The study “Trends and Developments for Warranty Management Systems” is available for free download from the IBS America Whitepaper Library webpage.

Warranty management
Growing competition from the international environment, escalating customer demands, and the increasing negotiating power of the car manufacturers place OEM-supplier co-operation under increasing pressure. Supplier companies, at a particular disadvantage in guarantee and warranty cases, feel pressured into making concessions. According to a survey, the problems faced by German supplier companies lie first and foremost in the lack of diagnostic data, poor co-operation and a missing interface with the customer, as well as lacking resources on their part. The result is a lack of transparency and poor communication. This can be combated with the implementation of professional warranty management systems.

 
Standardisation using professional warranty management systems
Warranty management systems enable the standardization of warranty processes, better communication between supplier companies and OEMs and an overall improvement in process transparency. The process management software systems serve as an integrated platform between suppliers and OEMs, providing both manufacturers and customers with all necessary key figures, evaluations and reports.

 
Benefits
Standardization leads to mid-term cost-savings and reduced employee pressure, as well as improving quality and increasing efficiency in the warranty handling process. 
Warranty management systems are therefore becoming increasingly important in these companies. On average, European OEMs currently accrue warranty provisions that account for 2-6% of their turnover. The resulting volumes reflect the financial means that could be released by a relocation of warranty obligations.

The IBS warranty management software solution
IBS AG provides its customers with a computer-assisted, fully-integrated warranty management system. This enables increased transparency and significant optimisation of all theme-related processes, along the entire supply chain. Precise data analysis enables the detection of main causes and thus also improvement potentials, e.g. for the development process.
With its solution, IBS AG makes a clear statement in closing the ranks between technical and commercial data.

IBS AG
IBS AG is a leading supplier of cross-company standard quality management software systems and consulting services for industrial quality, production, traceability and compliance management. In keeping with the corporate philosophy  „The Productivity Advantage“, IBS AG's Best Practice solutions contribute to a sustainable boost in corporate productivity. IBS customers receive the support of a team of experienced consultants and specialists throughout each phase of the project and beyond. IBS AG, founded in 1982, today employs approximately 200 personnel in Europe and the USA.
The Company is listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt/Main (ISIN DE0006228406) and is also member of the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index.
IBS AG software installations amount to over 4,000 worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, EN ElectronicNetwork, FCI Automotive, Goodyear, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.

IBS' quality management software assures the PRÄZI Group the necessary production process transparency, enabling rapid intervention in case of deviation and creating synergies with the existing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. The IBS solution improves the PRÄZI Group's risk management and provides real-time, up-to-the-minute information on the production and quality situation in the company. This enables access to the product history, all the way to the delivery note information, at the push of a button.

“The introduction of integrated quality management software will enable us to dispense with a whole host of maintenance and cost-intensive isolated applications that are difficult to evaluate. As well as time-saving, introduction of the centralized system at our German headquarters in Everswinkel now also offers  transparency across all associated plants,” says Heike Schulte, head of Quality Management at the PRÄZI Group.

Executive Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing at IBS AG explains, “It was important to the PRÄZI Group to have a competent, long-term partner for the introduction of the CAQ system. Along with Mr. Schulte we worked out a conclusive concept to increase process safeguarding and improve customer satisfaction whilst at the same time reducing quality and defect costs.”
 

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About IBS AG
IBS AG is a leading supplier of cross-company standard software systems and consulting services for industrial quality, production, traceability and compliance management. In keeping with the corporate philosophy  „The Productivity Advantage“, IBS AG's Best Practice solutions contribute to a sustainable boost in corporate productivity. IBS customers receive the support of a team of experienced consultants and specialists throughout each phase of the project and beyond. IBS AG, founded in 1982, today employs over 200 personnel in Europe, China and the USA. The Company is listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt/Main (ISIN DE0006228406) and is also member of the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index. IBS AG software installations amount to over 4,000 worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.
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In case of query: Public Relations IBS AG, Stefan Stroeder, Tel.: +49 (0)2624 -9180-475, E-mail: stefan.stroeder@ibs-ag.de

IBS AG excellence, collaboration, manufacturing: IBS AG Announces Preliminary Figures for Third Quarter of 2011

Q3 at a glance

-Turnover: 6,572K EUR (+ 29%)
-EBIT: 579K EUR (+ 15%)
-Volume of orders on hand: 13,846K EUR (+ 5%)
-Outlook for the year: Reaffirmed

Hoehr-Grenzhausen, 3rd November 2011: IBS AG, listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN DE0006228406), once again succeeded in accelerating its growth rate during the third quarter of 2011, according to its preliminary figures.

