AMR Research and Hitachi Computer Products (America) Discuss the Importance of a MES to Six Sigma During Visiprise-Sponsored IndustryWeek Online Event

ATLANTA, Sept. 20 -- Visiprise, Inc., a recognized leader in helping manufacturers improve quality and compliance by providing solutions that manage and control global operations, announced today the company will sponsor an IndustryWeek-hosted online event entitled Learn the Importance of a MES to Six Sigma: Featuring advice and lessons learned by Hitachi Computer Products (America). The online broadcast will take place on Thursday Sept. 23, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

The discussion will focus on the importance of a MES to Six Sigma and a successful implementation. This will include how decision-makers can improve quality and compliance by using real-time shop floor information to help manage and control operations.

Webster Madole, product quality manager for Hitachi Computer Products (America), will share advice for manufacturers interested in learning more about Six Sigma or beginning a Six Sigma implementation.

Michael Burkett, research director for AMR Research, will address the strategic benefits of integrating Six Sigma and MES, and will offer advice on how to blend the two together in a way that will greatly increase the impact of any quality effort. In addition, audience members will have the opportunity to direct questions to speakers during the Webcast.

"Originally developed for the fast paced, multi-faceted world of electronics manufacturing, Six Sigma has proven to work well in many different segments of industry," said Carter Johnson, vice president of strategy and business development for Visiprise. "Combining Six Sigma with MES capabilities is particularly beneficial in complex environments, where every step of the manufacturing process must be monitored and analyzed for variation." Johnson will also be a featured speaker participating in the Webcast.

"Quality is an issue that is very important to the IW audience," said Tom Duggan, associate publisher of IndustryWeek. "Research results from the IW/MPI Census of Manufacturers illustrate that Six Sigma and MES are two tools that can help companies on their journey to world-class manufacturing status. IndustryWeek is proud to host this Webcast with Visiprise since it will be a great source of information for manufacturers who are looking for ways to boost their quality."

This IndustryWeek-hosted online event is a unique opportunity to learn how MES technology and Six Sigma practices support quality initiatives on the plant floor and across an entire operation. For more information about the broadcast, visit http://www.visiprise.com/ .

About Visiprise

Visiprise helps manufacturers improve quality and compliance by providing solutions that manage and control global operations for the electronics, aerospace and defense, automotive and medical devices industries. Its flagship solution, Visiprise Manufacturing, is the industry's only platform independent solution that provides visibility and performance management from raw materials through assembled products.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Visiprise has more than 10,000 users in 35 countries, and its customers include such leading manufacturers as BAE Systems, Celestica, Philips Lighting, Sun Microsystems and Textron. For more information, visit http://www.visiprise.com/ .

About IndustryWeek

IndustryWeek (IW) and its interactive Web site at http://www.industryweek.com/ leads senior manufacturing executives through the business issues, strategies, trends and technologies that will help them succeed in today's "better, faster, cheaper" global economy. It is published by Penton Media (BULLETIN BOARD: PTON) ( http://www.penton.com/ ), a diversified business-to-business media company that produces market-focused magazines, trade shows and conferences, and online media serving 12 industry sectors, including manufacturing.

NOTE: The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.