Irvin Aerospace: All Systems "Go" forUpdating with IndustriOS.

FORT ERIE, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1997-- Irvin Aerospace Canada Ltd., one of the oldest employers in Fort Erie, is about to bring production, accounting and order processing into the 21st century with IndustriOS, comprehensive software for order-driven manufacturers.

"We're

really excited about the improvements we can achieve with this project," says Michael R. Page, manager of quality services and medical programs at Irvin, which makes parachutes and a full range of complimentary supplies. "We were really limited by having production using one system, purchasing another system, and accounting yet another system. None of these systems could be integrated; we must have been killing entire forests with the paper trail we needed for monthly reports to keep all the managers informed."

With IndustriOS Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, employees from the shop floor to the business offices will have a single, unified system to help them track every order in progress at the 65,000 square-foot facility. Through networked PCs, information will be readily available on where each order stands and will help identify and hence clear up delays as they arise. IndustriOS also processes pricing and time chart information for invoicing, accounts, payable and receivable, and other financial functions. The implementation, already in place for many account tasks, will be phased in to order processing and production over the next few months.

The IndustriOS program will be used by about 15 people at an advanced level, and at least 70 other employees will be able to use it for routine inputting or data access. The improvements in order processing time and efficiency will be felt throughout the organization.

"Many of our employees on the shop floor are going from a manual system to very sophisticated computers," notes Page. "The training and gradual implementation offered by IndustriOS Corp. are important to helping us get the new system up-and-running properly.

"This changeover will help us reduce order processing time, improve inventory levels by showing us where everything stands, make us more efficient and, in general, increase our return on investment," says Page.

IndustriOS is modular, client/server software designed for emerging to mid-size, order-driven manufacturers. It allows users to plot every stage of the production process, and access the records through networked PC terminals. IndustriOS' components include Process Planner, which creates a customized, dynamic plan of operations, identifying and integrating manufacturing activities, sequences, work centers, routings and operating standards. Order Control tracks shop orders from entry to completion, and provides real-time production status and job cost information. Data Collection records labor and material in real time against job orders or work centers, providing an accurate picture of where profits are made or lost. Material Planning calculates material requirements and schedules based on a time-phased priority planning system that handles changing conditions. The Financial and Distribution modules encompass such accounting functions as general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, cash management, foreign currency, order entry, purchasing and inventory tracking.

Selecting the right software for the project was a long-term commitment for Irvin Aerospace, and Page spent almost a year evaluating what's available.

"Except for a few ongoing contracts, we're an order-driven operation," says Page. "IndustriOS was best suited to our needs from that standpoint, and the company's commitment to ongoing training and support was important for us."

Technical and executive staff at IndustriOS Corp. are enjoying working with the Irvin team to clarify goals and phase in the implementation and training process for maximum value.

"Getting all the managers who will use the software together to discuss their needs and clarify their goals was an important part of this process," says Graham Westwood, chairman of IndustriOS Corp. "We're committed to helping manufacturers 'take control' of all production processes, and the planning and follow-up training and support period are integral parts of our best-of-breed philosophy."

About Irvin Aerospace Canada Ltd.

A dynamic figure in local business history, Irvin Aerospace's founder, Leslie Irvin, made the world's first-recorded peacetime parachute jump from an airplane more than 75 years ago. Except for a brief time in Buffalo, NY, the business has operated continuously from its Fort Erie site ever since, making parachutes and a full range of related safety equipment. As a government-approved company, Irvin Aerospace is a prime supplier for the Canadian Forces, and its international customers include all branches of the U.S. military, and armed forces in more than 50 other democracies.

About IndustriOS Corp.

IndustriOS Corp. is a privately-owned, Canadian-based manufacturing software company with offices in Mississauga, Ont. and the United States. IndustriOS was established in 1989 and is committed to supplying the most cost-effective and rapidly-implemented, best-of-breed ERP software solutions to emerging and mid-size discrete manufacturers. Its Internet home page, www.IndustriOS.com , includes detailed product and corporate information. -0-

IndustriOS is a registered trademark of IndustriOS Corp. All other trademarks acknowledged as the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Irvin Aerospace Canada Ltd

Michael R. Page, 905/871-6510

or

IndustriOS Corp.

Charley Best, 905/279-7400 ext 228

or

Steven Swartz Public Relations

Steven Swartz, 781/245-8890