Business/Technology Editors

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2001

In a multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnership agreement, HMS Software, Inc. headquartered in Concord, MA has contracted with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, to implement a full suite of computer aided process planning and shop floor systems to manage the manufacturing information systems for all current and future production of aircraft.

The Joint Strike Fighter, F22, F16 and F2, programs will use Second Generation HMS-CAPP (R), HMS Shop Floor Management (R), and HMS Manufacturing Engineering Change Management to operate their paperless factory. Together, these products will combine to manage the entire manufacturing planning and execution system for the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company.

Integrated with HMS Shop Floor Management software are advanced simulations developed by Lockheed Martin's Virtual Product Development Initiative, which depicts the manufacturing of subassemblies in a virtual environment. The simulation allows assembly workers to visualize critical manufacturing steps, including part loading and tool use on the shop floor. Workers have the ability to change the perspective from which the simulations are viewed, allowing them to navigate freely throughout the entire 3-D virtual environment. These simulations have proven especially useful as training aids for new assemblers in several Lockheed Martin Aeronautic Programs.

"This integrated solution from HMS Software, Inc. offers Lockheed the opportunity to generate significant savings in touch labor and support functions, while increasing the quality of the manufacturing process" said Allen C. Vyce, Project Manager of EWI Team, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "With HMS-CAPP and Shop Floor Systems we improve the effort considerably, allowing our workers to use the system to view multimedia work instructions electronically and then capture the `as-built' condition of the components, in lieu of paperwork packages traditionally used by our shop personnel. The HMS system provides us access to real-time changes and updates to shop-management and support personnel with on-line, up-to-date information on the work in process on the manufacturing floor," continued Vyce.

"Our system was installed as a production pilot in Lockheed's factory in Fort Worth, TX in order to test the applicability to the manufacturing environment. We are pleased to now move forward with the full deployment of our solutions across the Lockheed Aeronautics Manufacturing facilities" said Alexander Houtzeel, President and co-founder of HMS Software, Inc.