Keeping its Focus on Vertical Markets, Lilly Software Hosts a Web-Based Seminar with IBM on Lean Manufacturing for Automotive Suppliers

    HAMPTON, N.H.--Oct. 24, 2002--Lilly Software Associates, in conjunction with its business partner, IBM, is offering a Web-based seminar on November 7th for automotive suppliers that want to learn about the competitive advantages of lean manufacturing and to find out how to leverage technology to improve their bottom line performance. The informative seminar will cover the strict requirements that automotive suppliers must meet for their customers, discuss current software system demands, and offer insight into the future of this industry. Presenters for the Web-based event include Carol Ptak, current IBM Segment Executive for Mid-Market solutions, and Rick Lombardi, Automotive Product Manager at Lilly Software Associates.
    Carol Ptak is the past President and CEO of APICS and the author of several books, as well as the co-author of Necessary but not Sufficient with Dr. Eli Goldratt. She will discuss how Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have been incorporating lean manufacturing techniques into their business processes and talk about the impact of these changes on both customers and suppliers. Attendees will be able to learn about technology strategies and future business designs that will drive profit and ensure continuous improvement.
    "Level 2, 3, and 4 suppliers need to be agile in today's market in order to gain the attention of OEMs and improve their bottom line," says Carol Ptak. "Using the right technology is critical for companies that want to address constraints and gain a competitive edge over other vendors. These companies require flexible, scalable systems that can support steady growth."
    Focusing in on automotive industry requirements and specific software solutions, Rick Lombardi from Lilly Software will inform attendees about how the tools within VISUAL Enterprise(TM) fit their business needs when working toward lean manufacturing practices. Lilly Software has been developing enhanced functionality for vertical markets and its VISUAL Enterprise solution enables automotive suppliers to meet tough requirements, achieve AIAG (Auto Industry Action Group) and customer compliance, and maintain ISO/QS 9000 certification. It helps companies streamline the EDI order entry and fulfillment process and makes managing complex orders an easier task. Users can accept and exchange customer information, verify order details, establish shipping information, modify accumulators, and print AIAG bar code labels. Lombardi will explain how integrating software into company operations can improve sales and increase the value of the entire production system.
    "With the introduction of zero percent financing and other innovative sales incentives, car manufacturers were able to avoid a major decline in vehicle production during the past year," explains Lombardi. "But continued consumer pressure to hold prices and improve overall vehicle reliability is forcing automotive suppliers to drive out unnecessary costs in order to preserve current levels of profitability or in some cases, to survive. Lean manufacturing and Supply Chain Management are two critical elements for achieving that objective."
    To sign up for this Web-based seminar to learn more about lean manufacturing and the VISUAL Enterprise solution, please visit www.lillysoftware.com/seminars/webex.cfm.

    About IBM

    IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM works with companies of all sizes around the world to deploy a full range of IBM technologies. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com

    About Lilly Software Associates

    Lilly Software Associates, Inc. (LSA) provides a complete line of enterprise and supply chain management solutions for manufacturers and distributors. With its easy-to-use graphical nature, the VISUAL(R) suite of products helps companies capture accurate, real-time data about their business processes using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Quality Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), E-Business Relationship Management (ERM), and Warehouse Management System (WMS) capabilities.
    Most VISUAL applications run on Windows NT(R), UNIX(R), LINUX, VMS, Novell(R) or OS400 using SQLBase(R), Microsoft SQLServer(TM), ORACLE(R) or DB2(R)/400 relational databases, and are certified for both iSeries and Netfinity servers.
    Lilly Software has received many industry awards for its products, service, and financial growth. Recently, Lilly Software has been voted one of the 2002 Top 10 Best of Breed solutions for manufacturing by readers of Consumer Goods Technology , included in MSI's Top 100 for its seventh year, listed again in Software Magazine's Top 500, ranked in the Top 100 Application Vendors in Supply Chain e-Business, and selected as a Top 100 Logistics Information Technology Provider by Inbound Logistics.