Media Alert & Photo Opportunities: General Motors Corp. Systems and Technology Chief to Keynote at AIAG Enterprise Interoperability Showcase

WHO: At AIAG's first-ever Enterprise Interoperability Showcase on Nov., 15, 2006, at 8:15 a.m., General Motors Corp. chief systems and technology officer, Fred Killeen will discuss the company's support for international standards for technology and processes to drive speed and efficiency internally, with their suppliers and joint venture partners around the globe. Interview opportunities are available with Killeen following his keynote address from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Other industry experts will deliver new ways to think about systems interoperability and present a look into the future on how to achieve end-to- end data visibility from the shop floor and across the global enterprise, to trading partners and from dealer to supplier. Interview opportunities are available. Speakers include:

* Karla Norsworthy, vice president software standards, IBM - "Open standards: staying open for business"

* Dr. Steve Ray - Division Chief, MSID, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - "NIST/government support for an integrated supply chain"

* Mark Schenecker, board member, Enterprise Interoperability Center, SAP America, Inc. - "Newly formed European Enterprise Interoperability Centre to develop implementation profiles to support data exchange within and beyond Europe"

* Dr. Christine Legner, Universitat St. Gallen, Switzerland - "Service oriented architecture (SOA) for integrating engineering change management processes between European companies: BMW, Hella, Magna Steyr, Siemens VDO, SupplyOn and ZF Pilot"

* Pat Snack, AIAG loaned executive from General Motors Corp. - "AIAG community approach to interoperability"

Additionally, exhibitors will display the future of interoperability solutions:

  * AIM Computer Solutions
  * Base2 Corp.
  * Covisint
  * Edibar Systems, Inc.
  * Freudenberg IT
  * Global Validators, Inc.
  * IBS America, Inc.
  * I/Gear
  * Information Builders
  * Microsoft Corp.
  * Plexus Systems
  * Q-DAS
  * QAD Inc.
  * Radley Corp.
  * ToolWorx Information Products

WHAT: AIAG's Enterprise Interoperability Showcase brings solutions to help automotive suppliers get the right information at the right time and in the right format. Sessions and technology demonstrations will showcase real- world AIAG projects using a standards approach to tackle the global interoperability challenge.

WHY: Interoperability between IT systems is key to the competitiveness of the automotive industry. The inability for companies to seamlessly send and receive information has resulted in a multi-billion dollar issue, preventing companies from reacting quickly to changes in demand.

WHEN: 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006. Registration and breakfast begin at 7:00 a.m.

WHERE: Rock Financial Showplace, Novi, Mich.

PRESS REGISTRATION: Contact Leslie Santos-Cotham/AIAG at (248) 358-9794 or lsantos-cotham@aiag.org . For further information or to schedule an interview with Fred Killeen, chief systems and technology officer, GM, or any other speakers, please CONTACT: Leslie Santos-Cotham of AIAG at (248) 358-9794 or lsantos-cotham@aiag.org .

About AIAG

Founded in 1982, AIAG is a globally recognized organization where OEMs and suppliers unite to address and resolve issues affecting the worldwide automotive supply chain. AIAG's goals are to reduce cost and complexity through collaboration; improve product quality, health, safety and the environment; and optimize speed to market throughout the supply chain. Headquartered in the metro Detroit area, its more than 1,500 member companies include North American, European and Asia-Pacific OEMs and suppliers to the automotive industry. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.aiag.org/ .

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040719/DEM007LOGO )

PRNewswire -- Nov. 9

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040719/DEM007LOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com