[April 14, 2005] Invensys Controls Expands Commitment to QAD Platform for Global Manufacturing; Selection of QAD MFG/PRO eB2.1 Fueled by Fast Deployment, Support for Centralized Functions Tweet CARPINTERIA, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- April 14, 2005 -- QAD Inc. (NASDAQ:QADI), a leading provider of enterprise applications for global manufacturers, today announced that Invensys Controls, a top global provider of commercial and residential heating, cooling and safety systems, is expanding its use of QAD software as a platform for managing manufacturing enterprise operations. Having utilized QAD enterprise applications since 1996, Invensys Controls will upgrade to QAD MFG/PRO eB2.1 at sites in North America and Europe, and deploy the software at new facilities in Asia. Invensys Controls anticipates that extending its commitment to the QAD platform will further enhance its ability to streamline production, improve the flow of information across worldwide operations and better align supply with demand. Invensys Controls was formed by parent company Invensys in 2004, when it merged Invensys Climate Controls and Invensys Appliance Controls. Invensys Controls' brands legacy reaches back more than a century to the origins of the modern climate control industry. The manufacturer's deployment and upgrade of QAD software in facilities around the world will establish a foundation to centralize business processes that sites share in common, while preserving flexibility to accommodate local operating requirements and business models that best suit each plant. In addition to bringing world-class enterprise function to new locations, Invensys Control's use of the QAD platform will help the manufacturer reduce costs associated with system administration. "Our competitive evaluation reaffirmed that QAD would provide us the best value and return on investment as we grow," said James Manfredi, director of information technology, Invensys Controls. "Just as important, QAD shares our vision for distributed order management, where visibility into our global operations allows us to distribute and adjust production across our facilities worldwide, and respond quickly and effectively to changes in demand." As Invensys Controls facilities are being established in China, the manufacturer has been able to deploy QAD MFG/PRO eB2.1 quickly by drawing on its knowledge and experience with the QAD platform. The implementation was completed in a matter of weeks, and QAD Global Services was enlisted to train employees in the local facilities to ensure knowledge transfer and self-sufficiency with QAD applications. Looking ahead, Invensys Controls will consider adding functionality with QAD modules for lean manufacturing, consigned inventory and electronic data interchange (EDI) to continue to improve margins. "Forward-thinking industrial manufacturers such as Invensys Controls are using technology to take advantage of multiple locations and modes of manufacturing, initiate advanced production techniques and gain competitive advantage," said Pamela Lopker, QAD president and founder. "With eB2.1, we can enable both the benefits of centralized services and the power of local flexibility. For 25 years, QAD has applied the best thinking in manufacturing theory and leading technology to solve our customers' real-world manufacturing challenges." QAD MFG/PRO eB2.1 includes a Shared Services Domain module that provides companies with the infrastructure to centralize operations using fewer databases. For global manufacturers such as Invensys Controls whose business spans multiple nations, manufacturing models and compliance requirements, QAD MFG/PRO eB2.1 supports creation of "domains" configured to reflect the operational characteristics of individual facilities -- such as currencies, charts of accounts and more -- within a single database. In addition, security enhancements and general ledger consolidation capabilities provide control and support compliance with regulatory requirements such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. About Invensys Controls Invensys Controls is a leading global provider of components, systems and services used to control the comfort and safety of residential and commercial living environments. Its offerings serve the global market for heating, air conditioning/cooling, building systems, commercial refrigeration, safety and automotive industries. Invensys Controls is one of only a few competitors in the global climate industry that can deliver complete, integrated systems and solutions to its customers, from single components to systems that integrate components to services such as remote monitoring and diagnostic services. About QAD QAD is a leading provider of enterprise applications for global manufacturing companies. QAD applications provide critical functionality for managing manufacturing resources and operations within and beyond the enterprise, enabling global manufacturers to collaborate with their customers, suppliers and partners to make and deliver the right product, at the right cost and at the right time. Manufacturers of automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial and medical products use QAD applications at approximately 5,300 licensed sites in more than 90 countries and in as many as 26 languages. For more information about QAD, telephone +1 805 684 6614, or visit the QAD Web site at: www.qad.com. "QAD" is a registered trademark of QAD Inc. All other products or Company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Note to Investors: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, evolving demand for the company's software products and products that operate with the company's products; the company's ability to sustain license and service demand; the company's ability to leverage improvements in the IT and economic environment; the company's ability to sustain customer renewal rates at current levels; the publication of opinions by industry analysts about the company, its products and technology; the reliability of estimates of transaction and integration costs and benefits; the entry of new competitors and their technological advances; delays in localizing the company's products for new markets; delays in sales as a result of lengthy sales cycles; changes in operating expenses, pricing, timing of new product releases, the method of product distribution or product mix; general economic conditions, exchange rate fluctuations and the global political environment. In addition, revenue and earnings in the enterprise resource planning (ERP), e-business and distributed order management software industries are subject to fluctuations. Software license revenue, in particular, is subject to variability with a significant proportion of revenue earned in the last month of each quarter. Given the high margins associated with license revenue, modest fluctuations can have a substantial impact on net income. Investors should not use any one quarter's results as a benchmark for future growth. For a more detailed description of the risk factors associated with the company and the industries in which it operates, please refer to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2004 ended January 31, 2004. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]