GEMA Selects Activplant Performance Management System to Drive Best Practices.

LONDON -- DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, Hyundai manufacturing alliance chooses Activplant to embed continuous improvement capability in new plants developing World Engine

Activplant, the leader in enterprise manufacturing intelligence software, announced today that the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA), a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai Motor Corporation and Mitsubishi Motor Company, has selected the Activplant Performance Management System(TM) to drive constant performance improvements in its ground-breaking engine manufacturing program. GEMA formed the alliance to develop a new family of four-cylinder engines, dubbed "World Engine", in North America.

GEMA plans to manufacture the innovative line of high quality, cost-efficient, in-line engines at two plants in Dundee, Michigan. The alliance has selected the Activplant system to be pre-installed in its plants. The system, released in October 2004, is the first comprehensive pre-configured system to deliver world-class manufacturing metrics to drive performance improvements.

"When we set out to design the Activplant Performance Management System, we wanted to revolutionize plant management by giving manufacturers the ability to drive accountability for performance improvement across their operations," said Dennis Cocco, Founder and Chief Product Strategist, Activplant. "Being selected as the enterprise manufacturing intelligence system for GEMA is a testament to the value we can deliver within the plant environment."

The Activplant Performance Management System (APMS) is designed to help progressive manufacturers meet production, quality and cost targets through actionable manufacturing intelligence. Production and plant managers learn where, when and why they are losing production and how they can eliminate those losses. The system consists of:

- the Activplant Manufacturing Intelligence Platform;

- a set of pre-configured profiles that deliver pre-defined data collection, reports and analysis templates designed for specific plant types;

- an operations methodology designed to help plant management drive results;

- an implementation methodology designed to accelerate a plant's time to ROI;

- implementation services to accelerate the adoption and usage of the system.

Activplant is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, and the APMS uses Microsoft technologies that enable GEMA to pull key performance indicators in real time from systems across its new plants, and communicate the impact of that aggregated data to key stakeholders throughout the organization.

"Activplant's system is an excellent example of how Microsoft works with partners to develop solutions that can derive new value from existing manufacturing applications," said John McGlynn, Managing Director, US Manufacturing Industry Unit, Microsoft Corp. "The APMS provides GEMA with a clearer focus on what really counts in the manufacturing environment, by utilizing the strengths of the Microsoft .NET integrated platform. This allows GEMA to go beyond mere decision support providing a larger view of how its plants are performing and where it can make improvements."

About GEMA

The Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance LLC in Dundee, Michigan, USA, manufactures a family of advanced 4-cylinder engines jointly developed by DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi Motors Company and Hyundai Motor Company, which in alliance represent the largest engine manufacturing operation in the world with empowered teams and leveraged strategic partnerships achieving maximum economies of scale.

About Activplant Corporation

An enterprise manufacturing intelligence market leader, Activplant's performance management solution has set the standard in operational excellence within the world's largest and most admired manufacturers. Aimed at high-volume, high-automation plants, Activplant's solution consolidates plant floor data into relevant real-time and historical information, enabling productivity gains by optimizing product, people, equipment and processes. With Activplant solutions, plant managers and manufacturing executives can focus on the key issues in their facilities that ultimately improve product quality, accelerate new product launches and drive performance gains. Activplant is a privately held company based in London, Ontario. For more information please visit www.activplant.com.