---

How `Millennium Manufacturing' Will Affect Suppliers and Manufacturers

26 April 1999

North America's Largest Automotive Manufacturing Show Looks At How `Millennium Manufacturing' Will Affect Suppliers and Manufacturers

          Third Annual International Automotive Manufacturing (IAM)
               Exposition & Conference is May 11-13 in Detroit

    PITTSBURGH, April 26 -- As the largest automotive
manufacturing conference and exposition in North America, the Society of
Automotive Engineers' (SAE) third annual International Automotive
Manufacturing (IAM) Exposition & Conference, May 11-13 at Detroit's Cobo
Center, showcases the latest technologies, products and services that impact
automotive manufacturing.
    This year's show theme, "Millennium Manufacturing: The Extended
Enterprise," reflects the developing trend within an industry dependent on
close-knit, crucial manufacturer/supplier alliances.  Along with the show's
sponsor, Visteon Automotive Systems, exhibitors include large manufacturers
such as the Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler and Honda of America, as well
as suppliers MDT Software, Group Schneider and Phoenix Contact.
    "IAM has become the leading conference for the automotive manufacturing
industry because of its ability to recognize trends," said Jim Wynalek, vice
president and general manager, Visteon Exterior Systems Division.  "This
year's conference highlights another future trend, the extended enterprise.
As we embark on the new century, successful automotive manufacturers and
suppliers are already becoming part of the extended enterprise."
    In addition to interactive floor exhibits, all attendees will have the
opportunity to hear former presidential candidate Ross Perot speak on opening
day at the International Robots and Vision Show.  Attendees at IAM will also
learn the following:

    -- How the "Big Five" plan to structure their future manufacturing
       operations.
    -- What the upsides and downsides are for modularity.
    -- The advantages and differences of lean manufacturing over mass
       production.
    -- The inner workings of the Visteon Saline operation and
       DaimlerChrysler's Jefferson North plant by taking "technical tours."

    "IAM is a key opportunity to show decision-makers in the automotive
industry how new products and services can help their organization meet the
competitive challenges of the new millennium," Wynalek said.
    Attendees can participate in live workshops, and sit in on technical
sessions including Emerging Technologies and Applied Solutions, Information
Technology and Controls and Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing and Life
Cycle Considerations.
    Attendees of IAM can also attend, at no cost, the Motion Control
Exposition and the International Robots and Vision Show.  For more
information, visit http://www.sae.org.
    The Society of Automotive Engineers consists of close to 80,000 engineers,
business executives, educators and students from more than 97 countries.