A Stable Growth in Turnover and a Good Volume of Orders on Hand
According to preliminary calculations, the IBS Group generated sales revenue to the sum of 6,572K EUR during the third quarter of 2011 (Q3 2010: 5,078K EUR). This corresponded to an increase of 29.4 per cent. During the first nine months of the current financial year 2011, the Company achieved an increase in overall turnover of 23.9 per cent, to 18,326K EUR (previous year: 14,792K EUR). There was a positive development in the volume of orders on hand during the period under review, which is estimated at around 13,845K EUR as at 30th September 2011. This corresponds to 4.6 per cent growth, compared to the previous year’s volume of 13,243K EUR. 

Increase in EBIT, Despite Internationalisation, Personnel and Technology Investments
Preliminary calculations show that third quarter earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to 579K EUR (Q3 2010: 502K EUR) and thus reflected an improvement of 15.3 per cent. The difference between EBIT growth and the growth in turnover was due to one-off development costs, increased advertising costs, modernisation costs and the qualification of personnel.

Development costs to the sum of approximately 400K EUR were also accrued for the expansion of business in China. Furthermore, IBS AG also made investments in modernisations such as the future-oriented development of its “Location Identification System” (LIS). Personnel costs rose during the first nine months of 2011 to 9,191K EUR (same period of the previous year: 8,733K EUR). As at 30th September 2011 the IBS Group employed 209 personnel worldwide (previous year: 187 employees).

EBIT rose to 1,552K EUR during the period from January to September 2011 (same period of the previous year: 1,461K EUR). 

Sound Liquid Funds Ensure Stable Financial Position
The preliminary Group surplus for the third quarter amounted to 556K EUR, which represented a 12.1 per cent increase from the same quarter of the previous year (Q3 2010: 496K EUR). The IBS Group generated an overall period surplus of 1,468K EUR during the first nine months of the current financial year, which compared to 1,444K EUR during the same period of the previous year. Undiluted earnings per share (EPS) equated to 22 Euro cents during the period under review and thus reached the same level as that of same period of the previous year.

Operative cash flow rose by 1.9 per cent to 1,777K EUR during the first nine months of 2011 (previous year: 1,735K EUR). Liquid funds amounted to 6,012K EUR as at 30th September 2011 (30th September 2010: 6,496K EUR). Shareholders’ equity rose to 16,286K EUR at the end of the period under review (30th September 2010: 15,135K EUR). The shareholders’ equity ratio for the Group equated to approximately 63 per cent at the end of the third quarter 2011. Liquid funds and the high volume of shareholder equity continue to secure the IBS Group a stable financial position.
 

Outlook 2011
The pipeline of the IBS corporate group remains well-stocked. Industrial companies are investing increasingly in IT solutions, with investments largely focusing on innovative solutions for increasing productivity. Whereas the main emphasis was previously placed on classical process and quality optimizations, sociopolitical and economic considerations are now shifting the public and corporate focus increasingly towards sustainability, resource efficiency and energy-saving potentials – themes also covered and offered by IBS AG.

 
The Company sees further growth potential in its subsidiary IBS Industrial Business Software (Shanghai), Ltd., founded during the 2011 financial year. The subsidiary is aimed at achieving a consistent development of the Chinese market. In this context, the first Chinese automotive manufacturers have started to show an interest in the IBS Automotive Software, which has established itself as an international standard. Numerous OEMs, including a number of premium vehicle manufacturers, already put their faith in IBS' software solutions.

The IBS AG corporate management has reaffirmed its prognosis for the 2011 financial year anticipating a double-figure percentage growth in turnover.
 

The Company’s Third Quarter 2011 Report will be published on 9th November 2011 and will be available for download in German and English language from www.ibs-ag.de from this time.

