Microsoft Sponsors Leonardo Medal for Technical Innovations in
Manufacturing

REDMOND, WASH. - APRIL 11, 1996 - Microsoft Corp. presented the Leonardo
Medal for Technical Innovations in Manufacturing (TIM) award to two top
manufacturers and a Microsoft Solution Provider at Managing Automation
magazine's Automation Hall of Fame ceremony. Opto 22, Chevron USA and
Intellution won the award, based on technical innovations they achieved
using Solution Provider application software and WindowsR operating
system- and Microsoft BackOffice family-based servers.

Microsoft sponsored the first Technical Innovations in Manufacturing award,
which was presented March 18 during National Manufacturing Week. The award
went to these manufacturers based on their ability to use technology to
improve a manufacturing or design process, enhance a product, or provide
benefits to users. The judges considered the size and scope of the
solution in the context of the company, Microsoft and Solution Provider
content, documented business-process improvement, and tangible return on
investment plus savings. "The nominees of the awards for technical
innovations in manufacturing range from small manufacturers to
multinational corporations, demonstrating the applicability and
scalability of Microsoft products," said Brooke Banbury-Masland, worldwide
manufacturing industry manager at Microsoft.

Opto 22, a developer and manufacturer of industrial automation hardware and
software, was awarded the TIM award as both a manufacturer and a Solution
Provider. The company implemented a fully integrated, enterprisewide
information system based on the Windows NTR operating system to run its
entire plant. "Microsoft's infrastructure, desktop applications and
Microsoft BackOffice-based servers have enabled us to build a powerful
integrated solution for our business and to deliver total control software
solutions to our customers in the manufacturing sector," said Beverly Ann
Smith, vice president of marketing at Opto 22. "Opto 22 has seen
significant improvements in order fulfillment, shipping volume,
procurement and customer support as a result."

Chevron USA won the award for monitoring and controlling its offshore oil
and gas platform systems with Intellution's Windows NT-based MMI and SCADA
system. "I can be on an oil platform that is 15 to 20 miles offshore and
have full access to network data for decision making," said Lawrence
Youngblood, electrical engineer at Chevron USA. "With the multitasking in
Windows NT Workstation, I can use a remote node as a word processor and a
process control machine simultaneously." Youngblood said that beyond the
user benefits and ease of training and use, this solution resulted in
mission-critical process improvement at Chevron.

Intellution was presented the TIM award as a Solution Provider for Chevron.
Chevron implemented the Intellution FIX version 6 running on Windows NT,
Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft BackOffice.

The following companies were Leonardo Medal finalists:

* Lantech Inc., which increased its share of the stretch-wrap machinery
market from 35 percent to 50 percent and realized as much as three times
faster time-to-market with the Microsoft Windows NT-based WinMan
integrated MRP system from TTW Inc.

* Saturn Corp., which implemented GE Fanuc's Cimplicity MMI, MES and SCADA
solution for Windows 95-, Windows NT- and Microsoft BackOffice-based
servers to improve quality and productivity while cutting production
costs

* D&P Products Inc., which worked with manufacturing Solution Provider
Fourth Shift Corp. to implement a Microsoft Windows NT- based ERP system
that increased cash flow by improving material control and reducing costs
associated with product changeover and inventory

The Leonardo Medal selection committee consisted of Tony Friscia,
president, Advanced Manufacturing Research; Andy Chatha, president,
Automation Research Corp.; Ted Rybeck, president, Benchmarking Partners;
Gisela Wilson, program director, CAD/CAE/CAM, International Data Corp.;
Matt Ragen, worldwide marketing manager, engineering, Microsoft Corp.; and
Harry Tse, director, manufacturing technologies and practices, Yankee
Group.

Additional information on Microsoft solutions for manufacturing can be
found on Microsoft's World Wide Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/industry/man/.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
 
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