The Gem Group Chooses IFS Business Software To Support Process Re-engineering, Global Expansion

IFS announced today that The Gem Group, Inc., which produces promotional products under the Gemline name, has signed a $1 million contract to implement IFS Applications business software at its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The company will run IFS' supply chain management, financial, maintenance, customer relationship management, and workforce management applications on a Linux platform.

"IFS' overall functionality, component-based architecture and simplicity of use are major factors for us as we engage in a business process re-engineering initiative," said Barry Kadets, Chief Information Officer of The Gem Group. "This effort will provide us with the platform to increase our efficiency and productivity while enhancing our sales and marketing efforts."

"With its collaborative capabilities, global service organization, and support for multiple sites, languages, and currencies, IFS Applications is built to serve the needs of global companies or companies that have global expansion plans," said Cindy Jaudon, president of IFS North America. "IFS' supply chain and CRM solutions will help The Gem Group maintain its outstanding reputation for quality and customer service as the company continues its global expansion."

Industrial manufacturing is one of IFS' targeted vertical markets. IFS has a broad customer base in the industry, focusing on medium- to large-size manufacturers that need support for complex order-driven and mixed-mode manufacturing across the extended enterprise. With strong support for project management, engineering, constraint-based scheduling, product configuration, and after-sales support, IFS' business solution helps companies improve quality, contain costs, and improve their competitive position in manufacturing industry segments such as machinery, defense, fabricated metal products, and plastic products. Industrial manufacturing companies also benefit from IFS' lifecycle management solution, which goes beyond product lifecycle management (PLM) to provide better integration and management of three critical business areas--products, customers, and resources--throughout their lifecycles.

IFS customers in the industrial manufacturing industry include Deere & Co., Roper, Dresser-Rand, Gehl, Star Cutter, Remmele Engineering, and Johnson Pump.

About Gemline
Founded in 1958, Gemline manufactures promotional products such as imprinted bags and padfolios. Gemline is headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and has its main production facility in southern China.

About IFS (www.ifsworld.com)
IFS (XSSE: IFS) is one of the world's leading providers of component-based business software developed using open standards. IFS' industry-focused solutions are optimized for ERP, enterprise asset management, and MRO. IFS Applications offer companies an integrated lifecycle approach to managing customers, products, assets, and services, enabling them to employ lean enterprise concepts, control costs, manage projects, increase efficiencies in their supply chain, and measure their performance.

As a leader in component-based software, IFS delivers tangible business benefits for companies in the aerospace & defense, automotive, construction & facility management, high-tech, industrial manufacturing, process, and utilities & telecom industries. Working in close collaboration with partners, IFS is driving the market to embrace standards and co-existence that offers customers faster payback, reduced risk, and freedom of choice.