Siemens Selects Centric Software as Strategic Partner

Centric Innovation� Accelerates and Improves Product Development Throughout Siemens

ERLANGEN, GERMANY AND SAN JOSE, CALIF. - February 19, 2002 - Siemens today announced it has made a strategic decision to implement Centric Innovation� from Centric Software, and that it has also joined the Centric Software Strategic Advisory Council.

Centric Innovation empowers manufacturers such as Siemens to maximize their competitive advantage by managing and optimizing the process of product innovation. It enables manufacturers to synchronously and asynchronously collaborate with their suppliers and customers via the Internet, compiling the engineering know-how contained throughout the extended enterprise. Siemens will use Centric Innovation initially to design railway cars using active, behaviour-oriented virtual prototypes. Centric Innovation's unique digital mock-up/functional prototyping capabilities including the integration of mechanical, electro-mechanical, and electronics - 'mechatronics' - for the first time permit the user to view and manipulate the product definition with a great degree of ease.

As part of the agreement, Siemens Transportation Systems (TS) is implementing Centric Innovation at five of its Development Centers throughout Germany and Austria to accelerate and improve railway car design. The complementary solution is being integrated into Siemens' existing network, which includes the multi-body simulation system SIMPACK, as well as the Windchill PDM system from PTC. Pulling all this information into the Centric Innovation unified environment enables Siemens to create virtual, functional prototypes to synthesize the total product functionality of complete train systems, therefore identifying and adjusting errors early in the concept phase, which previously have been found much later with field tests using a physical prototype.

"We anticipate a dramatic return on investment with the implementation of Centric Innovation, and expect to recoup our implementation costs within less than a year," said Wilhelm Waidmann, head of product management, Siemens TS HR. The reason for such ROI is the early recognition and correction of errors in product development at the concept phase. "We are convinced that our co-operation with Centric Software will further our innovation potential by drastically accelerating development cycles, guaranteeing Siemens TS an enormous competitive advantage in today's race to cut time-to-market and increase market share."

The decision to implement Centric Innovation with Siemens TS was supported by Siemens Corporate Technology, Production Processes (CT PP). In a pilot project, CT PP extensively tested Centric Innovation for compatibility with TS and rated it as "highly recommendable." The pilot project demonstrated that different procedures such as computer aided design (CAD), graphical design, finite element method (FEM), and multi-body system (MBS) simulation seamlessly integrate with Centric Innovation. CT PP plans to expand the deployment of Centric Innovation to further Siemens divisions. To complement this, CT PP will also offer the appropriate training courses, consultation and services.

The Centric Software solution - Centric Innovation - is used by worldwide leading manufacturers, in order to accelerate product development processes - in particular in the early design phase - thus obtaining clear cost savings. "Design is the expression of innovation, and thus a major factor in entrepreneurial success," emphasized Siemens-Executive Rudi Lamprecht just recently. A leading worldwide supplier for railway systems, Siemens TS is considered to be at the forefront in the development of new technologies and solutions. "Especially in key fields such as modular vehicle concepts, service or vehicle leasing, we are well established and known for innovative solutions and systems," explains Herbert H. Steffen, Chairman of the Board, Siemens TS.

Besides Siemens other pioneering organizations such as Boeing and Volvo belong to the Centric Software SAC Program. With its Strategic Advisory Council, Centric Software invites selected customers to directly influence and further advance the development of generic or vertical application-specific functionality of Centric Innovation.

"We are extraordinarily proud to add Siemens to the ranks of our SAC members," said Centric Software CEO Chris Groves. "We expect Siemens with their unique insight into the needs of transportation providers to push the innovation management capabilities of our Centric Innovation solution, that is already leading the market for verticals such as automotive, aerospace, and railway."

About Siemens

The Transportation Systems Group (TS) of Siemens AG is one of the leading international suppliers to the railways industry. As single source supplier and system integrator, the Group combines in its business segments Automation & Power, Rolling Stock, Turnkey Systems and Integrated Services all the expertise necessary to cover the spectrum from signaling and control systems to traction power supplies, as well as rolling stock for mass transit, regional and main line services. Extensive experience in project management and forward-looking service concepts complement our portfolio. In fiscal 2001 (ended September 30) TS generated sales of �4.0 billion with a staff of around 14,800 the world over. Earnings before interest, tax and goodwill amortization (EBITA) amounted to �186 million. Further information on TS can be found at www.siemens.com/ts.

About Collaborative Product Innovation (CPI) 

Unlike traditional specialist point products such as CAD/CAM, CAE, and visualization, or rigid control-oriented management systems including PDM and ERP, Collaborative Product Innovation is the only environment that unites domain experts through peer-to-peer communications to securely share know-how and freely explore innovative ideas to develop next-generation products in record time.

About Centric Software 

Centric Software, Inc. generates innovation by empowering manufacturers to create and dominate new markets with their design chain partners through Internet-enabled Collaborative Product Innovation (CPI). The company is driving the collaborative-commerce (c-commerce) market with Centric Innovation� - the only solution that unites disparate knowledge so that domain experts can define, synthesize, and validate product concepts collaboratively in record time. Centric Software is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and provides sales and support services to its customers through its offices worldwide. 

www.centricsoftware.com.

 

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