Automotive News Manufacturing Conference to Explore Complexities of Supply Chain Management, May 5-7 in Birmingham, Ala.

  WHAT:    Automotive News Manufacturing Conference
           "After Efficient, Then What?  The New Frontiers in Manufacturing"

  WHEN:    Monday - Wednesday, May 5 - 7, 2003

  WHERE:   The Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala.

AGENDA: In the hyper-competitive arena of North American automaking, mere efficiency isn't enough anymore. Automakers and their suppliers have been forced to find new ways to transform their manufacturing operations into a competitive edge. The Automotive News Manufacturing Conference will explore those strategies. Leaders from across the rich North American landscape will speak, focusing on the breadth of the manufacturing enterprise -- from logistics, to supply chain management, to the factory floor. The agenda features:

* individual presentations and a panel discussion: "Reinventing the Supply Chain: Five Approaches to a Model that Works";

* a keynote dinner Tuesday, May 6; and

* VIP tours of the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Manufacturing and Honda Manufacturing Plants (May 5 and 7, respectively).

* A complete agenda and speaker backgrounds are available at www.autonews.com/anEvents.cms .

  SPEAKERS: Addressing the Automotive News Manufacturing Conference will be:
  *  Byung-Mo Ahn, executive vice president administration, Hyundai Motor
     Manufacturing Alabama
  *  Charles Ernst, plant manager and vice president of operations, Honda
     Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC
  *  Emil Hassan, senior vice president, North American manufacturing,
     purchasing, quality and logistics, Nissan North America, Inc.
  *  Ron Kruse, president, Client Services Division, Caterpillar Logistics
     Services, Inc.
  *  Tom LaSorda, executive vice president manufacturing, DaimlerChrysler
  *  Carlos Mazzorin, chairman and CEO, Magna Donnelly
  *  Dave Nelson, vice president, global purchasing, Delphi Corporation
  *  Bob Parker, vice president, research, AMR Research, Inc.
  *  James Wiemels, vice president and general manager, General Motors Metal
     Fabricating Division

SPONSORS: Automotive News, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International and Deloitte Consulting

MEDIA ASSIST: The Wynfrey Hotel's Hampshire Room will serve as a media center, equipped with phone and data lines, work areas and information tables. To register -- at no charge -- for the conference contact:

PRNewswire -- May 1