AUBURN HILLS – Plexus Systems announced Thursday it has signed a contract with Inteva Products, LLC, a global Tier 1 supplier of automotive interior and closure systems. Under the agreements, Plexus Systems will provide a global implementation of Plexus Online, the on-demand software for the manufacturing enterprise.

Inteva designs, engineers, manufactures, and assembles Instrument

Panels, Consoles, Door Trim, Interior Trim, Cockpits, Door Module and

Window Lift Systems, Closure Systems and Advanced Development Solutions for leading OEMs around the globe. Inteva’s global resources are supported by

more than 3,800 team members in 17 facilities on three continents.

Plexus Online allows strategic insight into day-to-day operations from

the shop floor to the top floor. In addition, the system will enable Inteva

to develop a quality management system that provides for continuous

improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation

and waste throughout the supply chain.

“Inteva required a supplier with a deep understanding of the automotive

industry, core competency in manufacturing, and the ability to actively

monitor and manage our supply base from any internet-based browser anywhere

in the world,” said Dennis Hodges, Inteva chief information officer.

“The global reach and breadth of service, as well as our need to

rapidly implement their system and to deploy changes in a matter of days or

even hours were significant factors in our choice to award Plexus the

business,” said Hodges.

Plexus Online is expected to bring continuity, flexibility and

adaptability to Inteva’s global operations. As a result, the supplier will

have consistent and integrated business information throughout its

organization, including manufacturing processes, engineering, sales,

accounting, quality, production, supply chain (purchasing,

receiving/shipping, inventory, and supplier assessment), finance and human

resources functions, lowering costs and improving productivity.

Implementation for Inteva’s operations will be completed by June 2009.

“Inteva had a critical need to find an information system solution that

would facilitate a rapid transition from their legacy systems and allow

them to monitor supplier performance and manage for quality,” said Doug

Gregory, Plexus Systems chief operating officer. “From a business

perspective for Plexus, Inteva represents yet another signal that larger

companies see the value in the SaaS model for core business functions.”

Plexus Online offers more than 350 functional modules, providing

manufacturers instant access to vital information and management functions

using a simple Web browser. The on-demand solution features enterprise

resource planning (ERP) functions such as accounting and finance modules,

customer relationship management (CRM) features such as order entry and

tracking, manufacturing execution systems (MES) functions such as

production scheduling and machine integration and supply chain management

(SCM) functions such as supplier quality and traceability.

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