Program maximizes ERP value by performing integration of business processes across multi-site, global manufacturing environments

Long Beach, CA — May 21, 2007 — Apriso Corp., a provider of adaptive software solutions for global operations execution, today announced a Core implementation program designed to optimize the configuration and implementation of its Operations Execution System (OES) across global manufacturing enterprises. This approach is designed to help manufacturers accelerate and better integrate enterprise resource planning (ERP) with manufacturing and operations, enabling a rapid roll-out of MES/OES business process applications.

The Core program is an implementation methodology designed to take advantage of Apriso’s FlexNet platform. Applying an 80/20 rule, a Core implementation approach identifies the approximate 80 percent of consistent business processes performed throughout the manufacturing environment — across all locations — as a Core system, or profile. These standardized business processes and performance measurements (KPIs) are then packaged and distributed enterprise wide, yet remain flexible to accommodate future updates.

Apriso said it is uniquely capable of implementing this Core system because of its FlexNet platform and Global Manufacturing Suite (GMS), each based on a flexible Business Process (BPM) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). This architecture helps ease business process integration across an organization’s operations and between its business systems and plant controls or automation layer. GMS enables business and IT managers to easily package, distribute and manage sets of best practice business processes across the enterprise.

The efficiency of a Core program is demonstrated by Apriso’s ability to implement and support large, multi-site clients operating diverse manufacturing environments, including either discreet or process-based facilities. Apriso customers are using FlexNet as a critical part of their enterprise business process integration. At the health and beauty firm L’Oreal, a Core system was established as part of their SAP roll out to manufacturing. The system is now being implemented at a rate of four sites every six months across two continents.

Glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain Sekurit and another firm that produces paper, packaging and wood products have also implemented their Core system of business processes based on Apriso’s OES platform. Each have effectively utilized this approach to cut over 45 and 80 plants, respectively, and are now operating as an integrated “ecosystem,” closely integrating Apriso’s OES and SAP’s ERP systems.

An additional benefit of the Core program has been to simplify and accelerate ERP deployments down to the plant floor for global, multi-site manufacturers. Apriso’s Operations Execution System is a means of extending the reach and acceptance of ERP, complementing its functionality, while contributing to better global visibility and management of operations.

Apriso said it fills the “white spaces” around an ERP system, establishing directive user interfaces for operations personnel, as well as providing 24×7 visibility down to the plant floor. By treating a company’s Operations Execution System (including MES, WMS, Maintenance, Labor, Supply Chain Visibility and Quality) as a “module” of ERP, these manufacturing operations may be integrated, managed and deployed as an enterprise architectural component. In this way, Apriso’s broad OES footprint is effectively the bottom layer of ERP, rather than as the top layer of plant manufacturing operations.

“Many times, the initial driver for MES applications originates from the plant floor as an attempt to methodically trigger production, distribute work instructions and enforce production workflows. However, MES is changing from a production-focused application to a critical part of enterprise business process integration,” stated Gartner in its MarketScope for MES Software report, written by Andrew Hughes and Kenneth Brant in September, 2006.

This new focus has created a demand for MES/OES applications that can be managed and deployed across the enterprise. To address this demand, Apriso’s system provides support for multiple manufacturing models, to best handle diversity within processes; capability to easily extend core applications to unique, plant-level requirements; and an infrastructure to effectively manage processes across multiple plants and IT environments.

“Our customers are using FlexNet to help them achieve a tightly integrated supply chain network together leveraging knowledge, business processes and technology across their manufacturing operations and locations,” said Jim Henderson, president and CEO of Apriso. “They are achieving this vision by replicating best practice processes globally, with an outcome of better performance across operations. This is the essence of being a globally-managed company.”