aPriori Technologies’ CEO Speaks of Collaboration in Innovate

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/17/2006 -- The holy grail of 'collaboration' is meaningless if the parties are not speaking a common language. The 'lingua franca' that translates the language of engineering into the language of business is 'cost', specifically, product cost.

In the current issue of Innovate found at www.innovateforum.com, Frank Azzolino, CEO of aPriori Technologies discusses how the business operations focus is on financially related concerns such as margin, contribution, and profit. The language of the business is time and money. It is no secret that the profit motive is what drives critical company decisions. It is also no secret that the ability for the product to achieve the expected financial goals is driven by design and manufacturing decisions that occur very early in (and continually throughout) the product delivery process.

MCAD and PLM have historically focused on the engineering and design aspects of product delivery. The language of engineering as spoken by MCAD and PLM is based on physical attributes of the product and technological capabilities of the software solutions used. The result is a series of conversations about features, rounds, fillets, and chamfers.

Major PLM and MCAD providers long for acceptance and penetration outside of engineering departments at the same time the major ERP (enterprise resource planning) vendors strive to enter the engineering and product delivery arena.

In each of these application platforms, PLM and ERP, cost can be managed. On the ERP side, costs are always historical; these costs are available to be managed only after production. While it is more difficult to manage costs on the PLM side of the house, it is often potentially more valuable. The need for real- time, predictive costs are essential to allow design and manufacturing teams to avoid and eliminate costs early in the process (when critical cost-driving decisions are made.) Currently the array of MCAD, PLM, and ERP applications do not allow for the ability to generate this early cost knowledge.

The aPriori v4.0 Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori v4.0 enables designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management to make better decisions to reduce, avoid, and recover product costs. aPriori's solutions enable manufacturing companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

About aPriori
Based in Concord, MA, aPriori is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patented cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Cost Management Platform Expands Scalability in New Version

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/10/2006 -- aPriori, the leading provider of enterprise cost management solutions for discrete product companies, today announced it has released the newest version, v4.6, of its enterprise cost management software platform.

"Our vision is to improve the financial results of discrete product companies by enabling them to actively control and measurably reduce products' cost of goods sold (COGS) with an innovative, predictive, and reliable cost management software platform," said John Busa, Vice-President of Product Management of aPriori. Busa added, "This release adds significant breadth, scalability, and ease of use features to meet this vision. The rapid ROI (return-on-investment) our customers are seeing as measured by hard savings is a testament to the capabilities and value our product brings."

Key new features include:
• An improved user interface that allows for easier navigation and data visualization
• An innovative costing decision support capability called "Scenarios" that enables efficient comparisons of design and process alternatives and can be used to maintain the cost history of a product
• Robust support for milling processes is now supported in addition to existing support of sheet metal fabrication, welding, casting, painting/plating, and injection molding.
• Multi-currency support for all cost computations allows global companies and their foreign suppliers and facilities to be easily integrated into costing decisions
• User defined data fields for VPE modeling adds the ability for users to easily create and maintain unique VPE cost factors resulting in efficient and scalable cost management

The new features provide significant enhancements in three key areas of the aPriori platform. This release delivers powerful new costing decision support capabilities and an enhanced user interface for non-engineering personnel. It also provides robust support for milling processes to add to the extensive list of manufacturing processes aPriori supports. Finally, the v4.6 extends the scalability of the cost management environment with enhancements to its innovative Virtual Production Environment (VPE) modeling capability. A VPE models the characteristics of a factory including the manufacturing processes, the machines supporting that process and the factory's cost structure.
"Determining the optimal cost of a product during the initial concept phase and throughout the development process is critical to truly meeting cost goals and eliminating expensive post design cost issues," said Tim Roberts, Vice President of Engineering, Thomas and Betts. Roberts noted, "New features from aPriori, such as multi-currency support and a user interface for non-engineering personnel, provide even more robust capabilities in managing our cost targets across our division."

Availability
The aPriori enterprise cost management platform version 4.6 is available immediately.

About aPriori
Based in Concord, MA, aPriori is the leading provider of enterprise cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's groundbreaking and innovative Cost Management Platform integrates cost decisions for all critical functions throughout the corporate cost management ecosystem. This enables manufacturers, for the first time, to understand product cost decisions early, comprehensively and throughout the product development and delivery cycle. aPriori's patent protected Cost Management Platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori CEO Frank Azzolino Urges ETO Manufacturers to Get it Right the First Time

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/24/2006 -- Manufacturing Journalist Thomas R. Cutler profiles in the current issue of Cadalyst the fact that, "Today's enterprise technologies pair with CAD so manufacturers can compete effectively in the world of engineered-to-order." The complete article can be read at http://manufacturing.cadalyst.com/manufacturing/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=373711.

Frank Azzolino, CEO of aPriori Technologies discusses how important it is for ETO (Engineer-to-order) manufacturers to get it right the first time. "With ETO, the key is to get it right the first time through, since there is often no long production cycle in which to redesign and get the product and cost right over time. A critical element of ETO is to discern very early on what the costs will be. This drives margin. In an ETO environment, you currently have two choices: Bid aggressively to win the deal and accept the risk of very low (or negative) margins, or bid conservatively to account for the risk of not fully understanding the impact of the customer's choices on cost -- and risk not getting the deal. The new third choice: Know the costs before you bid the job, thereby preserving margins while more effectively managing risk."

MCAD and PLM have historically focused on the engineering and design aspects of product delivery. The language of engineering as spoken by MCAD and PLM is based on physical attributes of the product and technological capabilities of the software solutions used. The result is a series of conversations about features, rounds, fillets, and chamfers.

Major PLM and MCAD providers long for acceptance and penetration outside of engineering departments at the same time the major ERP (enterprise resource planning) vendors strive to enter the engineering and product delivery arena.

