ADVISORY/Info-Tech Expert Reveals How New Early Warning Detection Technology Could Have Saved Auto Industry Millions in Recall Costs.

Automotive Writers

ADVISORY...for Friday (May 23)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:       As the August 2000 Ford-Firestone recall
            demonstrated, the potential cost of public highway and
            traffic safety to vehicle, truck, trailer and equipment
            manufacturers when left unchecked, can be disastrous.
            Consequently, the National Highway Traffic and Safety
            Association recently imposed the Transportation Recall,
            Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act (TREAD),
            requiring manufacturers and suppliers to submit quarterly
            reports featuring "early warning data" that was previously
            proprietary company information, such as warranty claims,
            consumer complaints, field reports, and legal claims. Join
            industry expert Marianne Grant at the Automotive Industry
            Action Group (AIAG) Truck and Heavy Equipment Supplier
            Forum and find out how forward thinking trucking and heavy
            equipment manufacturing industry professionals are
            leveraging their TREAD compliance data to better
            anticipate parts defects and circumvent recalls before
            they spiral out of control.

WHO:        Marianne Grant is the director of Syncata's El
            Segundo-based Business Innovation Center. Drawing on
            nearly 25 years' experience consulting with Fortune 500
            companies on business processes and information technology
            systems -- and other professionals at Syncata with
            extensive experience servicing the needs of the automotive
            industry -- Ms. Grant is subject-matter expert on the
            reporting requirements of TREAD compliance and early
            warning detection.

WHEN:       10:00 a.m. - Friday, May 23, 2003

WHERE:      Doubletree Seattle Airport
            18740 Pacific Highway S, Seattle, WA 98188, [phone]

NOTE:       Question and answer session immediately following the
            presentation.

SYNCATA:    Founded in 1990, Syncata
            (www.syncata.com/tread/registration.asp) helps automotive
            and industrial manufacturing companies improve operational
            performance and profitability. The firm designs processes
            and integrates systems that help solve specific problems
            within sales, finance, manufacturing, distribution and
            service operations. The firm has offices in Michigan
            (Southfield), California (El Segundo, Irvine and Oakland)
            and India (New Delhi).