IDS Scheer, Inc. and Softlab Team Up To Provide Business Process Excellence Solutions to the Automotive and Manufacturing Industries

    BERWYN, Pa.--July 8, 2002--IDS Scheer, Inc. and Softlab Inc. - a BMW Group Company - today announced a strategic alliance to provide the automotive and manufacturing industries with complete solutions for business process excellence.
    IDS Scheer is the leading provider of business process excellence products and services. Through the partnership, Softlab will offer IDS Scheer's award-winning tool for business process modeling, the ARIS Toolset(TM), in conjunction with its leading information technology consulting and systems integration services.
    Softlab has extensive vertical industry expertise, offering a unique understanding of the sophisticated supply chains and business processes typical of the automotive and discrete manufacturing industries. By combining this knowledge with IDS Scheer's proven tools and methods, the companies can provide an integrated approach to help OEMs and suppliers in these industries clearly define their business strategies, and adjust their business processes accordingly. Application areas include Business Process Definition, Recording and Analysis, and Optimization and Conversion of Company Processes.
    "Softlab is committed to enhancing business processes by providing effective, customized technology solutions," commented Richard Fowler, Softlab President and Chief Executive Officer. "By deploying the ARIS Toolset within the context of our customers' unique business environments, we can deliver a complete, targeted solution to help them efficiently manage their supply chains, and achieve operational excellence."
    Through the partnership, automotive and manufacturing customers will be able to use the ARIS Toolset to design, document, and execute their business processes to support long-term goals. As a result, they can optimize business operations, streamline performance across all areas and make smarter business decisions to effectively realize their strategic vision.
    "ARIS offers a powerful tool to help companies design, analyze, optimize, and manage their business processes, and drive supply chain management and other e-business initiatives," added Mathias Kirchmer, President and CEO of IDS Scheer, Inc. "We are pleased to partner with Softlab to strengthen the reach of the ARIS Toolset to customers in the automotive and manufacturing industries in North America."

    About IDS Scheer, Inc.

    IDS Scheer, Inc. is the global leader in providing consulting and software solutions to organizations to enable business process excellence. With more than 1,500 employees worldwide, IDS Scheer combines leading edge technology with a range of vertical market expertise to help organizations streamline enterprise resource planning, supply-chain management, customer relationship management, and e-business initiatives. The company's ARIS product suite is the market leader in business process management, including the award-winning ARIS Toolset and ARIS Process Performance Manager (PPM) which are used by more than 3,000 organizations worldwide, and consistently recognized by the industry's leading analyst groups. For more information, visit http://www.ids-scheer.com.

    About Softlab, Inc.

    With over 30 years of experience, Softlab, Inc. - a BMW Group Company - is focused on enhancing business processes through effective, customized technology solutions. Developing real business solutions through innovative technology, Softlab is a leading Information Technology Consulting and Systems Integration provider with special expertise in SAP, Supply Chain Management, Quality Management, Customer Relationship Management and Enterprise-wide Knowledge and Information Management. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.softlabna.com.