Outboard Marine Corporation Selects Compaq as Platform of Choice
Multi-Million Dollar Contract Won Due to Customer Choice Distribution Model
and Global Service and Support
HOUSTON, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news) today
announced that Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) has standardized its global business on Compaq IT
solutions and services. Compaq was selected for its worldwide service and support capabilities, superior
customer choice distribution model, and breadth of product offerings.
OMC's standardization begins with the simultaneous worldwide installation of 1,800 Compaq Deskpro
computers and will continue with a comprehensive deployment of Compaq Armada notebook PCs,
ProLiant servers, storage products, and monitors. All products will be leased through Compaq Capital, a
wholly- owned subsidiary of Compaq Computer Corporation
''Key determinants in Outboard Marine Corporation's decision to choose Compaq are their customer
choice distribution model and focus on total cost of ownership,'' said Dennis Ervin, chief information
officer at Outboard Marine Corporation, marketer of internationally-known boat brands such as Chris-
Craft®, Four Winns®, and Johnson® and Evinrude® marine engines. ''Compaq and CompuCom are
strategic worldwide IT partners that have the ability to deliver product and services where we need them,
on our deployment timetable, and customized to our specifications.''
''Compaq is pleased to be Outboard Marine Corporation's IT partner of choice,'' said Enrico Pesatori,
Compaq senior vice president of corporate marketing. ''We are working to help streamline the way they
utilize IT, from manufacturing to administration, helping them increase their competitive position in the
global marketplace.''
''Global enterprises like Outboard Marine recognize the importance of having a strong team of suppliers
who are coordinated and strategically aligned, as we are with Compaq,'' said Tom Lynch, CompuCom
chief operating officer. ''With the changes evolving in the market today, we see this kind of collaborative
effort among end customer, manufacturer and systems integrator, as the future of IT outsourcing.''
The Compaq solution is already impacting OMC's business. The company recently deployed Deskpro
ENs to handle a key aspect of the manufacturing process worldwide. Outboard Marine Corporation has
an important manufacturing application program called the Production Control System, which schedules
various operations and verifies certain events on the shop floor. The software keeps the manufacturing
process on track, saving them time and money. The IT solution implemented had to be able to handle
the challenging manufacturing environment and be operational 24 x 7. The Deskpro ENs, with their small
form factor and durability, have proven to be the perfect solution.
''We installed the first 30 Deskpro ENs just over six months ago, and we have not had a single outage
reported,'' Ervin added. ''We are extremely pleased with Compaq's IT solutions and have noticed a
dramatic improvement in overall IT operations since standardizing on their platform.''
Company Backgrounds
Outboard Marine Corporation is a leading manufacturer and marketer of internationally-known boat
brands, including Chris-Craft®, Four Winns®, Seaswirl®, Javelin®, Stratos®, Lowe®, Hydra-Sports®,
and Princecraft® marine accessories and marine engines, under the brand names of Johnson® and
Evinrude®; and FICHT® fuel injection -- the industry's premier low-emission two-stroke engine
technology.
More information about OMC and its boat and marine engine brands is available at
omc-online.com.
CompuCom Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPC - news), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, helps customers
select, install, and manage the right distributed technology with the highest return at the lowest cost.
CompuCom's services allow customers to focus on strategic issues, decrease acquisition costs, reduce
support management costs, decrease time to market and time to implementation, and increase
end-user productivity. CompuCom is accessible at compucom.com.
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is the second largest computer
company in the world and the largest global supplier of computer systems. Compaq develops and
markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing
solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, enterprise and network storage solutions,
commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry leader in
environmentally friendly programs and business practices.
Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of direct and
authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and information about Compaq and its
products are available at compaq.com.
Compaq Capital Corporation was established in January 1997 to provide customers with flexible,
Compaq-branded financing to fund their technology investments. Headquartered in Woodbridge, N.J.,
Compaq Capital provides customized enterprise financing solutions, encompassing computers,
networks, and technology upgrades, as well as state-of-the-art leased asset tracking and disposal
services, for large and multinational business customers. The company also delivers an array of product
offerings especially geared to small and medium-sized businesses.
Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
For further editorial information, contact:
Compaq Computer Corporation
Simon Eastwick
281-514-2702
simon.eastwick@compaq.com
Outboard Marine Corporation
Gary Beckett |
