AIMS MLM 4.0 Deployed at BMW, BC, FL facilities

Service Oriented Architecture supports mobile data capture and enterprise integration

Research Triangle Park, NC, June 19, 2007– AIMS, a leading provider of lifecycle operations management solutions for the large bill-of-material make-to-order discrete manufacturing value chain, announced today general availability of their MLM Framework Release 4.0. The new release has been deployed widely in their customer base, including BMW Manufacturing, Thomas Built Buses (a division of Freightliner, LLC), Sea Ray Boats, Hatteras Yachts, and Boston Whaler (all divisions of Brunswick Corporation), and is scheduled for implementation at new customers including Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing this quarter. 

MLM 4.0 features SmartSyncer™, a powerful set of modules enabling distributed and offline data collection with intuitive browser-based operator interfaces – both graphical and text oriented – as well as automated equipment sources through embedded collectors. 

With standard XML-based Web Service interfaces, SmartSyncer also provides an open Service-Oriented-Architecture for rapid integration with enterprise applications such as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).  These features have facilitated deployment at select customer facilities in collaboration with premier systems integrator EDS.

EDS Client Executive Nick Lorenz said of the collaboration: "Since AIMS SmartSyncer collectors support both diverse shop floor data collection and standard web service interfaces, we’ve been able to leverage existing Websphere™ connectors with our Teamcenter™ PLM and deliver outstanding results to our shared customers on a very aggressive schedule."

Chris Moore, Quality Manager for Thomas Built Buses, described the advantages they are finding.  "We obtain significant benefit from real-time notifications about process conditions and test results.  The data driving these alerts was not readily available prior to implementing SmartSyncer collectors.  We have streamlined our handling of test and process results, ensuring product quality while keeping our operational overhead low."

At BMW Manufacturing, Quality Manager Jim Doherty relates a similar result.  "Previously, data collection for destructive testing of our rivet process took up to forty hours to complete. We have cut that in half with SmartSyncer collectors and are on target with additional collectors to achieve our goal of being the fastest destruct testprocess in the BMW Group".

At Brunswick Boat Group, all Hatteras Yachts, Boston Whaler and North American Sea Ray plants have implemented SmartSyncer to significantly improve availability of advanced quality data collection, including the ability to perform browser-based data collection in remote plant areas and on river and ocean runs to a degree not previously possible.

“We are delighted by the outstanding results of our customers and the market response we are receiving with our latest release”, said Perry Smith, president and CEO of AIMS. “MLM 4.0's support for standard enterprise integration interfaces and smart-client based data collection helps our customers accelerate successful use of new capabilities to dramatically improve their operations.  AIMS continues to set standards for our market sector with tools that are powerfully beneficial and yet easy to install, use, and grow.”

About AIMS: AIMS is a leading manufacturing solutions provider whose customers include top manufacturers such as BMW, Brunswick (NYSE:BC), Lear (NYSE:LEA), Hospira (NYSE:HSP), Thomas Built Buses, and Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing.  Based on standard Internet technologies, MLM deployments scale from hosted ASP to single plant, division, and enterprise-wide and provide integration interfaces with enterprise software and production equipment.  Databases supported include Oracle, IBM DB2, and Microsoft SQL Server.  Client interfaces range from industrial PCs to tablets, PDAs, and mobile phones.  AIMS MLM provides functions including custom orders and quotations, production process progress tracking, material and resource usage, supplier quality, corrective actions, defective material, in-process quality, pre-delivery inspection, field service, event notification, status display, standard reports, report writer, and offline operation with web service-based synchronization. For more information, please visit www.aimsco.com or contact AIMS by email at sales@aimsco.com.

SmartSyncer™, aims Tracker™, aims Integrator™, aims Analyst™ and aims MLM™ are trademarks of AIMS.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.