J.D. Edwards, IBM and SynQuest Change the Rules for Enterprise Software Evaluation, Selection and Delivery With Supply Chain Advantage
Fully Integrated, End-to-End Supply Chain Solution Estimated to Cut
Implementation Time by as Much as 50 Percent
DENVER, SOMERS, N.Y., and ATLANTA, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Enterprise business software provider J.D. Edwards & Company (Nasdaq: JDEC), IBM(R) (NYSE: IBM) and supply chain software provider SynQuest have teamed up to provide Supply Chain Advantage, a unique supply chain e-business solution for the industrial fabrication and assembly (IFA) industries including fabricated metals, commercial machinery and equipment and furniture manufacturers.
Supply Chain Advantage delivers a fully-integrated, end-to-end supply chain solution through a bundle of hardware, software and services including an e-business solution powered by IBM RS/6000(R), AS/400(R) or Netfinity(R) brand servers. This solution expands on IBM's recently announced Implementation Factory strategy with a dedicated IBM SolutionWorld Implementation Center in Atlanta for J.D. Edwards and SynQuest. The solution provides significant, rapid ROI by reducing the typical 26-month evaluation, selection and implementation time by as much as 50 percent, while supporting continuous business process improvement with J.D. Edwards ActivEra(TM). The estimated timesavings are based on current pilot implementations that are expected to wrap up in as few as six months from start.
Supply Chain Advantage offers the customer two innovative approaches that define both scope and expectation up front. Through a detailed fit analysis conducted at the beginning of the engagement, the project scope is set along with expected business benefits. The Value Opportunity Assessment (VOA) process, included in the solution, identifies and quantifies a projected return on investment and establishes benchmark measurements for implementation success.
With the integration of e-business, enterprise software and advanced planning and scheduling, IFA manufacturers are able to bring new products to market faster, deliver them for a better price and succeed in a virtual market. For example, using the Supply Chain Advantage solution, companies can adapt to-order/postponement manufacturing, execute new competitive strategies and change business processes as necessary to capitalize on new opportunities. With its e-business backbone, Supply Chain Advantage can help manufacturers quickly extend their virtual enterprise, including expanding to storefronts and implementing online ordering capabilities.
"Supply Chain Advantage is part of J.D. Edwards' aggressive strategy to extend the value of enterprise software solutions beyond the backoffice to offer supply chain capabilities e-business and advanced planning and scheduling," said Doug Massingill, president and CEO at J.D. Edwards. "This solution has changed the model for selling, buying and implementing enterprise software. With Supply Chain Advantage, all three long-term partners -- J.D. Edwards, SynQuest and IBM -- serve the customer as one team with one voice."
As part of the solution IBM Global Services pre-assembles J.D. Edwards OneWorld(TM) software with SynQuest(TM) advanced planning, scheduling and execution software, IBM Net.commerce(R) e-business software and IBM ERP Bridge(TM) data collection software. The complete hardware and software solution will be implemented by IBM Global Services and optimized for clients on reliable IBM servers. The Supply Chain Advantage solution is pre-loaded to the customer's specifications and requirements before it is shipped to the customer's facilities. When the hardware arrives, it can be immediately implemented into the manufacturer's business.
"Efficient supply chain management solutions are key to a company's success. Therefore, it is important to implement them quickly and successfully," said Murray Mitchell, vice president of ERP integration services, IBM Global Services. "By working with J.D. Edwards and SynQuest, IBM Global Services will help ensure that companies' Supply Chain Advantage solutions are smoothly and rapidly integrated into the production line. IBM has enjoyed a long-standing alliance with J.D. Edwards and continues to increase its resources focused on supporting successful implementations."
The IBM SolutionWorld Implementation Center for J.D. Edwards and SynQuest is one of 10 IBM Global Services locations worldwide dedicated to implementing J.D. Edwards-based solutions. IBM has deployed more than 9,000 enterprise software professionals, including sales specialists, consultants and services teams to support its enterprise software customers. More than 1,000 of these employees are trained IBM J.D. Edwards consultants. For additional information on IBM offerings for J.D. Edwards, visit: www.ibm.com/erp/jdedwards.
SynQuest Manufacturing Manager(TM) software combines advanced planning and scheduling with the real-time feedback of a manufacturing execution system, and offers a level of precision and responsiveness to unplanned events not generally found in enterprise applications. It provides dynamic shop floor management and helps companies develop optimized production schedules based on cost, cycle time and on-time delivery objectives. Business partners since 1996, J.D. Edwards and SynQuest share more than 50 customers, most of which are in the IFA sector.
"The IFA market needs a way to improve return on investment and competitive advantage," said Joseph Trino, SynQuest president and CEO. "By combining forces, our three companies are simplifying systems selection for IFA customers. Together, we bring the innovation, resources and record of success that raises the bar on what customers can and should expect from advanced supply chain solutions. We're extremely delighted to be part of such a powerful offering."
About SynQuest
SynQuest Inc. (www.synquest.com), a privately held company headquartered in Atlanta, provides supply chain software that enables companies worldwide to optimize operational and financial performance. SynQuest Supply Chain Performance Series software is a full suite of planning and execution products that dynamically designs, executes and reviews short- and long-term plans. To achieve rapid results, SynQuest deploys its Optimal Performance Path(TM), an end-to-end approach for identifying critical opportunities for improvement, mapping SynQuest solutions to a customer's environment and establishing a road map to ensure customers continually maximize business performance. For more information, call 800-844-3228.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM's Global Industries division works with small, medium and large companies around the world to deploy the full range of IBM technologies, products and services. In addition this division works hand-in-hand with customers to conceive, develop and deploy integrated technology solutions that address specific business issues. The fastest way to get more information about IBM is through the IBM home page at ibm.com.
About J.D. Edwards
J.D. Edwards provides Idea to Action(TM) software for managing the enterprise and supply chain. The Company's integrated applications give customers control over their front office, manufacturing, logistics/distribution, human resources and finance processes for the consumer products, industrial and services industries. J.D. Edwards enables Idea to Action with ActivEra(TM), a collection of tools and technologies that extend the J.D. Edwards SCOREx and AIMx supply chain solutions and OneWorld(TM) and WorldSoftware(TM) enterprise business software. ActivEra allows customers to change their enterprise software quickly and easily during and after implementation. The Company's solutions operate in multiple computing environments, including Windows NT(R), UNIX(R) and OS/400(R), and are Java(TM) and HTML enabled.
Founded in 1977, J.D. Edwards is headquartered in Denver and posted fiscal 1998 revenues of $934 million. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Company at 800-727-5333 or via the Internet at www.jdedwards.com.
NOTE: J.D. Edwards World Source Company, 1999. J.D. Edwards is a registered trademark of J.D. Edwards & Company. The names of all other products and services of J.D. Edwards used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of J.D. Edwards World Source Company. All other product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The historical results stated above are not necessarily indicative of the results of any future period.
SynQuest Supply Chain Performance Series is a trademark of SynQuest Inc., Atlanta, Ga.
IBM, AS/400, ERP Bridge, IBM Global Services, Net.Commerce, Netfinity and RS/6000 are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
SOURCE J.D. Edwards & Company
CO: J.D. Edwards & Company; SynQuest, Inc.; International Business Machines Corp.
ST: New York, Georgia, Colorado, California
IN: CPR
SU: JVN
06/30/99 16:49 EDT prnewswire.com |
