Configuration Solutions Teams With Yates Industries, Inc. to Implement CS-Enterprise Solution

Software to Interface With ERP System Takes Aim at Simultaneous Broadcasting Of Product Variations to Compress Lead Times and Lower Manufacturing Costs

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Feb. 26 -- Configuration Solutions, Inc., the leading developer of configuration software, announced today that Yates Industries, Inc., a premier provider of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, will integrate CS-Enterprise with its Made2Manage ERP system throughout their manufacturing environment. CS-Enterprise (formerly e-Logia) is Configuration Solutions' advanced configuration software solution designed specifically for providers of make-, engineer- and assemble-to-order products and services.

The integrated solution will allow Yates to produce and broadcast multiple shop orders for each customer order simultaneously throughout the factory floor. Shop floor workers will now be able to manufacture-to-order each component piece for a product in tandem (i.e., cylinders, tie-rods, piston rods, etc.), so components are prepared and waiting at the point of assembly. Yates anticipates the solution will dramatically compress overall manufacturing time (from weeks to days), provide greater flexibility throughout the entire manufacturing process, and lower production costs. The solution will also enable Yates to track and analyze orders so they can understand and forecast product demand requirements.

According to Yates Industries, Inc.'s CEO, William H. Yates, III, "This configuration technology will give our distributors and dealers tremendous benefits and opportunities on a variety of levels. Because we will have the ability to simultaneously distribute order information versus routing it through each area in sequence, we can bring our products more quickly to market and increase the size and scope of orders."

"Our operations will ultimately run with greater flexibility, based on demand and variation in products. Our previous configurator had to be programmed for every new product rule required for each variation in our product line. With the CS-Enterprise solution, we can now build a complete model of our offering and customize orders on-the-fly, and the configurator will automatically take them (rules) into account," Mr. Yates added.

Yates worked with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based consulting firm J. Martin & Associates, Inc. to select the most appropriate solution. "After carefully defining the selection criteria we were able to narrow our choice of a configurations solution provider from a field of 14 to three candidates," said J. Martin & Associates president, Joseph Martin. "Configuration Solutions demonstrated the ability and expertise to quickly integrate their solution with Made2Manage, understood the complexities of the environment, and demonstrated significant technological advantage over the competition."

Yates expects to go live with the implementation of three modules -- CS- Sales, CS-Execute and CS-Connect -- by the end of third quarter for all product lines. Much of the implementation is being completed by CS consultants to speed implementation and minimize the use of Yates resources. Once complete, Configuration Solutions will conduct a project hand-off to Yates personnel for ongoing maintenance and development of new product models.

Ryan Colosky, Vice President of Configuration Solutions, states: "This is a recurring theme in this economy. Companies dedicated to new initiatives often struggle with allocating the resources to implement a system they know will give them a competitive edge. That's where we come in. CS consultants can jump-start a project, then hand it off for the ongoing maintenance and development of new products. Our clients gain immediate ROI, as well as a long-term strategy."

"CS-Enterprise is a nice fit for Yates Industries because the solution is unique in its ability to extend throughout the entire manufacturing environment," Colosky continues. "Yates will have the ability to receive quote and order information at the front-end and then streamline and broadcast it out to the floor in real-time with no customization or intervention required by their workforce."

When fully implemented, both Yates and Colosky expect that the solution engine will dramatically speed up processing of assemblies, allow the sales force to enter product specifications, and provide more accurate delivery dates to customers based on quicker order turnaround times.

About Yates Industries, Inc.

Established in 1970 to satisfy the demanding requirements of the Great Lakes automotive and steel industry, Yates Cylinders (a division of Yates Industries) manufactures world-class hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. Since then, constant innovation and growth have resulted in a company that is both big enough to handle your most demanding cylinder requirements, yet small enough to provide personalized service, custom designs and rapid response to your cylinder manufacturing or rebuilding needs.

Yates is dedicated to providing first-class, prompt and professional customer service, while providing cylinders and components of the highest quality -- products the company is proud to stand behind. The Yates standard lines of JIC-NFPA interchangeable cylinders are complete and extremely reliable, with more features and options than expected from even the largest cylinder manufacturer. Additionally, Yates has a wide variety of specialty products and cylinder reconditioning capabilities, plus competitive pricing.

About Configuration Solutions

Configuration Solutions, Inc., a 14-year-old technology company, supports its manufacturing and other related industry customers by helping them meet their customer requirements across all facets of the business, from front-end sales and order management, to more sophisticated engineering and factory floor operations.

Configuration Solutions' CS-Enterprise software solution suite is designed to maximize efficiency and productivity, minimize errors and hasten information flow across the enterprise and beyond -- regardless of product order or process complexity. Built on open architecture, Configuration Solutions' technology offerings are used by make-to-order and engineer-to- order manufacturers and related service companies to drive out excess operating costs and eliminate rework of orders, while improving profits and agility in serving their markets.