Freudenberg-NOK Launches Complete Web Strategy For Servicing Customers in the New Millennium

17 March 2000
Freudenberg-NOK Launches Complete Web Strategy For Servicing Customers in the New Millennium

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 16 With the Internet changing the
way business is being conducted in the new millennium, Freudenberg-NOK
announced today that it has launched a complete web strategy for servicing its
customers through a new program called WITTH(TM) (Web Interactivity Through
Team Harmony).
    "With new communication technology and a global economy, business
opportunities are endless," said Joseph C. Day, Freudenberg-NOK chairman and
CEO.  "Freudenberg-NOK is committed to using the World Wide Web for
e-commerce, customer services and other web-based innovations.  Our WITTH
program will be the foundation for achieving these objectives and also will
provide us with new opportunities to enhance our internal business processes."
    "We expect WITTH to help us to forge even closer relationships among our
associates, global partners and customers," said Kenneth E. Anderson, champion
of the WITTH project and Freudenberg-NOK's executive vice president - finance,
administration and procurement.  "And, by building upon the results of our
GROWTTH(R) lean systems program, we expect WITTH to take us to a whole new
level of speed, responsiveness and quality in serving our customers."
    Through Freudenberg-NOK's WITTH program, Anderson said, the company is
moving beyond its current electronic-brochure-style website toward a complete,
interactive web offering. It will include the ability to obtain pricing,
purchase company products and track orders; to access engineering drawings,
engineering information sheets and RFQs (requests for quote); and to submit
quotes, check on product stock levels and link to Freudenberg-NOK aftermarket
distributors.
    Anderson said Freudenberg-NOK will also use the WITTH program as a tool to
interact with its own supply chain, in activities such as supplier development
and purchasing for raw materials, non-production materials and capital
equipment.
    The company is currently in the architectural design phase of its WITTH
program and expects to conduct pilot efforts later this year, in order to be
fully operational by the end of the year.
    The first pilot will be targeted for the company's industrial sector,
which has a large number of customers in the aerospace, appliance, business
machine, fluid power, marine, medical, off-highway equipment and recreational
vehicle markets.  A subsequent pilot will phase in interactive services for
the company's automaker, tier one supplier and automotive aftermarket
customers.
    In addition, the site will serve as a public repository of information on
the company's highly successful GROWTTH(R) program -- which has become a
benchmark for lean systems implementation within North America.  For
employees, the site also will provide information on job opportunities,
benefits and professional development initiatives.
    Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg-NOK is part of the Freudenberg and NOK
Group Companies, which have total annual sales of more than $6.5 billion.
With global automotive sales of approximately $4.0 billion, the Freudenberg
and NOK Group ranks among the world's top 20 automotive suppliers and is one
of only eight in the top 100 that has global balance in each of the three
major automotive markets -- Asia, Europe and North America.
    Through a global network of facilities spanning 27 countries with some
23,000 automotive employees worldwide, the supplier group offers its
automotive customers globally integrated products, including sealing packages
for transmissions, engines, brakes, axles and steering, NVH (noise, vibration
and harshness) components and packages, and all rubber, plastic and PTFE
components for suspension, electrical and fuel systems.
    The Freudenberg and NOK Group also offers an extensive portfolio of
precision-molded products for the aerospace, appliance, business machine,
fluid power, marine, medical, off-highway equipment and recreational vehicle
markets.  For more information, visit the Freudenberg-NOK web site at
http://www.freudenberg-nok.com .