Unisys Supports Microsoft Peak Performance Initiative as Global System

Unisys Supports Microsoft Peak Performance Initiative as Global Systems Integrator for Demand Driven Supply Chain Solutions

    Business Editors/Technology Writers

    BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2005--

Unisys Will Integrate Microsoft Business Solutions-Axapta Enterprise Resource Planning Solution into Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Solutions
    Unisys Corporation (NYSE:UIS) today announced that it has been named a global systems integrator for strategic elements of Microsoft Corp.'s (Nasdaq:MSFT) Peak Performance Initiative. This extends recent aggressive moves by Unisys to help manufacturers build better visibility, security and efficiency across their supply chains - from the shop floor to the boardroom.
    The Microsoft Peak Performance Initiative is designed to help manufacturers accelerate business insight through advanced analysis services, drive innovation by enhancing collaboration among trading partners, improve business performance by transforming operations to a demand driven manufacturing model and increase visibility into operations across the manufacturing value chain.
    "To lower costs and improve competitiveness, manufacturers are transforming their supply chains from forecast-driven and reactive, to demand-driven and proactive," said Tom Elliott, president of Unisys Global Commercial Industry practice. "Supporting this transformation with end-to-end visibility into the flows of cash, product and information throughout the supply chain is critical to success. Improved visibility helps companies eliminate out-of-stocks at the store shelf, while allowing them to be 'out of stock' everywhere else along the supply chain, increasing the effectiveness of working capital invested across the enterprise. Microsoft technologies provide the communication, collaboration and integration capabilities required to enable that visibility."
    In its role as global systems integrator, Unisys will focus on two key areas of the Microsoft initiative: Plant Floor Operations Performance and Value Chain Performance. This focus will enable the deployment of hub-and-spoke manufacturing solutions built on Microsoft's Axapta enterprise resource planning solution.
    "The unique advantage of a demand driven supply chain is that manufacturing companies don't need to increase upfront capital expenditure to meet growing customer demand, which is different - and much more efficient - than the old push-based manufacturing business model," said Charles Johnson, worldwide managing director of manufacturing at Microsoft. "Microsoft's Peak Performance Initiative is geared to help partners like Unisys leverage the technologies that enable their customers to take advantage of this model - which reduces inventory liabilities and risks significantly, an advantage manufacturing companies need in order to compete effectively in today's global marketplace."
    Unisys is uniquely positioned to work with Microsoft as customers implement hub-and-spoke ERP solutions to leverage information residing in multiple business systems across the enterprise. The company has created 3D Blueprints for Axapta deployment, including pre-configured solutions, integration adapters and data conversion approaches. Using Unisys 3D Blueprints, clients can link best practices in key processes - inventory management, order management and distribution - directly to the software and systems that support them, ultimately moving closer to becoming a 3D Visible Enterprise. A 3D Visible Enterprise is able to see the cause and effect relationships in its business - from vision, to business operations, to the IT systems that support them. As a result, 3D Visible Enterprises can see the results of business decisions before they are made.

    Microsoft and Unisys

    The Microsoft and Unisys alliance delivers enterprise customers superior expertise in the development, deployment and management of end-to-end solutions based on the Microsoft platform and the unique traceability of the Unisys 3D-VE approach resulting in high total ownership satisfaction and business value.
    The alliance combines Microsoft's technology and the reliability and security expertise of Unisys in the mission critical enterprise environment to deliver repeatable solutions and technology for business critical computing, integrated platforms, powerful vertical applications and comprehensive global consulting and services.

    About Unisys

    Unisys is a worldwide information technology services and solutions company. Our people combine expertise in consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure and server technology with precision thinking and relentless execution to help clients, in more than 100 countries, quickly and efficiently achieve competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.unisys.com.

    RELEASE NO.: 0308/8519
    http://www.unisys.com/about__unisys/news_a_events/03088519.htm

    Unisys is a registered trademark of Unisys Corporation. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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CONTACT: Unisys Corporation Mike Maney, 215-986-2368 Mike.Maney@unisys.com

KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE BANKING MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE NETWORKING SOURCE: Unisys Corporation

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