In each of these application platforms, PLM and ERP, cost can be managed. On the ERP side, costs are always historical; these costs are available to be managed only after production. While it is more difficult to manage costs on the PLM side of the house, it is often potentially more valuable. The need for real- time, predictive costs are essential to allow design and manufacturing teams to avoid and eliminate costs early in the process (when critical cost-driving decisions are made.) Currently the array of MCAD, PLM, and ERP applications do not allow for the ability to generate this early cost knowledge.

The aPriori v4.0 Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori v4.0 enables designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management to make better decisions to reduce, avoid, and recover product costs. aPriori's solutions enable manufacturing companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

About aPriori
Based in Concord, MA, aPriori is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patented cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori System Delivers to C-Level Executives 3X Payback

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/23/2006 -- "More and more customers like JLG are reaping the benefits of achieving cost targets and reducing product costs by using aPriori," said Frank V. Azzolino, President and CEO of aPriori. "Improving the financial results of discrete product companies by enabling them to actively control and measurably reduce their product costs is what differentiates aPriori from any other enterprise product cost management system available."

The aPriori Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments and control throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori's groundbreaking technology was developed to integrate the disparate cost decision making of the corporate cost management ecosystem of designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management. This system delivers the integrated visibility and control of product costs that enable product companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

aPriori, the leading provider of enterprise cost management solutions for discrete product companies, today announced that JLG Industries, the world's leading producer of access equipment (aerial work platforms and telehandlers) will be expanding their deployment of the aPriori's Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform across their North American operations. JLG's decision to expand its usage of aPriori is based upon a highly successful initial project that resulted in a dramatic ROI. In addition, JLG views the aPriori capabilities as part of its overall corporate strategic initiative to both reduce its product line costs and time to market.

This significant expansion order follows on the results a very successful initial implementation program at JLG. The initial project validated that aPriori accurately and predictively generates product costs for JLG products being built in both JLG production facilities as well as JLG supplier facilities. This data is being used to effectively reduce product costs of a key product line. The product cost savings generated during the first eight weeks of product usage alone resulted in a first year ROI of greater than 3:1. Based on these results, JLG will broaden its usage of the aPriori Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform across its North American operations and expand usage of aPriori across product lines to reduce the product costs of its sheetmetal, welded, cast, machined, and injection molded products. "In a very competitive market, achieving cost targets at product launch is a high priority," said Wayne MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Engineering at JLG. "Understanding the cost of our products both for our external suppliers as well as our internal capabilities is critically important. aPriori has proven that it can help us achieve lower cost product designs and avoid post-launch cost reduction efforts."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

The expanded implementation begins immediately and will include JLG's North American facilities as well as several of their major suppliers.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori to be Deployed by JLG Industries

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/29/2006 -- aPriori, the leading provider of enterprise cost management solutions for discrete product companies, today announced that JLG Industries, the world's leading producer of access equipment (aerial work platforms and telehandlers) will be expanding their deployment of the aPriori's Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform across their North American operations. JLG's decision to expand its usage of aPriori is based upon a highly successful initial project that resulted in a dramatic ROI. In addition, JLG views the aPriori capabilities as part of its overall corporate strategic initiative to both reduce its product line costs and time to market.

The aPriori Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments and control throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori's groundbreaking technology was developed to integrate the disparate cost decision making of the corporate cost management ecosystem of designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management. This system delivers the integrated visibility and control of product costs that enable product companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

This significant expansion order follows on the results a very successful initial implementation program at JLG. The initial project validated that aPriori accurately and predictively generates product costs for JLG products being built in both JLG production facilities as well as JLG supplier facilities. This data is being used to effectively reduce product costs of a key product line. The product cost savings generated during the first eight weeks of product usage alone resulted in a first year ROI of greater than 3:1. Based on these results, JLG will broaden its usage of the aPriori Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform across its North American operations and expand usage of aPriori across product lines to reduce the product costs of its sheetmetal, welded, cast, machined, and injection molded products. "In a very competitive market, achieving cost targets at product launch is a high priority," said Wayne MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Engineering at JLG. "Understanding the cost of our products both for our external suppliers as well as our internal capabilities is critically important. aPriori has proven that it can help us achieve lower cost product designs and avoid post-launch cost reduction efforts."

"More and more customers like JLG are reaping the benefits of achieving cost targets and reducing product costs by using aPriori," said Frank V. Azzolino, President and CEO of aPriori. "Improving the financial results of discrete product companies by enabling them to actively control and measurably reduce their product costs is what differentiates aPriori from any other enterprise product cost management system available."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

The expanded implementation begins immediately and will include JLG's North American facilities as well as several of their major suppliers.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori CEO Frank Azzolino Recognizes Language as Product Cost Issue

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/14/2006 -- The holy grail of 'collaboration' is meaningless if the parties are not speaking a common language. The 'lingua franca' that translates the language of engineering into the language of business is 'cost', specifically, product cost.

In the current issue of Automation.com (www.automation.com) Frank Azzolino, CEO of aPriori Technologies discusses how the business operations focus is on financially related concerns such as margin, contribution, and profit. The language of the business is time and money. It is no secret that the profit motive is what drives critical company decisions. It is also no secret that the ability for the product to achieve the expected financial goals is driven by design and manufacturing decisions that occur very early in (and continually throughout) the product delivery process.

MCAD and PLM have historically focused on the engineering and design aspects of product delivery. The language of engineering as spoken by MCAD and PLM is based on physical attributes of the product and technological capabilities of the software solutions used. The result is a series of conversations about features, rounds, fillets, and chamfers.

Major PLM and MCAD providers long for acceptance and penetration outside of engineering departments at the same time the major ERP (enterprise resource planning) vendors strive to enter the engineering and product delivery arena.

