TRW Releases New Network Computing Architecture Version of MARC -CS Warehouse Management System.

McLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 1999--TRW (NYSE: TRW) Integrated Supply Chain Solutions announced today the release of the warehousing industry's first Network Computing Architecture (NCA) version of a warehouse management system (WMS).

The newest version of TRW's MARC -CS (Configured Solution) has a Java-based device that practically eliminates user configuration issues by functioning independent of a particular operating system, saving clients time and money when implementing MARC. It also increases Internet and Intranet access to a customer's warehouse data, a trend in the industry that is swiftly becoming a standard, and facilitates centralized management of a distributed application.

By combining the robustness of the client/server model, the ease of use and deployment and universal access to data of the Internet, and the flexibility and high performance of distributed objects, NCA represents industry movements toward open standards, component models and server-based computing. As a result, businesses lower the cost of their computing infrastructure and receive a higher return on their computing investment.

"This offering is yet another example of how TRW's MARC products provide a seamless integration with ERP (enterprise resource planning) applications as more become NCA compliant," said Ronald Riggin, vice president of Product Engineering, TRW Logistics Execution Systems (LES).

"Providing a consistent delivery approach, the NCA version of MARC-CS allows users to reduce configuration management costs, enhance enterprise integration and facilitate authorized corporate and customer access. In addition, Java allows greater control over configuration management and security, which limits an end-user's ability to modify, copy, or change the core software. Moreover, the new version is consistent with the soon to be released Oracle 8i `The Database for Internet Computing' architecture," Riggin added.

"The powerful building blocks of Oracle Forms version 5.0 and Developer/2000 enabled us to provide a rapid and natural evolution of MARC-CS to a Network Computing Architecture," said Muthu Vellayan, director of Product Technologies, TRW LES. "We were able to bring this product to market months ahead of our original product plan."

The NCA version of MARC-CS will look and feel identical to the current and future standard graphical user interface (GUI) offerings. The key difference is that Oracle does not need to be installed on the client device for that device to operate the MARC user interface. Additionally, using NCA, all applications-level processing is retained on a server and the client device is only responsible for the user presentation functions. This permits the use of a smaller client computer system that performs at the same level of responsiveness to "conventional" GUI interfaces using larger systems.

TRW Integrated Supply Chain Solutions (ISCS) provides total supply chain solutions: management consulting, enterprise resource planning, manufacturing execution systems, and logistics execution systems. TRW Logistics Execution Systems (LES), a part of the ISCS unit, is a leading global warehouse management and complementary logistics execution solutions provider. To date, MARC systems have been implemented in more than 250 sites worldwide. Customers extend into various industries including: automotive, publishing, semiconductor manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals and medical, electronics, third-party logistics, grocery, retail, apparel, and wholesale distribution. For more information on the MARC product line, please visit http://www.trw.com/MARC. For sales information, call 800/876-3667 or write to [e-mail].

TRW Inc. provides advanced technology products and services for the automotive, space and defense, and information technology markets worldwide. The company's sales in 1997 were approximately $12 billion. The company's news releases are available through TRW's corporate web site http://www.trw.com.