systems to
enhance the processing and communication capabil-
ities of industrial system components. Preventive
maintenance can be carried out remotely, making for
less downtime and greater efficiency and flexibility. In
addition, virtually real-time harvesting of data on
energy consumption in one or several sites allows
users to manage their energy costs even more effec-
tively.
Enhance our approach
with Global Strategic Accounts
Our focus on Global Strategic Accounts is a key part
of our strategy. Through our dedicated Schneider
Global Business Development (SGBD) unit, we sup-
ply our main international customers with technolog-
ical, logistic and contracting solutions that can be
deployed around the world. SGBD’s mission is to
help make us the benchmark for Electrical Distribu-
tion and Automation & Control with a selected group
of international customers.
We currently leverage our skills in a wide range of
sectors, from microelectronics and pharmaceuticals
to food & beverage and automobiles, to continuously
enhance the productivity of more than 100 Global
Strategic Accounts.
SGBD also serves as a springboard for getting the
most out of the potential offered by the power and
control market around the world.
Forge partnerships and alliances
We have entered into partnerships and alliances with
companies outside our industry to enhance our inno-
vation capabilities, speed development of new prod-
ucts and penetrate new markets.
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