About IBS AG:
IBS AG is a leading supplier of cross-company standard software systems and consulting services for industrial quality, production, traceability and compliance management. In keeping with the corporate philosophy „The Productivity Advantage“, IBS AG's Best Practice solutions contribute to a sustainable boost in corporate productivity. IBS customers receive the support of a team of experienced consultants and specialists throughout each phase of the project and beyond. IBS AG, founded in 1982, today employs over 200 personnel in Europe, China and the USA.

The Company is listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt/Main (ISIN DE0006228406) and is also member of the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index.

IBS AG software solutions amount to over 4,000 installations worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, KautexTextron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.

Contact

Investor Relations IBS AG
c/o MLC Finance GmbH
Mussener Weg 7
95213 Muenchberg

Ms. Susan Hoffmeister
Tel.: + 49 89 898 272 27
Fax: + 49 89 895 206 22
e-mail: investorrelations@ibs-ag.de

From the 23rd to the 25th August 2011, around 90 exhibiters and 18 co-exhibiters from 14 countries – including IBS – utilised over 6000 m2 of exhibition space in Shanghai, in order to present products and solutions in quality assurance for the automotive, mechanical engineering, tool and mould-making, aviation and ship building sectors. The number of exhibitors rose in comparison to 2010 by 28 percent, while the exhibition space doubled. And there was also a significant increase in visitor numbers in comparison to the previous year. In all, 3,878 trade visitors attended from 17 countries, equating to a rise of 84 percent. 

Mr Jiang Zhihua from the Shanghai Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology (SIMT) remarked, “I am truly delighted that we in China now have a special meeting place for the quality industry. Everyone has learned something new and developed themselves further. I hope that I will be able to organise more rounds of expert discussions for this trade fair in the future". Representatives of the China Automotive Engineering Society Testing & Measuring Committee also lauded Control China.

Numerous forums, seminars and workshops were concerned with new technologies and innovations in the field of quality assurance. Here, individual problems were presented, explained and discussed. In this context, speakers and discussion holders for IBS Shanghai included Robert Frank, General Manager of the Association for the Automotive Industry – Quality Management Center in China and Arnd Slegers, Managing Director Asia Pacific for IBS Industrial Business Software (Shanghai), Ltd. who spoke on VDA standard first sample stage customer complaints and how IBS software solutions support this VDA standard.

Today, the IBS Group is already able to point to approximately 70 software installations in the South East Asian region. IBS customer TIANJIN NEW WEI SAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (NWS), with its head office in Tianjin (China), is outfitted with the complete software suite from IBS AG. In a further lecture, Ray T. Lin, Quality Assurance Director at NWS presented his practical experiences with the IBS software solutions.

“Our expectations for Control China were entirely fulfilled. We were happily able to once again increase on the number of interested contacts in comparison to the previous year. China continues to boast the largest car market in the world and as such, the interest in our automotive solution was once again high this year. Due to the heavy demand, we created a networking platform for all interested parties at the end of the trade fair and organised an automotive round table. In addition to numerous interested parties, this was attended by representatives of VDA as well as existing IBS customers. Due to the positive feedback, the organisation of a regular round table is now under consideration according to Nina Yvonne Slegers, General Manager and legal representative of IBS Industrial Business Software (Shanghai), Ltd.

About IBS AG
IBS AG is one the leading suppliers of inter-company standard software systems and consultancy services for industrial quality, production, traceability and compliance management. According to the company philosophy, "The Productivity Advantage", the Best Practice solutions from IBS AG sustainably increase the productivity of companies. Within the framework of this process – during each project phase and beyond – the IBS customer experiences competent support from a team of experienced consultants and specialists. IBS AG was founded in 1982 and employs over 200 personnel in Europe, USA and China.

The company is listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt/Main stock exchange (WKN 622840) and is also a member of the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index.
 

IBS AG software is in use in over 4,000 customer installations around the world. These include such companies as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.

