USDATA Penetrates EMS Market with Global Roll-Out of Xfactory MES.

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999--

USDATA Corporation (Nasdaq:USDC), a global manufacturing software solutions supplier, today announced that Jabil Circuit, one of the world's largest electronics manufacturing service providers, has adopted USDATA's manufacturing execution system (MES), Xfactory(R), as its worldwide standard for its global manufacturing facilities.

Power Engineers (Hailey, Idaho), a USDATA Certified Integration Partner, has been awarded the contract to implement the first installation of the global roll-out commencing in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Jabil, with fiscal year 99 revenue of $2 billion, has demonstrated a continued commitment to advanced manufacturing technology and to highly automated operations, processes and complete turnkey services for manufacturing partners. This has set the standard for excellence and innovation in the electronics manufacturing industry.

USDATA's Xfactory object modeling MES product was unanimously selected by a Jabil MES evaluation team which consisted of key global personnel, plant and IT managers as well as representatives from each Jabil plant. According to Jabil Vice President Mike Ward, "We selected the USDATA/Power solution because we were looking for a product that allowed for both growth and agility and could improve production across multiple plant levels. Xfactory provided all that as well as ease-of-use."

According to USDATA President and CEO Bob Merry, "Success in the electronics assembly industry is measured by the manufacturer's ability to adapt easily to rapidly changing customer demand. Xfactory represents a huge step forward in MES because it is designed to allow manufacturers to react more quickly than their competitors using other systems."

Merry continued, "This is a growing market. Industry reports indicate that the trend toward external manufacturing will continue to grow as companies look for additional ways to reduce costs and employ the most advanced technologies available. USDATA meets this need with Xfactory, which improves manufacturing visibility and allows control and product traceability with less paper on the production floor."

Dawn Garrett, IT project manager for Power Engineers, Inc. said, "We believe that in using Xfactory visual object modeling we can develop a highly sophisticated MES application in a very short time frame compared to other development tools we have used in the past."

Xfactory, a work-in-process (WIP) tracking product that incorporates Microsoft's DNA (Distributed interNet Applications) architecture, enables manufacturing plants to more easily and quickly automate their production processes. Users can integrate, coordinate and manage data across multiple levels -- including all areas of production, inventory management, scheduling, planning and business management.

Jabil Circuit, Inc. (NYSE:JBL) is one of the world's largest electronics manufacturing service providers, serving leading companies in the communications, computer, computer peripheral, automotive and consumer industries. Jabil provides the total manufacturing solution including circuit design, board design from schematic, mechanical and product design, prototype assembly, volume board assembly, system assembly, direct fulfillment, repair and warranty services from 20 facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

Power Engineers Inc. is an employee-owned multi-disciplinary consulting firm, headquartered in Hailey, Idaho. Founded in 1976, Power Engineers is one of the largest consulting engineering firms in the US, with a reputation for high-quality, innovative engineering services for manufacturing clients throughout the world. Power Engineers' Automation Division is focused on providing complete system integration services from intelligent sensors, PLC's and SCADA through data warehouse, Web Clients, and interfaces to Enterprise Business Systems. Power Engineers is meeting today's rapidly changing needs with complete systems automation integrating plant floor information with the enterprise level.

USDATA Corporation (Nasdaq:USDC) is a global supplier of component-based production software that is designed to help customers reduce operating costs, shorten cycle times and improve product quality in their manufacturing operations. The company's software enables manufacturers to access accurate and timely information -- whether they are on the plant-floor, in the office, or around the globe. USDATA's solutions span the full range of manufacturing, from monitoring equipment to tracking product flow, and are designed to integrate seamlessly with customer's existing manufacturing and business software. This combination of product breadth and ease of integration provides a total plant solution that defines new levels of manufacturing performance and gives customers a distinct competitive advantage.

Now in its 25th year, USDATA has a strong global presence with more than 41,000 installs, in more than 50 countries throughout the world, 13 offices worldwide and a global network of distribution and support partners. The company is headquartered in Richardson, Texas.