In each of these application platforms, PLM and ERP, cost can be managed. On the ERP side, costs are always historical; these costs are available to be managed only after production. While it is more difficult to manage costs on the PLM side of the house, it is often potentially more valuable. The need for real- time, predictive costs are essential to allow design and manufacturing teams to avoid and eliminate costs early in the process (when critical cost-driving decisions are made.) Currently the array of MCAD, PLM, and ERP applications do not allow for the ability to generate this early cost knowledge.

The aPriori v4.0 Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori v4.0 enables designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management to make better decisions to reduce, avoid, and recover product costs. aPriori's solutions enable manufacturing companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

About aPriori
Based in Concord, MA, aPriori is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patented cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

JLG Industries to Deploy aPriori Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform Throughout North America Operations

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/11/2006 -- aPriori, the leading provider of enterprise cost management solutions for discrete product companies, today announced that JLG Industries, the world's leading producer of access equipment (aerial work platforms and telehandlers) will be expanding their deployment of the aPriori's Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform across their North American operations. JLG's decision to expand its usage of aPriori is based upon a highly successful initial project that resulted in a dramatic ROI. In addition, JLG views the aPriori capabilities as part of its overall corporate strategic initiative to both reduce its product line costs and time to market.

The aPriori Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments and control throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori's groundbreaking technology was developed to integrate the disparate cost decision making of the corporate cost management ecosystem of designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management. This system delivers the integrated visibility and control of product costs that enable product companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

This significant expansion order follows on the results a very successful initial implementation program at JLG. The initial project validated that aPriori accurately and predicatively generates product costs for JLG products being built in both JLG production facilities as well as JLG supplier facilities. This data is being used to effectively reduce product costs of a key product line. The product cost savings generated during the first eight weeks of product usage alone resulted in a first year ROI of greater than 3:1. Based on these results, JLG will broaden its usage of the aPriori Enterprise Cost Management Software Platform across its North American operations and expand usage of aPriori across product lines to reduce the product costs of its sheet metal, welded, cast, machined, and injection molded products. "In a very competitive market, achieving cost targets at product launch is a high priority," said Wayne MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Engineering at JLG. "Understanding the cost of our products both for our external suppliers as well as our internal capabilities is critically important. aPriori has proven that it can help us achieve lower cost product designs and avoid post-launch cost reduction efforts."

"More and more customers like JLG are reaping the benefits of achieving cost targets and reducing product costs by using aPriori," said Frank V. Azzolino, President and CEO of aPriori. "Improving the financial results of discrete product companies by enabling them to actively control and measurably reduce their product costs is what differentiates aPriori from any other enterprise product cost management system available."

The expanded implementation begins immediately and will include JLG's North American facilities as well as several of their major suppliers.

About aPriori
Based in Concord, MA, aPriori is the leading provider of enterprise cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's groundbreaking and innovative Cost Management Platform integrates cost decisions for all critical functions throughout the corporate cost management ecosystem. This enables manufacturers, for the first time, to understand product cost decisions early, comprehensively and throughout the product development and delivery cycle. aPriori's patent-protected Cost Management Platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aSVA by aPriori Technologies Proves Financial Value in 4 Weeks

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/18/2006 -- According to Frank Azzolino, president of aPriori Technologies, "The objective of the aPriori Strategic Value Assessment (aSVA) is to confirm the financial and strategic value that aPriori can brings to customers in a very short timeframe, approximately four weeks. "

Specifically, the aSVA validates:

- aPriori works in our customers business environment:
Verifying that the relevant production facilities and manufacturing processes can be modeled
Confirming that predictive and accurate cost assessments can be created for our customers' products
Certifying that customers can use aPriori in their everyday tasks to accomplish product cost reductions quickly and easily

- aPriori helps customers find ways to lower product costs by demonstrating:
It can provide real-time visibility to cost information at all stages in the product development and delivery process.
It provides fast and accurate product cost estimates that can be used as daily design, manufacturing, and sourcing decisions are being made.

Customers have the opportunity to improve their approach to product cost management by incorporating real-time product cost information into all product development and delivery activities.

During the aSVA, aPriori provides the aPriori Cost Management software platform on-site to facilitate making real-time product cost assessments; design changes in the MCAD system, as well as understanding the product cost implications of various sourcing decisions, manufacturing process decisions, and material choices. The activity allows customer to experience how aPriori drives product cost reductions. Sources of cost reduction may come from:

- Better cost information during the product design process suggesting different design alternatives
- Different materials decisions based on real-time cost information
- Planning/routing/manufacturing decisions based on knowing the cost consequences of different alternatives
- Should-cost analyses available earlier in the product development cycle
- More efficient make/buy decisions based on fact based product cost estimates

The customers choose a number of representative manufactured products to validate the cost saving potential of the aPriori system. They model the production facilities; those facilities may represent internal production facilities or the facilities of suppliers or vendors. The goal of the aSVA activity is to generate accurate product costs for the representative products and to explore realistic product cost reduction scenarios.

During the aSVA, aPriori provides a 4-day on-site session that includes solution education, orientation of the application, and hands-on use. The training is for representatives of all user communities who impact and manage product costs (such as representatives from Sourcing/Procurement, Accounting, Manufacturing, Design Engineering and Management.)

The aSVA will conclude with a final report that summarizes the project and presents a viable business case for the long term adoption of the aPriori Cost Management software platform at our customers. This business case is based on product cost reductions that determine the ROI of the aSVA activity and as well as the projected ROI of long term adoption.