Further information:

Stefan Ströder, IBS AG
Tel. (02624) 91 80 475
Fax (02624) 91 80 670
Email: stefan.stroeder@ibs-ag.de
URL: www.ibs-ag.de

IBS - SITES:
HÖHR-GRENZHAUSEN
NEU-ANSPACH
BOSTON (USA)
KAUNAS (LITHUANIA)
SHANGHAI (CHINA) 

A truly international event, visitors came from as far as Scotland and China. The event started on the evening of the 27th with a dinner at the landmark Top of the Hub restaurant known for both its spectacular views as well as its fine cuisine. To cap off the night, nationally known comedian Jimmy Tingle entertained the audience.

The increasingly important topic of sustainability was given special attention during the morning presentations. During the next three to four years, the U.S. market for sustainable technologies and services will grow by 20% to 25%. (Gartner, Inc., Emerging Trends That Will Shape the Sustainable Business Market Ecosystem, Stephen Stokes, August 31, 2011.) High marks were given to the morning roster of speakers whose topics ranged from sustainability, corporate responsibility and enterprise risk management.

Equally high ratings were given to the afternoon breakout sessions. Said one customer, “It was a great experience. I enjoyed every aspect of the forum and training and I highly recommend it to any company”.

“The active participation of the attendees complemented the content offered by our wide range of speakers,” states Stephen Cummings, Vice President of Sales. “We strive to educate attendees with information that will enhance their use of our solutions and keep them abreast of important trends that affect quality and compliance. And the conversations we have with customers enriches the development team’s understanding of the often subtle, but important, requirements that will drive possible future product enhancements.”

Several customers prepared presentations that described how each use quality management systems for their particular industries and unique situations. One customer outlined their successful roll-out to over 90 sites in their company. More than one company talked about using the IBS solution globally. And the IBS hosted solution was mentioned as an ideal solution, allowing customers to be up and running quickly and start organizing their activities immediately.

About IBS America, Inc.

IBS boasts 30 years of experience helping thousands of customers profitably produce and deliver products and services while overcoming ever evolving business challenges. IBS provides the integrated software technology necessary to create a “Culture of Compliance” that eliminates information silos, better leverages intellectual capital and corporate knowledge, and drives achievement of enterprise quality and compliance goals at the lowest possible cost. IBS America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of IBS AG, a leading provider of highly integrated software applications that enable businesses to achieve and maintain compliance with a wide range of industry standards and regulations.
 

IBS has over 4,000 software installations worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Goodyear, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.

For additional information, visit IBS at http://www.ibs-us.com

Contact:
Michelle Baron
Marketing Communications Specialist
24 Hartwell Ave.
Lexington, MA
Tel. 1-781-862-9002
e-mail: michelle.baron@ibs-ag.com

The LIS integrated RTLS-based solution, specially developed for BMW combines best-in-class ultra-wideband radio tags and sensors with advanced quality management and traceability software, bringing the production process a step closer to Six Sigma and the vision of complete traceability. The technology tracks individual vehicles through on-line and off-line final assembly. It determines the identity and location of each car in the assembly facility and, based on the proximity of the vehicles to both fixed and mobile equipment such as tools and scanners, programs and controls the devices. Delivering unprecedented levels of accuracy and reliability for an RTLS-based solution, the system improves quality and enables line operatives to work more efficiently, achieving time-saving, process safeguarding, zero defects and cost reduction.

In 2008 Ubisense and IBS deployed LIS on a 1.8 km long assembly line at BMW’s Regensburg plant in Germany. In 2010, LIS went live on the new X3 assembly line at BMW Spartanburg in South Carolina, U.S.A. – home to the company’s SUV range. With both installations the solution will now be deployed in 2011 at plants in Shenyang, China; on the X5 and X6 production line in Spartanburg; and at the dedicated Mini plant in Oxford, U.K.

“The Location Information System (LIS) developed and standardised by IBS - along with BMW and Ubisense - is unique worldwide. The tool presents us with a vital unique selling point. We are absolutely delighted that BMW AG has now decided in favor of a solution roll-out at further production plants in Asia, Europe and in the USA.”, says Dr. Klaus-Juergen Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of IBS AG.“

Richard Green, CEO of Ubisense, said, “Extending our agreement is a major endorsement of the Ubisense solution, demonstrating the quality improvements as well as time and cost savings it can deliver. Working with IBS, we are delighted to have forged a long-term partnership with BMW and look forward to working with the company to drive forward new efficiencies at its global manufacturing sites.”

