Proficiency and TenLinks Take Industry Pulse on CAD Interoperability Issue

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. and NOVATO, Calif., Jan. 22, 2004 -- Proficiency, the leader in feature-based design interoperability, and TenLinks, Inc., the largest online CAD, CAM and CAE media company, announced today the release of an online survey designed to take the industry's pulse on the mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD) interoperability issue and its impact on product development. OEMs and suppliers involved in the design and manufacturing of complex engineering components are encouraged to complete the survey, which can be found on the Web at: http://www.proficiency.com/news/survey.cfm.

The CAD interoperability issue -- using one CAD system in-house, yet needing to deliver or receive designs in another system -- continues to pose a challenge to automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, heavy equipment and high- tech original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers. The Proficiency and TenLinks' survey is aimed to study the issue and to determine how engineering model data is delivered today to manufacturers and suppliers, how CAD conversion, geometric translation and/or feature-based CAD interoperability is handled, at what expense, and under whose authority. Survey results are slated to be released by Proficiency and TenLinks in March 2004.

"Our experience is that manufacturers intuitively know that a lack of CAD interoperability is causing them pain and expense, and that their identification of specific areas and costs has been maturing," said Michael Jannery, VP of Marketing at Proficiency and Roopinder Tara, President of TenLinks in a joint statement. "This survey is intended to gauge the adoption rates of various technologies and the visibility of the issue in today's market."

All survey participants are automatically entered into a drawing for a free digital camera and will receive the published comprehensive results report at the close of the survey.

About TenLinks, Inc.

TenLinks, Inc. is the biggest CAD, CAM and CAE online media company. It was founded in February 1999. TenLinks operates four websites and distributes three newsletters that provide information and tools for engineers, architects and designers. Its flagship, TenLinks.com, is the only online directory where industry experts organize the Internet into TopTen lists. CADdepot.com is a leading destination for CAD shareware. CADdigest.com finds and organizes CAD- related articles. FreeCAD.com is a vast directory for free CAD, CAM and CAE programs. TenLinks also publishes three industry-leading newsletters: TenLinks Daily, CADdepot Update and CADdigest Weekly. For more information, please visit www.tenlinks.com.

About Proficiency

Proficiency is the recognized leader in feature-based CAD interoperability. The Company's award-winning Collaboration Gateway allows development teams within manufacturers and their suppliers to efficiently collaborate on the design of complex products. A privately held company headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. USA, Proficiency has secured nearly $40M in venture capital investment led by Concord Ventures, Charles River Ventures, and Carmel Ventures. The Company has numerous patents and patents pending in engineering information representation and exchange technology. For more information on Proficiency, please visit www.proficiency.com.

  Proficiency and Collaboration Gateway are trademarks of Proficiency, Ltd.

  Agency Contact:
   SHIFT Communications
   Catherine Allen, 617-242-7325, ext. 227
   catherine@shiftcomm.com

   or

   Proficiency Corporate Contact:
   Proficiency, Inc.
   Michael Jannery, 508-486-9868, ext. 223
   michaelj@proficiency.com

   or

   TenLinks, Inc.
   Diane Robertson, 415-897-8800 x233
   drobertson@tenlinks.com