Lighthammer Announces Support for SAP NetWeaver; Support for SAP NetWeaver Will Generate Cross-Application for Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing

Business Wire, Jan 16, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 2003

Lighthammer Software Development Corp., the leading vendor of Manufacturing Intelligence software, today announced its support for SAP(R) NetWeaver(TM).

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, Lighthammer will develop and co-market an xApp(TM) (cross application), built using the SAP NetWeaver platform, that addresses opportunity/problem discovery, analysis, and closed-loop monitoring of manufacturing business processes.

The xApp, which will begin shipping in Q2 of 2003, integrates manufacturing applications into a unified, cross-functional web application to enable continuous quality improvement, rapid innovation and sustainable competitive advantage.

Customers will use the Lighthammer xApp to synchronize production improvement with management of the overall business, focusing on improving quality, lowering costs, and increasing the responsiveness and predictability of manufacturing operations.

Lighthammer has designed the xApp to take advantage of its industry-proven suite of real-time connectors to shop-floor systems (automation systems, laboratory, asset management, plant historians and execution systems).

The xApp's ease-of-use features allow a wide range of users, from plant workers to executive management, to view aggregated data from the many systems used in production, and to analyze the data and implement strategies for production improvement. The benefits of the Lighthammer xApp include:

    1. Powerful visualization and analytics to support discovery of
       improvement opportunities
    2. Real-time collaboration between process "experts" for
       troubleshooting and problem resolution
    3. Comprehensive real-time monitoring and alerting of production
       quality, costs, and schedules, including integrated alert
       notification, and
    4. An XML-based transactional engine that bridges the gap between
       the real-time systems and SAP solutions

The Lighthammer xApp includes a set of iView portal components for visualization and analysis, a transactional engine with seamless connectivity to the exchange infrastructure, and a data interface that provides historical storage of key performance indicator (KPI) metrics in SAP Business Information Warehouse.

Lighthammer's Vice President of Business Development, Stephen Cloughley, notes that SAP NetWeaver represents a revolutionary approach to deployment of collaborative applications that can fundamentally change the way manufacturing companies conduct business. "Lighthammer's customers have realized phenomenal ROI on investments in continuous improvement applications. By utilizing SAP NetWeaver, an expanded 'reach' to a broader set of users in the enterprise, as well as customers and suppliers, can only serve to amplify the gains achieved. Best of all, customers need not replace existing information assets to leverage this powerful solution."

Lighthammer and SAP recognized the opportunity to leverage their strong positions in the manufacturing sector to bring a new class of solution to market, with immediate support from a number of world class manufacturing companies who have agreed to serve as "lighthouse" customers for the new xApp.

Lighthammer is a proud supporter of NetWeaver and is amongst a select group of partners who design, develop, and market xApps under the close guidance of SAP. "SAP has demonstrated a very strong commitment to Lighthammer, and as a joint business partner, is committed to the ultimate success of the xApp," said Cloughley.

Background Information:

About Lighthammer Software Development Corp., a privately held corporation headquartered in Exton, PA., is the leading independent supplier of web products for manufacturing.

Lighthammer's Illuminator, the world's first Manufacturing Intelligence Portal, enables real-time visibility to manufacturing performance and supply chain execution enabling companies to maximize their asset effectiveness and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Illuminator is currently is use at more than 300 sites worldwide and has been selected by more than 100 of the Fortune 500 manufacturers as a Manufacturing Intelligence solution.

Further information on Lighthammer and its products can be found at www.lighthammer.com.

SAP, NetWeaver, xApp and all other SAP product and service names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and several other countries.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.