How the technology works: Vehicle assembly is a complex process-particularily at plants where different models are manufactured on the same line. At BMW Regensberg, Series 1 and Series 3 vehicles are assembled alongside Z4 Roadsters. With each model built to exact customer specifications and traveling along the production line, more or less in the order of purchase, assembly line operatives have to identify the next vehicle at their station quickly and accurately in order to select the right component or tool setting and complete the work necessary in the seconds they have available.

Previously, operatives identified vehicles using hand-held scanners and paper barcode labels, which were attached to the hood of each car. They then had to take their DC too. to the correct location on the vehicle and wait for the correct settings to load before starting work - a time consuming process in a manufacturing environment where every second counts.

Working with BMW, IBS and Ubisense have automated this process within the BMW IT environment, shaving valuable seconds off assembly line operations. The RTLS tags now replace the barcodes on car hoods and have been fixed to Direct Current (DC) programmable tools. As the cars move through the plant, the tagscommunicate their location via ultra-wide band radio to sensors located along the production line. The sensors instantly replay this data via a local area network (LAN) to LIS, which is integrated with the BMW IT environment. Running under SAP, the BMW IT environment comprises the so-called 'communication machine' (CM), the Integrated Product System (IPS) and the Automotive Production System (APS). LIS determines when the tools enter the pre-defined work zones around each moving vehicle, identifying the vehicle and generating a 'positive event'. This prompts the APS to automatically load the correct vehicle-specific program to the operative's tool so the next job can be performed.

Contact details:
Stefan Ströder
Public Relations
IBS AG
THE PRODUCTIVITY ADVANTAGE
excellence, collaboration, manufacturing
Rathausstr. 56
56203 Höhr-Grenzhausen
GERMANY

Phone: +49 2624 9180-475
Fax:      +49 2624 9180-670
Mobile:   +49 1511 4024-253

Email:   Stefan.Stroeder@ibs-ag.de
Web:     http://www.ibs-ag.de

About IBS:
IBS AG, Hoehr-Grenzhausen, is a leading supplier of cross-company standard software systems and consulting services for industrial quality, production, traceability and compliance management. In keeping with the Company philosophy “The Productivity Advantage”, IBS AG’s Best Practice solutions achieve a sustainable increase in corporate productivity. IBS customers receive the support of a team of experienced consultants and specialists throughout each phase of the project and beyond. Founded in 1982, IBS AG employs approximately 200 personnel in Europe and the USA.

The Company is listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt/Main (ISIN DE0006228406) and is also member of the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index.

IBS AG software installations amount to over 4,000 worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.

A new agreement has been announced between BMW, IBS and Ubisense extending the deployment of the real-time location identification system (LIS) across the global vehicle manufacturing facilities of BMW. The LIS system comprises the IBS communication platform and Ubisense identification tags.

IBS AG carried out its first successful installation in China in as early as 2000. In 2006 IBS AG opened its own support site in Shanghai, which was aimed at supporting existing IBS customers with production facilities in China. IBS AG was able to celebrate its first Chinese-Taiwanese customer - TIANJIN NEW WEI SAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (NWS) – in 2010, following which NWS submitted a major order with IBS covering the entire IBS AG software suite. A considerable increase in demand for IBS’ industrial software solutions and services in China – from both existing customers and Chinese companies – finally led IBS to decide in favour of founding its own company in China.

IBS Industrial Business Software (Shanghai), Ltd. was granted its business licence during the second quarter of 2011, following which the Company was able to launch its business operations.  Today, IBS has over 70 successful installations in China. The IBS Group’s global roll-out projects promise a turnover potential of approximately 1M EUR for 2011 in China alone. Continuous growth is anticipated for 2012.

IBS Industrial Business Software (Shanghai), Ltd. currently employs seven members of personnel in the areas of sales, project management and support.

