Highly Integrated Application Manages Quality across the Entire Production Lifecycle, Merging Quality Management with Production Execution

LONG BEACH, Calif.--Apriso Corporation, a provider of adaptive software platforms for global operations execution, today announced FlexNet^® Quality, a quality management system for extending quality assurance across manufacturing operations. This integrated solution is designed to enable manufacturers to execute a comprehensive quality control program that provides greater visibility and control over the entire manufacturing process, to closely monitor and adapt operations processes proactively, improving overall product quality throughout the production lifecycle.

Enterprises today must continually engage in manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement initiatives to remain competitive, achieve regulatory compliance and maintain economic viability. Apriso’s FlexNet Quality module provides this functionality, supporting the prerequisites for effective implementation of Six Sigma, including implementation of the DMAIC process (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) and SPC (Statistical Process Control) techniques. Lean Manufacturing programs are supported through a focus on waste minimization, combined with variability minimization. FlexNet Quality assists with ISO 2859 implementation, complying with other quality standards and the institutionalization of local initiatives as methodical, global programs.

“Merging quality management and production execution applications into a common architecture would allow manufacturers to bring better quality products to market at an accelerated pace and create significant cost savings,” said Simon Jacobson and Colin Masson in the January 5, 2005 AMR Research article entitled Operations Excellence Must Include Quality and Compliance.

Apriso’s FlexNet Quality has redefined quality management with the only operations execution platform that encompasses full manufacturing execution with a quality management application. Apriso manages all the elements of manufacturing: suppliers, materials, equipment, tooling, specifications and labor. By integrating quality throughout all these areas, Apriso provides manufacturers multiple quality assurance program benefits, including:

• Real-time visibility to quality noncompliance, enabling faster containment of quality issues
• Decreased cycle times through fewer rework processes, getting the job done right the first time
• Improved work flows, increasing capacity utilization and reducing capital expenditures
• Effective management of raw materials, reducing cost of goods
• Automated quality validation and reporting, addressing regulatory compliance initiatives

“FlexNet is an ideal platform to build a quality assurance program,” said John Fishell, director of product management at Apriso. “Data is readily available across each of the areas of production for collecting, measuring and reporting on, contributing to the continuous performance improvement programs today’s manufacturers are implementing.”

Product Features and Capabilities

FlexNet was designed as a flexible operations execution platform deploying a native Business Process Management application. Specific FlexNet Quality features include:

• Quality metrics contained in a single master data set, so product specifications with versioning and reason codes for defects are easily synchronized with your ERP, including SAP R/3 and mySAP QM IDI standard interfaces
• Quality inspection is integrated with receiving, warehouse, production and shipping business process management
• Forward and reverse product traceability and genealogy to track each raw material and supplier component
• Quality KPIs can be integrated with other manufacturing KPIs in FlexNet Global Performance Manager
• Standard SPC control charts available as background tasks and graphical displays

Leverage the Benefits of a System that Scales Globally

FlexNet Quality includes each of the benefits of the FlexNet Operations Execution Platform. As a logical extension of FlexNet, the new Quality module shares the same unified data model with integrated process-based architecture, enabling quality inspection processes to be highly configurable. FlexNet Quality is completely interoperable with the operations modules of the FlexNet platform – it can perform inspections and return results for any location where production processes are performed. Due to the global nature of FlexNet, best practices may be learned and deployed enterprise-wide, contributing to a more consistent production and quality program, while enhancing continuous improvement programs that emphasize minimizing variability throughout the production lifecycle.

Pricing and Availability

FlexNet Quality is now available for deployment. If you are interested in learning more about a specific implementation or in obtaining a price quote, please contact Apriso through www.apriso.com, or call +1 (562) 951-8000.

About Apriso

Apriso Corporation is a software company dedicated to providing competitive advantage for its customers. It does so by enabling organizations to adapt quickly and easily to market changes and unexpected events. Apriso’s FlexNet platform provides visibility, adaptability and real-time control of manufacturing operations across the enterprise and supply chain network. This is accomplished by integrating planning, execution and control, increasing operational efficiency and eliminating errors in the production process. Apriso serves more than 150 customers in 39 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, powering more than 550 installations worldwide. Its customers include General Motors, Lear, Honeywell, Microsoft, L'Oreal, Lockheed Martin, Becton Dickinson, Rubbermaid, Saint-Gobain, Novelis and Essilor.