FastMAN Interactive Planning System Selected by Industry Leaders in U.S., Canada, and Europe; LAM Research, Harris Farinon, Proform Fitness Products, and The Trane Company Join Trend To Interactive Planning Systems

Business Wire, June 14, 1995

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JUNE 14, 1995--FastMAN Software Systems announced today that LAM Research, Harris Farinon, Proform Fitness Products, and The Trane Company have selected the FastMAN Interactive Planning System. All four companies will use the simulation and analysis capabilities of FastMAN in conjunction with their existing MRPII systems to increase the speed and accuracy of decision-making processes that affect sales, customer service, and manufacturing performance. FastMAN enables material, production, and procurement managers to rapidly simulate changes in demand, supply, product structures, costs, or planning policies; and then quickly identify the impact and the specific actions required to implement the change.

"We are excited to add such a prestigious group of companies to our growing world-wide base of users," said Martin Horne, FastMAN president and founder. "These companies represent a spectrum of products and a variety of manufacturing environments, but they are similar in that they all recognize that their success over the coming years will be based largely on the service they provide and the value they create for their customers."

The selection of FastMAN by these companies further confirms the growing trend for manufacturers of complex or highly variable products to supplement their ERP/MRPII systems with PC-based client/server planning systems. "Now that this technology is becoming truely affordable, more and more companies are embracing it to enhance their ability to respond quickly to the changing demands of their customers and marketplace," said Horne.

Over the past 18 months FastMAN has worked with companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Measurex, and Rockwell to refine the concepts of Interactive Planning and then integrate and package these concepts into an easy-to-implement and cost-effective software product that can benefit many manufacturers. Today, in addition to the companies noted above, FastMAN is being used by industry leaders such as Alcatel, Harris, Lexmark, Mitel, Motorola, Panasonic, and others.

FastMAN 3.4 runs on single or networked 486 or Pentium PC's. FastMAN's new Windows NT based client/server product, FastMAN 4.0, is currently in beta testing and will be available in Q4 1995. Pricing is based on number of users. Typical configurations range from $75,000 to $250,000.

FastMAN Software Systems specializes in PC-based software for the manufacturing industry. International headquarters is located in Ottawa, Canada and the U.S. national sales office is in Chicago, Illinois. European sales and service are provided through Timegate Manufacturing Solutions of Birmingham, England. For more information contact Marty Bogenschutz in Cincinnati at 513-530-9141 or Janet Casselman in Ottawa at 613-596-3344.

FastMAN Interactive Planning System New User Profiles

LAM Research Corporation

Fremont, California

LAM Research is a leading supplier of wafer processing equipment to the worldwide semiconductor industry. In addition to their California headquarters facility, they also have customer support centers throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia- Pacific. LAM will use the interactive planning and analysis capabilities of FastMAN to enhance their existing business systems environment which is based on Computer Associates' MANMAN MRPII software, running on DEC VAX.

Harris Farinon Canada

Montreal, Quebec

Harris Farinon supplies a broad range of analog and digital microwave radios, lightwave systems, and multiplex communications equipment for world markets. Its products are used in more than 100 countries to provide communications networks for telephone and cellular companies, utilities, pipelines, railroads, construction firms, military and government agencies, and broadcast stations. FastMAN will be integrated into the Harris business systems which are based on Spectrum's MINX MRPII software running on a Sun Server. Harris currently uses FastMAN in San Carlos, CA and San Antonio, TX.

Proform Fitness Products, Inc.

Logan, Utah

Proform Fitness Products is a leading designer and manufacturer of exercise and fitness systems for the home, institutional and private facility health and fitness industry. Proform brands include Weslo, Image, Weider, and Proform. FastMAN will provide simulation and analysis capabilities for Proform's current business systems environment which is based on Pansophic MRPII software, running on an AS/400.

The Trane Company

Epinal, France

Societe Trane, a division of The Trane Company manufactures large commercial refrigeration equipment for distribution throughout Europe. Trane will use FastMAN in a multi-site environment in cooperation with their existing MRPII system - CONTROL:Manufacturing from Cincom, running on an IBM mainframe.

CONTACT: Nuvera Group, Cincinnati

Marty Bogenschutz, 513/530-9141

or

FastMAN Software Systems Inc., Ottawa

Janet Casselman, 613/596-3344