“Opening a new company in China is an important part of our internationalisation strategy and a makes a clear statement to our customers”, says Nina Slegers, General Manager and Legal Representative of IBS Industrial Business Software (Shanghai), Ltd. “We are striving to get closer to our customers in China and offer them the best possible service. The Chinese government’s latest 5-year plan also places greater emphasis on the themes of “streamlining and higher quality standards”, which made our decision in favour of China even easier”, continues Nina Slegers.

Arnd Slegers, Managing Director Asia Pacific at IBS Industrial Business Software (Shanghai), Ltd., explains, “Becoming quickly established in China relies on developing important partnerships and co-operations with Asian and Chinese companies. In particular, we are initially striving to partake in the Chinese industry’s above-average growth rate. The Chinese industry has also adopted the IBS themes of resource-sparing and environmental friendliness”, adds Arnd Slegers.

About IBS AG:

IBS AG is a leading supplier of cross-company standard software systems and consulting services for industrial quality, production, traceability and compliance management. In keeping with the corporate philosophy „The Productivity Advantage“, IBS AG's Best Practice solutions contribute to a sustainable boost in corporate productivity. IBS customers receive the support of a team of experienced consultants and specialists throughout each phase of the project and beyond. IBS AG, founded in 1982, today employs over 200 personnel in Europe, China and the USA.

The Company is listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt/Main (ISIN DE0006228406) and is also member of the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index.

IBS AG software installations amount to over 4,000 worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Goodyear, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.

* * *
In case of query, please contact: Public Relations IBS AG, Stefan Stroeder, Tel.: +49 (0)2624 9180-475, E-mail: stefan.stroeder@ibs-ag.de

The User Forum is an ideal environment for customers to share their innovations and network with their peers. Attendees also have the unique opportunity to learn about the most current issues in quality and compliance management from noted speakers and industry experts.

The event consists of one-half day of topical presentations from respected thought-leaders. Topics will range from sustainability, to corporate responsibility and risk management. These interactive sessions will broaden the scope of typical quality seminars, to areas on the cutting edge of manufacturing quality and compliance.

The second half of the day will be broken into specific Product Breakout Sessions. During these sessions, attendees, IBS engineers, trainers, implementation specialists and IBS management will discuss specific product issues with the goal of assisting customers maximize their investment and create a path of continuous improvement. In turn, feedback from users will be used in future product planning and development.

“Based on the success of last years’ event, we are expecting an even higher level of attendance,” stated Stephen Cummings, Vice President of Sales. “As a customer-focused event, we look forward to providing our clients with the latest information to enhance their performance on the job and maximize their investment in their quality and compliance solutions from IBS.”
For more on IBS America’s User Forum, visit us on the web at http://www.ibs.com/

About IBS America, Inc.
IBS boasts 30 years of experience helping thousands of customers profitably produce and deliver products and services while overcoming ever evolving business challenges. IBS provides the integrated software technology necessary to create a “Culture of Compliance” that cuts across corporate “silos” and drives achievement of enterprise quality and compliance goals at the lowest possible cost. IBS America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of IBS AG, a leading provider of highly integrated software applications that enable businesses to achieve and maintain compliance with a wide range of industry standards and regulations.

IBS has over 4,000 software installations worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Goodyear, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.
For additional information, visit IBS at http://www.ibs-us.com/.

Contact:
Michelle Baron
Marketing Communications Specialist
24 Hartwell Ave.
Lexington, MA
Tel. 1-781-862-9002
e-mail michelle.baron@ibs-ag.com

Customers of the mid-market company include a whole host of renowned industrial companies. Theo-Lorch-Werkstaetten provides the respective industries with components and services in the field of industrial and electrical installation, mechanical production, logistics and packaging, focusing its operations on reliability, adherence to delivery dates and quality.

The company has now opted in favour of the IBS AG quality management solution for the further improvement of its product quality. “Of course, we have highly specific requirements of a quality management solution. Bearing our employees in mind, not only the machines and tools need to be particularly safe and easy to use, but also the software solution.”, says Dietrich Vonhoff, Managing Director of Theo-Lorch-Werkstaetten. “The IBS solution, which we found the most suitable, impressed us with its range of associated benefits. The support provided by the IBS solution will enable us to further improve our quality and certification processes and, in particular, reduce our defect costs with greater process reliability in data acquisition. Employees with disabilities are just as ambitious, concentrated and motivated and those without. Theo-Lorch-Werkstaetten provides disabled employees with the general framework to enable them to fulfil their duties,” adds Dietrich Vonhoff.