An aSVA takes approximately four weeks to complete and consists of five key activities:
1) Preparing technical environment
2) Gathering data
3) Building the production facility models
4) Using the aPriori Cost Management System at the customer's site to validate the accuracy of product cost estimates and to explore cost reduction opportunities
5) Delivering the business case validating the applicability of the aPriori cost management system as well as short and long term ROI opportunity

To learn more about this important program go to: http://www.apriori.com/services/asva.html.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Predictive Cost Assessments Affect Product Costs According to aPriori Technologies

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/18/2006 -- During the NPI process many decisions are being made which directly influence or affect product costs. During the conceptual design and engineering development phase of NPI, fundamental product decisions are being made in terms of product form, fit, and function. Typically, more than 60% of a product's cost is committed early in the design process based on these design decisions, the remaining costs being determined by planning and sourcing decisions.

According to Frank Azzolino, President & CEO of aPriori Technologies (www.apriori.com), "There are fundamental differences in the way that decisions are made in the NPI process, (in the process that takes products from the conceptual design phase all the way through production delivery), by using aPriori's predictive cost assessments vs. more traditional Activity Based Costing (ABC) methods. ABC applies methods where costs are allocated to production products "after the fact", (after they have been designed, planned, sourced, and produced.)"

Without the real time predictive cost information provided by the aPriori cost management software platform, these cost relevant decisions are made in a cost knowledge vacuum, i.e. being made without either up-to-date or accurate cost information, or without any information whatsoever. Without aPriori's real-time predictive cost assessments, the only recourse manufacturers have is to use historical information based on previous products or determine the costs of the current product after it has been in product for awhile, and then allocate those costs across the different activities that occurred during the NPI process. Unfortunately, once the product is in production, it may be very difficult and expensive to make these changes.

aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages.

The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Technologies to Hire Implementation Engineers for Cost Management Team

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/15/2006 -- The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

The firm anticipates huge staff growth for the remainder of 2006. The firm is presently looking to add Implementation Engineers. An Implementation Engineer is a key member in an implementation team that delivers the aPriori cost management platform to a customer and assists the customer, driving quantifiable value in their organization. Implementation Engineers are responsible for data gathering, training, configuring the solution, and helping drive system adoption. A critical component of solution configuration is building virtual production environments (VPEs), which are models of a customer's manufacturing facilities. These VPEs allow customers to assess, control, and reduce its product costs from the beginning of and throughout product development cycles.

Implementations are typically short-term engagements lasting twelve weeks and require a combination of working at the customer facility and at aPriori's Concord office. 40 to 60% travel is required.

Additionally, Implementation Engineers may help during the sales process in the delivery of aPriori strategic value assessments (aSVAs), which allow prospects to confirm the financial and strategic value that aPriori can bring them prior to engaging in a full solution rollout.

Primary responsibilities:

• Gathers factory and accounting data required to configure solution and build customer VPEs. Educates customer on data requirements, helps customer project champion and project manager identify data providers, provides data gathering methodology and templates to customer, and supports the process.
• Models a customer's internal manufacturing facilities and those of its suppliers in aPriori.
• Trains users and administrators on the use of aPriori.
• Drives integration requirements with systems and processes.
• Develops a maintenance plan with customer to ensure data and solution are kept up-to-date.
• Advocates for additional requirements that are necessary or helpful for customers to successfully use and get benefit from aPriori, and works with Product Management to influence future releases.
• Works with customer to define how aPriori will fit into customers costing process.
• Provides support to users during initial use of the solution.
• Supports developing the results story to demonstrate solution ROI.

aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New Project Manager Part of aPriori Technologies Cost Management Implementation Team

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/14/2006 -- The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

The firm anticipates huge staff growth for the remainder of 2006. The firm is presently looking to add Project Managers. A Project Manager is a key member in an implementation team that delivers the aPriori cost management platform to a customer and assists the customer, driving quantifiable value in their organization. Project Managers are responsible for managing the timeline, project scope, and deliverables to drive customer satisfaction and referenceability. They will collaborate with the Account Executive to ensure the implementation plan is aligned with the overall account strategy.

Implementations are typically short-term engagements lasting twelve weeks and require a combination of working at the customer facility and at aPriori's Concord office. 40 to 60% travel is required.

aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Manufacturing, Design, and Sourcing Decision Impact Product Costs According to aPriori Technologies

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/01/2006 -- According to Frank Azzolino, President & CEO of aPriori Technologies (www.apriori.com), "There are a number of reasons why discrete manufacturers have been forced to take a "rear view" look at product costs --evaluating and allocating product costs well after production was underway. In most organizations product cost estimates are developed by specialized organizations in cost engineering or VA/VE departments. In most cases, these cost estimates are created separately and independently of the people making the design, manufacturing, and sourcing decisions. This separation results in many decisions being made in a cost knowledge vacuum. The impact of these decisions is typically not known for at least a full financial period after production is well underway."

• Cost information in most organizations is fragmented throughout the enterprise. Critical pieces of cost information are spread across independent silos within an organization in different functions like engineering, planning, manufacturing, sourcing, finance. This situation typically results in estimates that do not include all relevant information required to make accurate and predictive product cost assessments.
• Product cost estimates (especially early ones) are often based on historical information or very general heuristics (e.g. weight) and are too inaccurate and lack statistical confidence for effective decision making.
• Most cost estimating activity falls on a relatively small group of specialized people spending hours manually producing each estimate. Since the demand for costing feedback cannot always be met, the opportunity to experiment with the cost impact of design, manufacturing, planning, sourcing, etc. alternatives is limited and can not be readily cost optimized.
• Most cost estimates are static and are not continually updated when new design, manufacturing, planning, or sourcing information becomes available as the product progresses through its design-to-production-to-delivery lifecycle. Out-of-date cost information can not be relied upon for downstream decision making.
• Costing practices are not always standardized across the enterprise. As more information is available, different costing practices and methods are used to re-cost items. Unfortunately this makes it difficult to leverage previous estimating work and build traceability in product cost accrual.
• Typically cost estimates are not managed through a product's development through production lifecycle. Multiple cost estimates from different sources are created as different times during the process. It becomes unclear which product cost estimate is current or valid.
• Today's cost accounting methodologies begin with the financial statement for the prior closed financial period. The costs in that period are then allocated across various product lines and processes which are then further allocated for each individual product. These are by definition "rear view" mirror product costs.

