Eaton Ranks 34 on 2008 InformationWeek 500

CLEVELAND … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced that it ranked 34 on the 2008 InformationWeek 500 list and third among manufacturers. InformationWeek honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual listing.

“Our IT organization has worked diligently to transition itself from a utility provider to one focused on innovation and driving real value for our business,” said William W. Blausey, Jr., Eaton senior vice president – chief information officer. “We are happy to make the InformationWeek 500 list as a top innovator in Information Technology.”

Eaton’s industry-leading technologies and innovations have helped its customers, suppliers and employees around the globe. Eaton’s Information Technology (IT) innovations highlighted in the InformationWeek 500 application focused on developing automation solutions for suppliers and transforming the learning environment for its 81,000 employees.

Working with Eaton’s Supply Chain and Finance functions across the globe to find easier ways to process inventory and manage invoicing, Eaton’s IT team identified and delivered solutions to integrate their plants and financial systems generating significant savings for Eaton and providing automated access for suppliers.

IT also partnered with Human Resources to transform Eaton’s learning model by integrating off-the-shelf and custom-built applications to create a dynamic learning environment offering personalized curriculum, advising employees on ways to learn and initiating use of social networking tools to identify expertise and facilitate collaboration.

“Year after year, InformationWeek 500 companies harness technology to improve efficiency, boost productivity, drive revenue, and establish a competitive advantage,” said InformationWeek Editor-in-Chief Rob Preston. “We applaud this year’s winners, and the CIOs and other executives whose ingenuity and risk taking are at the center of business technology innovation.”

The InformationWeek 500 list is unique among corporate rankings because it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2007 sales of $13 billion. Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 81,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries.

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