“Together with our customer we have succeeded in developing a quality management solution that is specially tailored to meet the specific requirements of Theo-Lorch-Werkstaetten and those with disabilities. We aim to make this software solution accessible to further workshops and companies employing those with disabilities. In addition to our economic motivation, we are also contributing to offering those with disabilities a meaningful task,” says Volker Schwickert, Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing at IBS AG. 

* * *
About IBS AG
IBS AG is a leading supplier of cross-company standard software systems and consulting services for industrial quality, production, traceability and compliance management. In keeping with the corporate philosophy  „The Productivity Advantage“, IBS AG's Best Practice solutions contribute to a sustainable boost in corporate productivity. IBS customers receive the support of a team of experienced consultants and specialists throughout each phase of the project and beyond. IBS AG, founded in 1982, today employs approximately 200 personnel in Europe, China and the USA. The Company is listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt/Main (ISIN DE0006228406) and is also member of the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index. IBS AG software installations amount to over 4,000 worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Goodyear, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.
* * *
In case of query: Public Relations IBS AG, Stefan Stroeder, Tel.: +49 (0)2624 -9180-475 89827227, E-mail: stefan.stroeder@ibs-ag.de

CompliantPro Release 8.0 provides many substantial changes to CompliantPro’s infrastructure and feature design in order to improve our user experience. Some of these changes include:

• Substantial improvements in the administration of User Profiles, performance and all-around usability are available in this release. Customers may experience a boost of 15% - 40% in their daily Compliant-Pro tasks due to the new Role Flattening enhancement.
• User Profiles are now easier to navigate and a new method has been provided in order to provide a more flexible approach of the creation and management of Roles and Allowances. These roles can now be assigned on an organization-specific or global basis.
• Expansion of browser-based support to now include the latest version of Internet Explorer (IE9), Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.
• Improvement in view-rendering performance adds yet another improvement to the user experience.
• The Training and Qualification module now provides a way to enroll Trainees into Course Offerings when the potential attendees are new (not associated to the specific course) or need retraining on the specific training unit.
• New Data Maintenance components have been added to the Customer Complaint, CAPA and Preventive Maintenance Modules to allow for easier management of Action Request and Response records.
• Response Due Dates may now be managed from the actual Response itself which allows for more flexibility. The determination of who may change Due Dates is now configurable.

IBS America prides itself on building and maintaining a close partnership with its customer base. This is reflected in the manner each CompliantPro Release includes fixes and design suggestions from such partners as Caterpillar, Dana, Baldor, Beam and others. IBS America, Inc. values each customer’s input and suggestions and believes that these relationships are the key component in continuing to give CompliantPro and other IBS America products leadership status in the Quality Software and Compliance Management field.

About IBS America, Inc.
IBS is a leading supplier to industrial organizations of Enterprise standard software systems and consulting services for quality, production, traceability, and compliance management. In keeping with its corporate philosophy “The Productivity Advantage“, IBS is committed to developing and implementing its QSYS, MES, LIMS, and compliance solution software platforms in a way that leads to better optimizing its customers’ business processes and increasing their productivity levels.

 
Founded in 1982, the company today employs approximately 200 personnel in Europe and the USA. IBS AG is listed on the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt/Main (ISIN 622840) and is also included in the GEX-German Entrepreneurial Index.

IBS has over 4,000 software installations worldwide and can be found at companies such as Audi, Beam Global, BMW, BorgWarner, BOSCH, Caterpillar, Daimler, Electronic Networks, FCI Automotive, Goodyear, Kimberly Clark, KEIPER, Liebherr, Magna Automotive, Kautex Textron, Parker Hannifin, Procter & Gamble, Rock Tenn, Porsche, Siemens, SMA Solar Technology, ThyssenKrupp and W.L. Gore.

Contact:
Michelle Baron
Marketing Communications Specialist
24 Hartwell Ave.
Lexington, MA
Tel. 1-781-862-9002
e-mail michelle.baron@ibs-ag.com