Since this cost information is typically difficult to obtain and not readily available during the NPI process, manufacturers are forced to take an after-the-fact, rearward view of the decisions that were made during their NPI process.

The aPriori cost management platform alleviates these problems a number of different ways. By using innovative, patent protected technologies, aPriori is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry, along with its ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, "forward looking" real time cost estimates are created.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

Contact:
John Busa
aPriori
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Strategic Value Assessment Demonstrates Cost Consequences

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/01/2006 -- During the aPriori Strategic Value Assessment (aSVA) the aPriori Cost Management software platform is on-site to facilitate making real-time product cost assessments; design changes in the MCAD system, as well as understanding the product cost implications of various sourcing decisions, manufacturing process decisions, and material choices. The activity allows customer to experience how aPriori drives product cost reductions. Sources of cost reduction may come from:

- Better cost information during the product design process suggesting different design alternatives
- Different materials decisions based on real-time cost information
- Planning/routing/manufacturing decisions based on knowing the cost consequences of different alternatives
- Should-cost analyses available earlier in the product development cycle
- More efficient make/buy decisions based on fact based product cost estimates

Specifically, the aSVA validates:

- aPriori works in our customers business environment:
Verifying that the relevant production facilities and manufacturing processes can be modeled
Confirming that predictive and accurate cost assessments can be created for our customers' products
Certifying that customers can use aPriori in their everyday tasks to accomplish product cost reductions quickly and easily

- aPriori helps customers find ways to lower product costs by demonstrating:
It can provide real-time visibility to cost information at all stages in the product development and delivery process.
It provides fast and accurate product cost estimates that can be used as daily design, manufacturing, and sourcing decisions are being made.

Customers have the opportunity to improve their approach to product cost management by incorporating real-time product cost information into all product development and delivery activities.

The customers choose a number of representative manufactured products to validate the cost saving potential of the aPriori system. They model the production facilities; those facilities may represent internal production facilities or the facilities of suppliers or vendors. The goal of the aSVA activity is to generate accurate product costs for the representative products and to explore realistic product cost reduction scenarios.

During the aSVA, aPriori provides a 4-day on-site session that includes solution education, orientation of the application, and hands-on use. The training is for representatives of all user communities who impact and manage product costs (such as representatives from Sourcing/Procurement, Accounting, Manufacturing, Design Engineering and Management.)

The aSVA will conclude with a final report that summarizes the project and presents a viable business case for the long term adoption of the aPriori Cost Management software platform at our customers. This business case is based on product cost reductions that determine the ROI of the aSVA activity and as well as the projected ROI of long term adoption.

An aSVA takes approximately four weeks to complete and consists of five key activities:

1) Preparing technical environment
2) Gathering data
3) Building the production facility models
4) Using the aPriori Cost Management System at the customer's site to validate the accuracy of product cost estimates and to explore cost reduction opportunities
5) Delivering the business case validating the applicability of the aPriori cost management system as well as short and long term ROI opportunity

To learn more about this important program go to: http://www.apriori.com/services/asva.html.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Discrete Manufacturers View of Product Costs According to aPriori Technologies

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/31/2006 -- According to Frank Azzolino, President & CEO of aPriori Technologies (www.apriori.com), "There are a number of reasons why discrete manufacturers have been forced to take a "rear view" look at product costs --evaluating and allocating product costs well after production was underway."

• Cost information in most organizations is fragmented throughout the enterprise. Critical pieces of cost information are spread across independent silos within an organization in different functions like engineering, planning, manufacturing, sourcing, finance. This situation typically results in estimates that do not include all relevant information required to make accurate and predictive product cost assessments.
• In most organizations product cost estimates are developed by specialized organizations in cost engineering or VA/VE departments. In most cases, these cost estimates are created separately and independently of the people making the design, manufacturing, and sourcing decisions. This separation results in many decisions being made in a cost knowledge vacuum. The impact of these decisions is typically not known for at least a full financial period after production is well underway.
• Product cost estimates (especially early ones) are often based on historical information or very general heuristics (e.g. weight) and are too inaccurate and lack statistical confidence for effective decision making.
• Most cost estimating activity falls on a relatively small group of specialized people spending hours manually producing each estimate. Since the demand for costing feedback cannot always be met, the opportunity to experiment with the cost impact of design, manufacturing, planning, sourcing, etc. alternatives is limited and can not be readily cost optimized.
• Most cost estimates are static and are not continually updated when new design, manufacturing, planning, or sourcing information becomes available as the product progresses through its design-to-production-to-delivery lifecycle. Out-of-date cost information can not be relied upon for downstream decision making.
• Costing practices are not always standardized across the enterprise. As more information is available, different costing practices and methods are used to re-cost items. Unfortunately this makes it difficult to leverage previous estimating work and build traceability in product cost accrual.
• Typically cost estimates are not managed through a product's development through production lifecycle. Multiple cost estimates from different sources are created as different times during the process. It becomes unclear which product cost estimate is current or valid.
• Today's cost accounting methodologies begin with the financial statement for the prior closed financial period. The costs in that period are then allocated across various product lines and processes which are then further allocated for each individual product. These are by definition "rear view" mirror product costs.

