Philips Display Components and Atos Origin Complete North America-Wide SAP Implementation

Business Wire, July 16, 2001

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 2001

Atos Origin, a global leader in providing enterprise application implementation, integration and support services, is pleased to announce that Philips Display Components has just completed the final piece of its North America-wide SAP implementation with the startup of a new Technology Center in Gomez Palacio, Mexico.

Philips Display Components has been working in partnership with Atos Origin on its SAP initiative since it was launched in late 1999. With the startup of the Mexico implementation, Philips Display Components has now linked all of its North American operations on the SAP platform, including the head office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Ottawa, Ohio manufacturing facility and its other satellite plants.

The rollout is the culmination of 18 months of effort on the part of Atos Origin and Philips Display Components to standardize and integrate various administrative functions on SAP. Atos Origin provided consulting, implementation and customization services for the project.

"It was a large scale project with aggressive deadlines," says Michael Banish, project manager for Atos Origin North America. "However, working together we were able to bring the project in on time and on budget. As a result of our efforts, the Mexico plant is ready to go into full operation by the third-quarter of this year as anticipated and all sites are now fully integrated." He adds that among other benefits, Atos Origin's international presence allowed them to use local resources to provide consulting services for the Gomez Palacio site, which not only accelerated the process, but allowed them to more effectively manage regional regulatory requirements.

Hank Gund, project leader, Philips Display Components, Americas, says, "Atos Origin's project team was very flexible. Our project definition underwent several modifications after the initial quote. Their partnership enabled us to shift focus quickly yet still meet our targets as the boundaries of the project requirements changed. Whatever the challenge, the Atos Origin project team worked to find viable solutions, all within the timing and budget set out for the project. They were true partners."

Cor Saris, president of Philips Display Components, Americas, adds, "Philips Display Components is experiencing many exciting changes, including the upstart of the Technology Center in Gomez Palacio. The smooth implementation of SAP will play an important part in our early success, because it will allow us to remain focused on ensuring our positions as the world leader in color picture tube production, instead of being troubled with administrative operations."

About Philips Display Components

Philips Display Components, headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, is committed to the ongoing development of innovative display technology. The company is the world's largest color picture tube manufacturer and offers a wide portfolio of products for television, monitor and multimedia applications and a broad range of key components. Philips Display Components is a global business group within Philips Components, a division of Royal Philips Electronics. Information about Philips Display Components is available at: www.PhilipsDisplay.com

Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 31.5 billion in 1999. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its 239,370 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.news.philips.com

About Atos Origin

Atos Origin, Inc. is a leading, global business and technology integrator focused on the creation, implementation, integration and support of enterprise business solutions that enable customers to better manage their extended enterprises and e-communities. The company's 27,000 employees deliver innovative solutions and strong industry experience to help clients turn their business objectives into value-driven results. Atos Origin currently operates in more than 30 countries worldwide, with sales of $2.5 billion ($US) in 2000.

In North America, Atos Origin operates out of seven main locations, including South Plainfield (NJ), Irvine (CA), Dallas (TX), Cincinnati (OH), Columbus (OH), Toronto and Mexico City. Customers include Lucent Technologies, NCR, Nortel, Philip Morris, Philips, Shell, Unilever and others primarily in the high tech & electronics, chemical/pharmaceutical, discrete manufacturing and consumer packaged goods industries.

Visit the company Web site at http://www.na.atosorigin.com