SMR Automotive Integrates Business with QAD

SANTA BARBARA, CA—April 4, 2011: QAD Inc., a leading provider of enterprise business software and services for global manufacturers, announced today that SMR Automotive Services, a member of Samvardhana Motherson Group -- one of the world’s largest manufacturers of external rearview mirrors for passenger cars -- is deploying QAD Enterprise Applications throughout all of its sites to centralize operations and improve efficiency.

“With QAD Enterprise Applications and its embedded process maps, we are able to establish global standards, which we can use for change management to roll out our best practices at each single plant in our organization”

SMR manufactures exterior and interior mirrors and blind spot detection systems for all passenger vehicle segments to nearly every automaker in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. As a vertically integrated operation with 16 manufacturing plants, SMR needed to streamline its processes and workflows to reduce work duplications globally and maximize its return on investment and utilization of key resources.

SMR selected QAD Enterprise Applications for its focus on automotive parts manufacturing. With its built-in automotive process maps, based on Materials Management Operations Guidelines/Logistics Evaluation (MMOG/LE) compliance requirements, QAD Enterprise Applications provides exactly what SMR requires to develop audit-ready, workflow and process best practices at all of its plants.

QAD automotive process maps enable SMR users to navigate through graphical views of the company’s business model before drilling down into specific workflows and processes, including operational metrics, compliance checkpoints, training, work instructions, and direct access to QAD Enterprise Applications software. Additionally, with QAD Enterprise Applications’ .NET User Interface, SMR employees are able to use the applications more easily than ever before, improving their personal productivity.

“With QAD Enterprise Applications and its embedded process maps, we are able to establish global standards, which we can use for change management to roll out our best practices at each single plant in our organization,” explained Christophe Sib, director global IT business systems at SMR Automotive.

Sib added, “We now have a competitive advantage. Our customers and OEMs are pleased that we’re using QAD Enterprise Applications, because we don’t have to invest additional time and resources on audits. We’re able to re-allocate these savings to develop value-added activities that improve customer satisfaction.”

As an automotive manufacturer and supplier, SMR also is at the forefront of lean manufacturing, and looking to improve its just-in-time manufacturing techniques to cut waste from its operations. QAD Enterprise Applications will enable SMR to apply lean practices including communicating with its supply chain, and automating data collection and consolidation for a variety of business operations, including quality, delivery and safety.

About SMR

SMR (Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec), a member of Samvardhana Motherson Group, is one of the largest manufacturers of rear vision systems for the global automotive industry. SMR manufactures exterior mirrors, interior mirrors and blind spot detection systems for all passenger vehicle segments to nearly every carmaker in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. SMR currently employs about 4,400 people at 16 manufacturing sites in Europe, America, Asia and Australia. SMR is dedicated to meet demands in quality, safety, aesthetics and economic efficiency. SMR was founded in 1935 in Esslingen, Germany -- known as Reitter & Schefenacker. Since 2009, the company is part of the Samvardhana Motherson Group.

About QAD

QAD is a leading provider of enterprise applications for global manufacturing companies specializing in automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial and life science products. QAD applications, including QAD On Demand, provide critical functionality for managing manufacturing resources and operations within and beyond the enterprise, enabling global manufacturers to collaborate with their customers, suppliers and partners to make and deliver the right product, at the right cost and at the right time. For more information about QAD, telephone +1 805-566-6000, or visit the QAD web site at www.qad.com.

"QAD" is a registered trademark of QAD Inc. All other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.