Since this cost information is typically difficult to obtain and not readily available during the NPI process, manufacturers are forced to take an after-the-fact, rearward view of the decisions that were made during their NPI process.

The aPriori cost management platform alleviates these problems a number of different ways. By using innovative, patent protected technologies, aPriori is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry, along with its ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, "forward looking" real time cost estimates are created.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, Flextronics, JLG, and Dana Corporation."

Contact:
John Busa
aPriori
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Azzolino Sees Disconnect in PLM

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/26/2006 -- Based in Concord, MA, aPriori (www.apriori.com) is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle.

According to aPriori's President, Frank Azzolino, "One of the reasons for this is the inherent disconnect between the goals and objectives of the product-centric engineering constituents and a company's financially based business objectives. There is no better example of this disconnect than the stark difference between the language of engineering and the language of business. MCAD and PLM have historically focused on the engineering and design aspects of product delivery. The language of engineering as spoken by MCAD and PLM is based on physical attributes of the product and technological capabilities of the software solutions used."

The language of the business is time and money. It is no secret that the profit motive is what drives critical company decisions. It is also no secret that much of a product's ability to achieve the expected financial goals is driven by design and manufacturing decisions that occur very early in and continually throughout the product delivery process. The holy grail of 'collaboration' is meaningless if the parties are not speaking a common language.

The PLM industry presents a keen example of this disconnect. We see the major MCAD players strive for acceptance and penetration outside of engineering departments at the same time we see the major ERP players strive to enter the engineering and product delivery arena. In each of these application platforms, PLM and ERP, cost can be managed. Certainly, on the ERP side, costs are historical. These costs are available to be managed only after production. On the PLM side, it is more difficult and, actually, potentially more valuable. The need for real time, predictive costs are essential to allow design/manufacturing teams to avoid and eliminate costs early in the process when critical cost driving decisions are made. In today's MCAD, PLM, and ERP applications the ability to generate this early cost knowledge is simply not available.

Extending beyond the design engineering value, accurate product cost estimates offload the estimating burden from manufacturing engineers and planners already challenged with demanding production schedules, decreasing capital investment, and a dwindling experience base. In addition, predictive cost assessments offer procurement and sourcing professionals a much needed "should cost" from which to make better, more efficient sourcing decisions while negotiating from a fact-based position. Finally, program and project management benefit from real time visibility to product cost information continually throughout the product development and delivery process thus avoiding the sudden shock of bad news late in the process.

The result, product cost knowledge, is the common language spoken across the enterprise and is clearly focused on the business goals (as opposed to parochial product or feature oriented goals) that reduce costs, increase margins and contribution, drive profits and support growth. aPriori offers a cost management platform that directly addresses the need for real time predictive cost assessment. aPriori is used by designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and managers, sourcing and procurement professionals, program and project management, and cost management or value engineering specialists. With visibility to crucial product cost knowledge, professional all across the enterprise can make better decisions to avoid, eliminate and reduce product costs.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent aPriori customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, JLG, Wrobel Engineering, and Dana Corporation."

Contact:
John Busa
aPriori
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Cost Management Software Platform Tightly Integrated with SAP Enterprise Applications

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/25/2006 -- The aPriori v4.0 Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori v4.0 enables designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management to make better decisions to reduce, avoid, and recover product costs. aPriori's solutions enable manufacturing companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

aPriori, the technology leader providing cost management software solutions for the discrete part manufacturing industry, today announced that its aPriori v4.0 Cost Management Software Platform has recently received the "Powered by SAP NetWeaver®" certification for its tight integration with SAP® Web Application Server, as well as the SAP Enterprise Portal 6.0, both components of the SAP NetWeaver open integration and application platform.

aPriori's integration with SAP NetWeaver enables usage in SAP Web Application Server-based environments. Additionally, aPriori's Cost management Software Platform supports pre-built iView software for integration with the SAP Enterprise Portal. The aPriori iView provides access to product cost and procurement functionality in the aPriori Cost Management platform. This functionality allows users to compare the costs of alternative manufacturing scenarios for their products. Supporting single-sign-on and role-based access, the aPriori iView allows appropriate users to view all products in the aPriori cost management database and all available manufacturing scenarios. Each of these scenarios has a detailed breakdown of estimated costs and can be used when making important engineering and manufacturing product cost decisions.

"The tight integration between the aPriori Cost Management Software Platform and the SAP NetWeaver platform compliment each other and provide an innovative enterprise environment for addressing the product cost management needs of our customers," said Frank V. Azzolino, president and CEO of aPriori. "All user communities who impact and manage cost can now have access to aPriori product cost information at the point when and where critical cost related decisions are made including from within their SAP environment."

About aPriori
Based in Concord, MA, aPriori is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patented cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

SAP, SAP NetWeaver and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries all over the world.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent aPriori customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, JLG, Wrobel Engineering, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

QA Manager to be added on aPriori Technologies Cost Management Implementation Team

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/21/2006 -- aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

The firm anticipates huge staff growth for the remainder of 2006. The firm is presently looking to add a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer. This individual will work closely with Engineering in communicating and resolving issues, and coordinating test efforts across multiple projects, including both Web and Desktop applications.

Primary responsibilities:

Work with the QA Group and Engineering to establish proper QA processes and procedures to ensure high-level of product quality.

Develop and execute test plans and test cases for new and existing functionality.

Operate in a cross-functional team to understand project readiness, influence early testability, and ensure proper test coverage, overall system reliability, performance, and quality.

Perform all levels of testing including: Functional, UI, System, Load/Stress/Performance, Installation, and Regression.

Report defects and work with Engineering to reproduce problems, verify resolutions, and create regression tests.

Calculate testing estimates and develop testing schedules for assigned projects.

Configure and maintain testing environments.

Assist in developing automated test framework.

