Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group Selects Profile Systems' MasterDepot Item Data Management Solution.

Business Editors/Automotive Writers

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2002

The Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG), a division of the Dana Automotive Corporation, has selected the Corporate Edition of Profile Systems' MasterDepot(R) solution to serve as their central repository of synchronized product, packaging and pricing data for the division's multiple business units.

MasterDepot Corporate Edition is comprehensive item data management software that enables organizations to gather, manage and exchange accurate, complete and synchronized product and pricing information -- both internally and externally with multiple trading partners in multiple electronic formats. Dana AAG's use of MasterDepot will insure data consistency and uniformity across their multiple divisions and disparate enterprise systems -- allowing them to better serve customers and trading partners, reduce transaction errors and costs, and improve the accuracy of invoices, purchase orders and other order management documents.

"MasterDepot is the right solution, and Profile Systems is the right partner," says Jerry McCabe, Vice President of Marketing of the Dana Underhood Group. "The path to supply chain excellence starts with good data and MasterDepot, with the depth of its database and the sophistication of its data gathering, maintenance and importing/exporting functionality is the right solution for our complex needs."

Mr. McCabe recently delivered the defining presentation at the annual eForum Conference of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), where he shared Dana's plan for the management and distribution of product information between divisions and to Dana customers. "At first, I didn't hear it. Then I ignored it. Finally, I refused to believe it," offered McCabe while discussing what he has learned to be the "inescapable truth" of modern e-commerce. "It's all about the data." To view the presentation, select the AAIA link at http://www.profilesystems.com/index.html.

"We are delighted to further expand our relationship with Dana," says Edward Mallen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Profile Systems. "Dana is demonstrating true leadership and vision within the automotive aftermarket as we help it to build a long-term, sustainable process for managing product data with over 200 internal locations and with their customers."

Working with Dana and its key trading partners, Profile Systems will provide extensive data field matching and synchronization services, insuring that all common data fields, such as part numbers, definitions, barcodes, and VMRS codes, are matched within customer and trading partner databases. Data matching and alignment sets the stage for ongoing synchronization that delivers lower transaction costs in the trading relationship by reducing order errors, adjustments and returns.

Importantly, the Dana AAG MasterDepot database will maintain and structure data in compliance with the Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) developed by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). PIES is a standardized data format that will help insure compatibility among trading partners within the supply chain's automotive and heavy-duty aftermarkets.

Over 100 companies -- from a broad range of verticals, including consumer packaged goods, medical/surgical, MRO supplies, electrical, HVACR and automotive aftermarket -- have purchased or licensed the MasterDepot solution. MasterDepot features and functions, include the ability to create and store hundreds of unique data fields for each product, including expanded product descriptions, attributes, catalog numbers, commodity codes (UPC/UNSPSC), private pricing, image location links, data sheets, and industry classifications, etc.

About Profile Systems

Based in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Profile Systems is a privately held developer of product data and supply chain management solutions for business-to-business electronic commerce. Founded in 1994, the company's products include MasterDepot(R) product data management and synchronization solution, ProSAIM(R) Supplier Assisted Inventory Management software for automating replenishment.

The company also offers extensive consulting services, including product data cleanup, supplier enablement/assessment, inventory consulting and overall electronic commerce and supply chain scoping projects. The company's customers include Johnson Controls, Osram-Sylvania, Hubbell, CVS and The Stanley Works among others. More information about Profile Systems can be found by visiting - www.profilesystems.com or by calling 413-737-2000.

About Dana

Dana Corporation is one of the world's largest suppliers of components, modules and complete systems to global vehicle manufacturers and their related aftermarket. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, the company operates some 300 major facilities in 35 countries and employs more than 75,000 people. The company reported sales of $12.3 billion in 2000. Dana's Internet address is http://www.dana.com.