Lilly Software Announces New Features and Enhancements in VISUAL Manufacturing Version 6.2.

Business/Technology Editors

HAMPTON, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2001

With the release of VISUAL Manufacturing(R) version 6.2, Lilly Software unveils an improved look to its flagship enterprise product and delivers a significant number of new enhancements and features.

The most obvious change with version 6.2 involves the updated windows in VISUAL Manufacturing. With Outlook-style toolbars, right-click functionality in more places, new icons, and an improved menu layout, VISUAL users will find navigating the system easier than ever before.

Version 6.2 is packed with beneficial tools to help automate business processes and streamline workflow. VISUAL Manufacturing now includes the much anticipated MRP by Warehouse capabilities, which allow companies to set different planning policies for separate warehouses by part. Lilly Software also offers a new Plant Maintenance module, which helps companies easily schedule and manage planned and unplanned maintenance activities. Customers who use VISUAL DesignLink(TM) will find support for AutoCAD(R) 2000 and EDI users will see integration enhancements. Lilly has also developed a new Order Management window that makes it easier to check product availability, and has added improved sorting, linking, and efficiency factors to the Scheduling Window(R)and the Common Sense Throughput Window.

Another powerful feature that VISUAL customers will enjoy is the ability to create macros. By developing macros using Visual Basic Script, companies can customize their VISUAL system to perform certain tasks, such as searching for data in other sources (e.g., tables and Excel spreadsheets), creating prompts for users, and calling other programs.

Committed to addressing customer needs, Lilly Software has included a variety of user-requested enhancements including the ability to access a part's purchase history from Part Maintenance, auto-browse functionality for non-key fields, and the ability to update the estimated costs in an Engineering Master with actual costs from a work order.

Updated costing is also where users will see a big change in VISUAL Financials(R). VISUAL Financials includes a new Euro conversion utility and a significant number of improvements to Value Added Tax (VAT) capabilities, but the most important addition is that companies can now perform Average Costing. In the past, VISUAL accommodated Standard and Actual Costing methods, but by including Average Costing, also known as Average Inventory Valuation, Lilly can now address the needs of manufacturers who operate within fluctuating price markets.

With 6.2, Lilly Software will release VISUAL eBusiness(TM), a fast-implementing online solution that supports both B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) transactions. VISUAL eBusiness operates as an extension of Lilly Software's enterprise and warehouse systems, allowing manufacturers and distributors to develop effective electronic storefronts and post their catalogs and pricing information on the Web. Lilly will include a Foundation module with VISUAL Manufacturing and offer an advanced Enterprise module for companies who want to purchase additional functionality.

Lilly Software also reveals VISUAL BTS and TMS, two new modules that enhance its VISUAL supply chain solution. VISUAL BTS is a Radio Frequency-enabled barcode transaction system that allows companies to automate their material and labor transaction processes and print industry-compliant labels. Lilly is also releasing the first phase of its new Transportation Management System (TMS). With TMS, companies can easily perform open parcel manifesting, and select UPS shipping options, generate tracking numbers, and display shipment history.

"This latest release of VISUAL Manufacturing continues our tradition of providing a leading edge technology platform, while at the same time reinforces our commitment to enhancing the functional side of the product according to the needs identified by our customers," says Scott Rich, Vice President, Marketing, Lilly Software Associates.

New and existing VISUAL customers will find that the features and functions in the latest release of VISUAL Manufacturing make the system even more powerful and easier to use. Lilly Software is currently shipping Version 6.2.

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 suite of products helps companies capture accurate, real-time data about their business processes using ERP, APS, MES, Quality Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), E-Business Relationship Management (ERM), Warehouse Management System (WMS), and Transportation Management System (TMS) 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.

In 1998 and 1999, Inc. magazine ranked LSA as one of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the US. In 2000, honors for Lilly Software included making the lists for both Software Magazine's Software 500 and Manufacturing Systems' Top 100 Software Companies. Recently, Lilly Software has been recognized by start magazine as one of the Hottest Companies for its fourth consecutive year, received another spot on the Software 500, and is currently listed in Managing Automation magazine as a 2001 Software Leader.