CON-WAY Consulting Unit Develops Accelerated Cost Reduction Program; Provides Mid-Market Firms Ability To Cut Costs Quickly in Down Market

    ANN ARBOR, Mich.--April 5, 2001--Con-Way Business Solutions (CBS), the supply chain management and Internet technology consulting unit of Con-Way Transportation Services (CON-WAY), announced today that it has developed an Accelerated Cost Reduction (ACR) program. ACR is designed to help mid-market manufacturers and distributors ($5 million to $250 million annual revenues) significantly reduce costs.
    "ACR provides a defined set of measurements and procedures that will assess a client's current business processes, and then design and implement a cost reduction plan. The program is specially designed to meet the needs of mid-market companies. The entire process can be accomplished over a ten-week period and is priced to achieve a payback on the consulting investment in less than twelve months," said Luis R. Solano, general manager of CBS.
    According to Solano, ACR is designed to bring improvement in the major accounting categories of both cost of goods sold (COGS) and selling, general and administrative (SGA). This is achieved by utilizing a combination of the latest business analytical tools to identify, quantify and achieve true cost reduction. These tools include business process improvement, activity-based costing, supply chain optimization and lean manufacturing techniques. Specific areas targeted include labor costs, manufacturing cycle times and inventory velocity.
    "We developed our ACR program in response to our clients needing to bring operating expenses in line with diminished revenue projections in today's declining market environment," said Solano. "Mid-market clients often do not have the internal resources to quickly and effectively identify cost reduction opportunities that can be implemented without impacting their ability to meet their strategic objectives. We frequently find that productivity and high levels of customer service can be maintained as costs are cut. The key to achieving both at the same time, however, is a careful and defined review of current business processes."
    CBS focuses on two practice areas: Supply Chain Management, and Internet and Technology. The Supply Chain Management practice is designed to improve efficiencies and profitability in two areas of concentration - operations and business systems and logistics. The Internet and Technology practice area is designed to help businesses develop, implement and manage an Internet strategy that reduces costs and improves efficiencies, whether the focus is e-commerce or revamping a company's legacy technology.
    Con-Way Business Solutions is headquartered at 7101 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago, IL 60629. The company's telephone is (877) 722-2490. The company's website is www.con-waybsolutions.com.
    CBS is an operating unit of Con-Way Transportation Services, Inc., a $2.1 billion transportation and services company that provides time-definite and day-definite freight delivery services, logistics, and e-commerce consulting services for commercial and industrial businesses. Within the CON-WAY family are regional less-than-truckload carriers Con-Way Central Express, Con-Way Southern Express, Con-Way Western Express and Con-Way Canada Express; Con-Way NOW, an expedited carrier specializing in emergency shipment service; Con-Way Integrated Services, a contract supply chain execution service provider; Con-Way Business Solutions, a consulting service providing supply chain management and Internet solutions; and Con-Way AIR, an air freight forwarder with service throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

    CON-WAY is a subsidiary of Palo Alto, California-based CNF , a $6 billion management company of global supply chain services with businesses in regional trucking, air freight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, global logistics management and trailer manufacturing.
    Further information about CON-WAY and additional press releases are available via the Internet at... www.con-way.com.