Required background:


6+ years of full-time QA experience on two or more commercial, enterprise software products. Experience must include QA leadership on a team that delivered commercial software to a large customer base.

Solid understanding of the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and QA/Test Methodologies including demonstrating improvements.

Direct experience developing test automation strategies for enterprise applications.

Familiarity with CAD software and manufacturing processes systems a plus.

The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent aPriori customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, JLG, Wrobel Engineering, and Dana Corporation."

Contact:
John Busa
aPriori
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Growth to Include Manufacturing Process Cost Modeler

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/18/2006 -- The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

The firm anticipates huge staff growth for the remainder of 2006. Manufacturing Process Cost Modelers are central to the growth. Cost Modelers will be responsible for the development and support of cost models for a constantly growing list of manufacturing processes. Processes cover many areas of machining processes, welding, assembly, plastic part fabrication, finishing, and casting. Comfortable with 3D CAD systems, this individual must have a solid understanding of how design factors, such as part geometry and tolerances, impact the cost of many manufacturing processes.


BS or better in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering.
5-10 years industrial experience involved with the design and/or manufacturing of mechanical parts.

Expertise with a variety of manufacturing processes.

Some experience pulling together process or product costs, at least using spreadsheets.

Experience with programming languages a plus, but not a requirement.

Ability to assemble large varieties of information about a manufacturing process together into a coherent mechanistic model, some of which may be new to the individual.

Ability to work under time pressure.

Coordinating closely with a wide variety of other experts, this individual will master the use of the company's proprietary cost modeling language to develop cost models that will estimate part and tooling costs starting with basic part 3D geometry.

aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent aPriori customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, JLG, Wrobel Engineering, and Dana Corporation."

Contact:
John Busa
aPriori
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Strategic Value Assessment Demonstrates Real-Time Costs

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/17/2006 -- "The objective of the aPriori Strategic Value Assessment (aSVA) is to confirm the financial and strategic value that aPriori can brings to customers in a very short timeframe, approximately four weeks, "according to Frank Azzolino, president of aPriori Technologies.

Specifically, the aSVA validates:

aPriori works in our customers business environment:
Verifying that the relevant production facilities and manufacturing processes can be modeled
Confirming that predictive and accurate cost assessments can be created for our customers' products
Certifying that customers can use aPriori in their everyday tasks to accomplish product cost reductions quickly and easily

aPriori helps customers find ways to lower product costs by demonstrating:
It can provide real-time visibility to cost information at all stages in the product development and delivery process.
It provides fast and accurate product cost estimates that can be used as daily design, manufacturing, and sourcing decisions are being made.

Customers have the opportunity to improve their approach to product cost management by incorporating real-time product cost information into all product development and delivery activities.

During the aSVA, aPriori provides the aPriori Cost Management software platform on-site to facilitate making real-time product cost assessments; design changes in the MCAD system, as well as understanding the product cost implications of various sourcing decisions, manufacturing process decisions, and material choices. The activity allows customer to experience how aPriori drives product cost reductions. Sources of cost reduction may come from:

Better cost information during the product design process suggesting different design alternatives
Different materials decisions based on real-time cost information
Planning/routing/manufacturing decisions based on knowing the cost consequences of different alternatives
Should-cost analyses available earlier in the product development cycle
More efficient make/buy decisions based on fact based product cost estimates

The customers choose a number of representative manufactured products to validate the cost saving potential of the aPriori system. They model the production facilities; those facilities may represent internal production facilities or the facilities of suppliers or vendors. The goal of the aSVA activity is to generate accurate product costs for the representative products and to explore realistic product cost reduction scenarios.

During the aSVA, aPriori provides a 4-day on-site session that includes solution education, orientation of the application, and hands-on use. The training is for representatives of all user communities who impact and manage product costs (such as representatives from Sourcing/Procurement, Accounting, Manufacturing, Design Engineering and Management.)

The aSVA will conclude with a final report that summarizes the project and presents a viable business case for the long term adoption of the aPriori Cost Management software platform at our customers. This business case is based on product cost reductions that determine the ROI of the aSVA activity and as well as the projected ROI of long term adoption.

An aSVA takes approximately four weeks to complete and consists of five key activities:

1) Preparing technical environment
2) Gathering data
3) Building the production facility models
4) Using the aPriori Cost Management System at the customer's site to validate the accuracy of product cost estimates and to explore cost reduction opportunities
5) Delivering the business case validating the applicability of the aPriori cost management system as well as short and long term ROI opportunity

To learn more about this important program go to: http://www.apriori.com/services/asva.html.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent aPriori customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, JLG, Wrobel Engineering, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Discrete Manufacturers Reduce Product Costs Through aPriori Technologies

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/13/2006 -- MCAD and PLM markets are maturing and a PLM market that continues to miss the hopeful expectations of the industry pundits. There have not been significant advances in MCAD since the late 1980's. The game changing technology of 'feature based solid modeling' has become a commodity as all of the players have caught up over the past decade. For a variety of reasons the PLM market has underperformed. Although the theory of product lifecycle management is sound, realizing the vision has eluded many companies, taken far longer, cost much more than expected, and failed to deliver as promised.

According to Frank Azzolino, President of aPriori Technologies, "Real time, predictive cost assessments are required to allow discrete manufacturers to reduce product costs, drive profits and support. One of the reasons for this is the inherent disconnect between the goals and objectives of the product-centric engineering constituents and a company's financially based business objectives. There is no better example of this disconnect than the stark difference between the language of engineering and the language of business. MCAD and PLM have historically focused on the engineering and design aspects of product delivery. The language of engineering as spoken by MCAD and PLM is based on physical attributes of the product and technological capabilities of the software solutions used."

