Infor introduces AutoKnow Webinar Series

Infor's AutoKnow Webinar Series to Address Trends and Topics of
Immediate Relevance to the Automotive Community 

 

Quality and Warranty Issues Are Focus of Inaugural Webinar

 

Northville, Mich., February 14, 2005 - In 2005, the automotive industry
will continue to adapt to changes dictated by an expanding global
manufacturing environment. Global outsourcing of products and components
creates a highly intricate supply chain that requires a new level of
detailed management to ensure the seamless flow of high-quality parts
and components to meet the strict requirements of automotive
manufacturers and suppliers.

 

To keep a finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving changes and
challenges facing the automotive industry and emerging solutions to head
off problems before they occur, Infor Global Solutions is launching
AutoKnow, a series of educational webinars featuring top executives and
influencers in the automotive industry to address trends and topics
currently facing the industry and discuss initiatives related to these
specific areas.

 

"We identified an important need for companies to keep current on issues
and opportunities facing the automotive supply chain, particularly in
light of global expansion," said Rick Parker, vice president of global
marketing for Infor- Discrete Group.  "We are hopeful that the AutoKnow
platform of thought leadership will help drive best practices and
information to manufacturing companies at all levels within the supply
chain."

 

Kevin Mixer, research director for AMR Research, is the featured
presenter for the inaugural webinar scheduled for Thursday, February 24,
at 10:00 a.m. EST. Mixer will address the IT response to the quality and
warranty issues facing automotive manufacturers and suppliers. 

 

As the automotive industry prepares to launch more new vehicles in the
next five years than it did in the past 20, with warranty recalls up 35
percent over the past 20 years, the quality issue is now
front-and-center as a major factor that, if not managed, can negatively
impact the bottom lines for OEMs and suppliers alike and have negative
consequences for the entire automotive supply chain. In this scenario,
automotive IT organizations can take the lead in finding solutions to
improve quality by providing enhanced visibility into parts and process
operations, manufacturing operations improvement and government
compliance efficiencies. Mixer will speak to these concerns and ways in
which IT can help manage processes to alleviate them.  

 

Mixer manages AMR's analysis of the automotive and heavy truck
industries, and also advises clients on applying technology for
competitive advantage in product operations. Mixer analyzes the impact
of IT strategies on production operations and supports the analysis of
the automotive industry for supplier management, customer management,
and technology selection. He can separate fact from hype and provide a
unique perspective on ways to utilize supply chain IT solutions to
manage the important quality and warranty issue. 

 

Complementary registration for the AutoKnow webinar is available at
www.infor.com/autoknow. 

 

 

 

About Infor

Infor provides vertical specific, enterprise-wide business solutions to
select manufacturing and distribution industries worldwide and delivers
best-in-class products that address the essential challenges its
customers face in areas such as supply chain planning, relationship
management, demand management, ERP, warehouse management,
marketing-driven distribution, and business intelligence.  Infor has 30
locations worldwide and its solutions are used by 13,000 customers in
over 45 countries. For additional information, visit www.infor.com
<http://www.infor.com/> .

 

Contact:

Deb Lewis

Infor Global Solutions

248.697.3280

Deb.lewis@infor.com  

 

Patricia Radice

Airfoil Public Relations

313.887.7224

radice@airfoilpr.com