Nextek Selects Aegis Software to Improve Operational Efficiency

Madison, AL (July, 2003) -- Aegis Industrial Software Corporation, the leader in manufacturing productivity systems for electronics assemblers, announces that EMS provider, Nextek, Inc., has purchased their NPI and MES software modules to further advance efficiency, quality and customer service. Nextek is deploying the Aegis web-centric platform for the preparation and execution of their precision electronic and opto-electronic assembly and engineering services for customers.

"As our company grew, we found that the initial CAD/CAM solutions we implemented did not adequately support our operations and enable us to provide the best possible service to our customers," said Phil Yates, CTO of Nextek. "Aegis' software gives us complete control of the manufacturing process. From receipt and conversion of design data and bill of materials, to production monitoring and materials tracking, we use a single system that allows our customers and partners to be involved in the entire process."

Nextek has selected CircuitCAM, CheckPoint, and Fusion iServer for expediting new product introductions and engineering change control and will implement iView, iTrac, iQ, iMonitor and iPortal for manufacturing execution.

"Nextek is renowned for its quality and innovation, as evidenced by their numerous industry awards. Aegis is particularly pleased that a company so focused on world-class practices chose our complete platform to propel their operations to the next level," commented Jason Spera, CEO of Aegis. "Nextek found that the Aegis solution is the only truly integrated, web-centric system spanning the entire scope of manufacturing information challenges in their factory. This singular, web-accessible solution holds unique value for their operations and to the services they offer customers."

Nextek utilizes the Aegis Checkpoint product on the front-end to verify and clean all incoming customer data. Once complete, clean data is made available, the Aegis CircuitCAM product is utilized to create process documentation and machine programs. "A key driver for us is that Aegis uses our pick and place equipment database for pick and place programming," stated Rick Gunn, Nextek's Director of Engineering. "This allows all updates from the line to be captured immediately. Our previous CAD/CAM tools did not use this design, so we constantly had to relearn the same things. Also, there is an ongoing relationship with Aegis and our placement equipment manufacturer, which will benefit Nextek as they continue to develop their product for other users of the same equipment.

Once the analysis and conversion of customer data is completed and manufacturing activity is ready to commence, other Aegis modules will enable the company to:

• Communicate information in a common, paperless format (iView).

• Monitor work in process and material movement (iTrac).

• Measure and respond to quality metrics (iQ and iMonitor).

• Enable customers, suppliers and other partners to participate in the manufacturing process (iPortal).

About Nextek, Inc.
Nextek, Inc. is a niche-market, technology-driven company, focused on offering precision electronic and opto-electronic assembly and engineering services for customers with needs-driven, non-commodity products. Nextek provides product realization services to OEM's employing advanced technology interconnect, process and material technologies, and specializing in New Product Introduction (NPI) and accelerating time-to-market.

About Aegis Industrial Software Corporation
Aegis offers software for improving the manufacturing and management operations of the electronics assembly enterprise. Through the broadest integrated suite of solutions available, Aegis delivers best-in-class technology for expediting new product introduction, controlling changes, and executing the manufacturing process. The company’s headquarters is located in Philadelphia, PA, with sales and customer service affiliates throughout the world. The company has OEM relationships with major suppliers of capital equipment, such as Autosplice, CHRISTOPHER, CITIZEN, Cookson Electronics Equipment, Contact Systems, EKRA, Europlacer, GPD Global, Heller Industries, JUKI Automation Systems, Machine Vision Products, MIMOT, Multitroniks, MYDATA Automation, Inc., OMRON, Photon Dynamics, Quad Systems, Qualmax, Siemens Dematic Electronic Assembly Systems, Inc., TEXMAC, The Alliance, ViTechnology LLC., VJ Electronix, YAMAZEN, and YESTech Inc.


Contact:
Philip M. Yates
Nextek, Inc.
256-772-0400
philip.yates@nextekinc.com

Shaun Black
Aegis Industrial Software Corp
714-876-8975
sblack@aiscorp.com