Bescast Gains 10% in Sales and Throughput in 30 Days, Wins Lilly Software 2002 User of the Year.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

HAMPTON, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2002

At this year's User Conference, ENVISION 2002, in Tampa, Florida, Lilly Software Associates honored the precision investment casting company, Bescast, as its 2002 User of the Year. Lilly Software presents this annual award to a VISUAL Enterprise(TM) user that demonstrates superior implementation and outstanding performance.

"We're very happy to accept this award from Lilly. We worked diligently at implementing the software and we're pleased with the results and with the outstanding support we received throughout the entire process," says Lee Watson, President of Bescast.

Over the last year, Bescast revealed an exceptional commitment to its business goals and became the first company to adopt Lilly Software's VISUAL Power Boost(TM) program. VISUAL Power Boost is a value-based solution which offers companies a combination of software and training founded on the principles of Drum-Buffer-Rope and Buffer Management from the Theory of Constraints (TOC) business management philosophy. The Ohio-based manufacturer implemented this program to help it create production plans that maximize the use of its resources, increase production flow, and deliver customer orders on time. "Within 30 days of completing training, we were able to drive a 10% improvement in our top line revenue and bottom line results," says Watson.

"Over the last year, Bescast employees have undergone intensive training. We have been impressed with their strength and dedication toward improving their business processes," says Richard Lilly, President and CEO of Lilly Software Associates. "As a Beta site, they have also provided valuable input towards the development of VISUAL DBR(TM). Bescast's vision, energy, and commitment are why we selected them as our User of the Year."

Bescast employees have adapted rapidly to the new management strategy and the new scheduling techniques. They were committed to the necessary training, which has helped heighten the awareness of scheduling adherence and made the transition easier. Watson credits the employees' willingness to adopt the new strategy and their dedication to produce quality products for the improvements the company has seen on the shop floor. He also feels that the consulting and training from the TOC experts and the support of the manufacturing professionals from Lilly Software were keys to the successful 9-month implementation.

"In order to implement TOC and DBR, we had to have the highest level of commitment from everyone in the company," says Watson. "We are consistently communicating information between every department, including engineering, management, and the shop floor. We're seeing increases in shipments, throughput, scheduling, and profitability. It's exciting to realize how much we can accomplish working together and using the right tools."

Lilly Software Associates extends its congratulations to all the employees at Bescast for their hard work and business success.

About Lilly Software Associates

Lilly Software Associates, Inc. (LSA) provides a complete line of enterprise and supply chain management solutions for manufacturers and distributors. With its easy-to-use graphical nature, the VISUAL(R) suite of products helps companies capture accurate, real-time data about their business processes using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Quality Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), E-Business Relationship Management (ERM), and Warehouse Management System (WMS) capabilities.

Most VISUAL applications run on Windows NT(R), UNIX(R), LINUX, VMS, Novell(R) or OS400 using SQLBase(R), Microsoft SQLServer(TM), ORACLE(R) or DB2(R)/400 relational databases, and are certified for both iSeries and Netfinity servers.

Lilly Software has received many industry awards for its products, service, and financial growth. Recently, Lilly Software has been voted one of the 2002 Top 10 Best of Breed solutions for manufacturing by readers of Consumer Goods Technology , included in MSI's Top 100 for its seventh year, listed again in Software Magazine's Top 500, ranked in the Top 100 Application Vendors in Supply Chain e-Business, and selected as a Top 100 Logistics Information Technology Provider by Inbound Logistics.