Pacific Bearing Relies on Business Process Automation to Top Competition; Manufacturer Goes Live on Frontstep's SyteLine 7 Microsoft-based ERP software

Business Wire, Nov 4, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 2002

Pacific Bearing, a longtime Frontstep (Nasdaq:FSTP) customer, has gone live on SyteLine(R) 7, the newest version of Frontstep's extended ERP suite. Pacific Bearing, a maker of self-lubricated linear bearings and linear motion systems, chose to upgrade to SyteLine 7 because its new functionality on the Microsoft .NET architecture allows the company to increase efficiency and reduce costs by automating many routine business processes.

"Even in the relatively short time since our go-live, we've already seen dramatic improvements," said Bob Schroeder, CEO of Pacific Bearing. "SyteLine 7's approach to planning and scheduling has helped us reduce late jobs by 55 percent, and late customer orders are down by 50 percent. We've also seen a 30 percent reduction in work-in-process since deploying SyteLine 7, and these efficiency improvements result in reduced SG&A expenses."

Pacific Bearing expects continued improvement through features such as screens and reports that are easily tailored to their business needs, as well as streamlined entry and validation of shop-floor data. Lean manufacturing is key to Pacific Bearing's continued success, and SyteLine 7 was selected because it contributes to time and cost savings throughout the organization.

"We expect that SyteLine 7 will help us reduce expenses by at least five percent, while increasing our ability to leverage intellectual capital to better serve our customers," Schroeder said. "We now have the technology to compete successfully with companies ten to 100 times our size."

"We've served the manufacturing industry for more than 20 years, and understand the needs of our customers," said Stephen A. Sasser, Frontstep president and CEO. "We saw that the Microsoft platform and the vision of .NET could form the foundation of an advanced ERP system with capabilities manufacturers need to compete today and in the future. We made a significant investment in time and resources to deliver SyteLine 7, and are gratified to see Pacific Bearing among the first to benefit."

About Frontstep

Frontstep is a leading global provider of software and services for discrete, to-order manufacturers. With more than 20 years of experience, Frontstep leverages the Microsoft .NET platform to help manufacturers create and implement solutions -- including extended ERP, customer relationship management, and supply chain management -- that simplify and streamline business processes and operations. Through these innovative and practical solutions, manufacturers can respond better and faster to customer demands for quality products and services.

Frontstep, formerly Symix, is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and has more than 4,400 customer sites and 26 offices worldwide. For more information visit www.frontstep.com.

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