The language of the business is time and money. It is no secret that the profit motive is what drives critical company decisions. It is also no secret that much of a product's ability to achieve the expected financial goals is driven by design and manufacturing decisions that occur very early in and continually throughout the product delivery process. The holy grail of 'collaboration' is meaningless if the parties are not speaking a common language. The 'lingua franca' that translates the language of engineering into the language of business is 'cost', specifically, product cost.

Extending beyond the design engineering value, accurate product cost estimates offload the estimating burden from manufacturing engineers and planners already challenged with demanding production schedules, decreasing capital investment, and a dwindling experience base. In addition, predictive cost assessments offer procurement and sourcing professionals a much needed "should cost" from which to make better, more efficient sourcing decisions while negotiating from a fact-based position. Finally, program and project management benefit from real time visibility to product cost information continually throughout the product development and delivery process thus avoiding the sudden shock of bad news late in the process.

The result, product cost knowledge, is the common language spoken across the enterprise and is clearly focused on the business goals (as opposed to parochial product or feature oriented goals) that reduce costs, increase margins and contribution, drive profits and support growth.

Based in Concord, MA, aPriori (www.apriori.com) is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent aPriori customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, JLG, Wrobel Engineering, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Shares Value of Predictive Cost Assessments

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/11/2006 -- aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages.

There are fundamental differences in the way that decisions are made in the NPI process, (in the process that takes products from the conceptual design phase all the way through production delivery), by using aPriori's predictive cost assessments vs. more traditional Activity Based Costing (ABC) methods. ABC applies methods where costs are allocated to production products "after the fact", (after they have been designed, planned, sourced, and produced.)

During the NPI process many decisions are being made which directly influence or affect product costs. During the conceptual design and engineering development phase of NPI, fundamental product decisions are being made in terms of product form, fit, and function. Typically, more than 60% of a product's cost is committed early in the design process based on these design decisions, the remaining costs being determined by planning and sourcing decisions.

Without the real time predictive cost information provided by the aPriori cost management software platform, these cost relevant decisions are made in a cost knowledge vacuum, i.e. being made without either up-to-date or accurate cost information, or without any information whatsoever. Without aPriori's real-time predictive cost assessments, the only recourse manufacturers have is to use historical information based on previous products or determine the costs of the current product after it has been in product for awhile, and then allocate those costs across the different activities that occurred during the NPI process. Unfortunately, once the product is in production, it may be very difficult and expensive to make these changes.

The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

"aPriori has customers in a variety of industries including High Technology, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, and Heavy Machinery. Recent aPriori customers include John Deere, Panasonic, Thomas & Betts, JLG, Wrobel Engineering, and Dana Corporation."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Receives “Powered by SAP Netweaver” Certification

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/10/2006 -- aPriori, the technology leader providing cost management software solutions for the discrete part manufacturing industry, today announced that its aPriori v4.0 Cost Management Software Platform has recently received the "Powered by SAP NetWeaver®" certification for its tight integration with SAP® Web Application Server, as well as the SAP Enterprise Portal 6.0, both components of the SAP NetWeaver open integration and application platform.

The aPriori v4.0 Cost Management Software Platform provides real-time, predictive cost assessments throughout the entire product development and delivery process. aPriori v4.0 enables designers and engineers, manufacturing engineers and planners, purchasing and sourcing professionals, cost managers, and program/project management to make better decisions to reduce, avoid, and recover product costs. aPriori's solutions enable manufacturing companies to measurably reduce their Costs-of-Goods Sold (COGS) by whole percentages by identifying quantifiable savings in material, tooling, labor and overhead while evaluating alternative designs, manufacturing processes, and vendor sources.

aPriori's integration with SAP NetWeaver enables usage in SAP Web Application Server-based environments. Additionally, aPriori's Cost management Software Platform supports pre-built iView software for integration with the SAP Enterprise Portal. The aPriori iView provides access to product cost and procurement functionality in the aPriori Cost Management platform. This functionality allows users to compare the costs of alternative manufacturing scenarios for their products. Supporting single-sign-on and role-based access, the aPriori iView allows appropriate users to view all products in the aPriori cost management database and all available manufacturing scenarios. Each of these scenarios has a detailed breakdown of estimated costs and can be used when making important engineering and manufacturing product cost decisions.

"The tight integration between the aPriori Cost Management Software Platform and the SAP NetWeaver platform compliment each other and provide an innovative enterprise environment for addressing the product cost management needs of our customers," said Frank V. Azzolino, president and CEO of aPriori. "All user communities who impact and manage cost can now have access to aPriori product cost information at the point when and where critical cost related decisions are made including from within their SAP environment."

About aPriori
Based in Concord, MA, aPriori is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patented cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

SAP, SAP NetWeaver and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries all over the world.

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

QA Manager for aPriori Technologies Cost Management Implementation Team to be Added

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/06/2006 -- The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

The firm anticipates huge staff growth for the remainder of 2006. The firm is presently looking to add a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer. This individual will work closely with Engineering in communicating and resolving issues and coordinating test efforts across multiple projects, including both Web and Desktop applications.

Primary responsibilities:

Work with the QA Group and Engineering to establish proper QA processes and procedures to ensure high-level of product quality.

Develop and execute test plans and test cases for new and existing functionality.

Operate in a cross-functional team to understand project readiness, influence early testability, and ensure proper test coverage, overall system reliability, performance, and quality.

Perform all levels of testing including: Functional, UI, System, Load/Stress/Performance, Installation, and Regression.

Report defects and work with Engineering to reproduce problems, verify resolutions, and create regression tests.

Calculate testing estimates and develop testing schedules for assigned projects.

Configure and maintain testing environments.

Assist in developing automated test framework.

Required background:

6+ years of full-time QA experience on two or more commercial, enterprise software products. