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Proficiency Secures Contract with Ford Motor Company

15 January 2001

Proficiency Secures Contract with Ford Motor Company

                    Leading Automotive Manufacturer to Use
               Engineering Supply Chain Collaboration Software

    MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 15 Proficiency Incorporated
announced today that Ford Motor Company has signed an agreement for
the purchase of Proficiency's Collaboration Gateway, software which allows
engineering departments at Ford and its suppliers to share design information
during the cooperative product design and development process -- commonly
referred to as engineering supply chain collaboration.
    The agreement follows a successful pilot test of a pre-release version of
the software at Ford Motor Company.  Further pilot projects with Ford are
planned throughout 2001.  Ford has also agreed to become a member of
Proficiency's Strategic Advisor Alliance, a program in which Ford will
leverage its broad industry experience to advise Proficiency on priorities and
key areas of additional product development.
    "There is no stronger statement of confidence in a company and its
products than when a prospect becomes a customer, and interest becomes a
purchase order," said Scott Berkey, president of Proficiency.  "This agreement
with Ford Motor Company marks a major milestone in the history of Proficiency,
and we look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship."
    Proficiency's engineering supply chain collaboration solutions are under
development, and are currently being tested by a number of automotive,
aerospace, and heavy equipment manufacturers and suppliers in North America,
Europe, and Japan.  The product is expected to be commercially available in
the middle of 2001.