Virtual Services, Schefenacker Vision Systems Partner to Successfully Implement CATIA V5

CATIA V5 Implementation results in Superior Engineering and Design Efficiency for Supplier

TROY, Mich., April 20 -- Virtual Services, Inc. and Schefenacker Vision Systems have partnered to successfully implement CATIA V5 software at Schefenacker's Marysville, Mich. facility. The Schefenacker installation is one of the first automotive suppliers to fully install the latest version of CATIA V5 Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.

Virtual Services is a leading provider of engineering software and implementation services to top-tier automotive suppliers. The company provides consulting, technical expertise, implementation services and industry best practices to assist automotive suppliers in successfully implementing CAD and Product Data Management Software.

"Schefenacker has had a long standing relationship with Virtual Services," said Gary Sinelli, director of engineering, Schefenacker Vision Systems. "Given Virtual Services' knowledge of Schefenacker's CAD environment, their proven track record and cost-effective implementation approach, in combination with our own internal resources, we were confident the implementation of our new CATIA V5 Software would be successful."

During the six-month installation period, Virtual Services' on-site implementation experts became an integral part of Schefenacker's internal design and implementation team, working side-by-side with Schefenacker engineers. By using CATIA V5, Schefenacker was able to realize measurable savings; including a reduction in design time, material savings, and fewer tooling changes.

By successfully installing CATIA V5, Schefenacker is now able to react more quickly to program changes from its OEM customers and spend less time with many redundant CAD tasks. The savings in design time is providing Schefenacker with the ability to spend more time performing value added engineering functions, thereby improving and refining Schefenacker's product design for its OEM customers. In addition, they now have fewer down stream tooling changes and a more cost efficient business model for product development and management of engineering information.

According to Sinelli, "Virtual Services was with us every step of the way. They created a technology roadmap that provided Schefenacker with a solid implementation plan including a timeline and costs."

"The benefits of using CATIA V5 with its associated knowledge based engineering capabilities are tremendous. This is why many automotive OEMs have announced a migration strategy to CATIA V5 for themselves and their automotive supply base," said Mark Ratliff, president and CEO of Virtual Services. "A successful migration to CATIA V5 for an automotive supplier requires good planning and a thorough understanding of the suppliers' existing product development system. This is where our experienced team of consultants and implementation experts become extremely valuable to an automotive supplier. By learning their customers' business practices, processes, methods and culture, Virtual Services is able to offer automotive suppliers a comprehensive solution. The secret to Virtual Services' success isn't in just knowing the software, it's knowing the client."

"Virtual Services views its customers as partners, not clients. We pride ourselves on having an in-depth understanding of our clients' business, culture and processes," said Ratliff. "This understanding allows us to craft a supplier specific Technology Roadmap that includes technology acquisition and deployment over a planned time horizon. Most importantly, this approach enables the supplier to properly meet the engineering and design timeline of their OEM customers."

"Automakers such as Honda, Toyota and Ford Motor Company have initiated new car programs using CATIA V5, and now require suppliers to provide V5 native data for outsourced designs," according to Collaborative Product Development Associates, LLC, a product lifecycle management research company. "This migration strategy is going to mean a formidable expense to the automotive supply base in terms of hardware, software and training."

About Virtual Services

Headquartered in Madison Heights, Mich., Virtual Services provides CAD and product data management software and support solutions to the automotive industry. The company offers customers a distinctive total service solution including on-site implementation services, administration, Help Desk support and training. Virtual Services is an authorized business partner of IBM, Dassault Systems, UGS PLM Solutions, Sun Microsystems, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company and Microsoft Corporation.

About Schefenacker Vision Systems

Schefenacker Vision Systems is the leading global supplier of high- quality, advanced technology in exterior and interior mirror systems, and a supplier of rear and signal lighting systems for automobiles worldwide. It is part of Schefenacker AG, a world leader in automotive mirror systems, lighting systems and audio systems with operations in Australia, England, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Korea, Slovenia, Spain, and the USA.