Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : TAVA Technologies (TAVA-NASDAQ) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Hanzl who wrote (6791)	12/3/1997 1:13:00 PM
From: Karl Drobnic	Respond to of 31646

While some factories will be able to pitch the old and install new, TPRO has consistently said it is targeting factories with 100 or more employees. I recall the factory where my father went to work in 1948 - it had 5,000 employees. Today, that same factory employees about 500. It is more productive, but it has seen wave after wave of automation. I think these legacy factories are TPRO's filet mignon. These places have unions fighting to keep them open, and also local political commitments. Running the TPRO database, and doing an extensive analysis might give the company the ammunition it needs to close the old factories down - but not until they've paid Topro for the assessment. Or minimum upgrades might keep a few production lines going, but allow further downsizing. Politics...

To: John Hanzl who wrote (6791)	12/3/1997 1:16:00 PM
From: Stuart Schreiber	Respond to of 31646

John, Couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes we lose focus on the "big picture." Think about how far this company has come in the last year; the last six months. Then think about the next six months or year. I am constantly amazed at the wealth of knowledge on this thread. It remains outstanding. However, sometimes we all have a tendency to pick, and pick, and pick some more. The PP is a done deal. It's history. I believe management considered all the options and chose the best choice. The conflicting opinions regarding the PP on this board appear to be more a result of different accounting and business philosophy than the specific Topro solution. The cash crunch is over. Any more news on CD rollout and its acceptance? Looking forward to shareholder meeting and meeting many of you. Stu

To: John Hanzl who wrote (6791)	12/3/1997 1:21:00 PM
From: Jim Wilke	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 31646

John, you are narrowly focused to say, "... if the problem is so convoluted that the whole system needs to be scrapped, then so be it. Guess who knows the most about the miriad of systems that comprise the clients plant(s)? I'll tell you - Topro! And who do you bet gets the contract, or at least liscences the knowledge-base to another SI? You guessed it - Topro. While it is true that Topro's core business is factory floor integration, and while it is also true that Topro can do the work (for big $$$/hr), it is also true that other sytems integrators exist who are likely to be much cheaper than Topro's premium price. Once the problems are known, there is no additional licensing that Topro will cash in on if a third party does the work. I suspect a whole lot of smaller plants will find a third party to do the remediation once the problems are known. - Jim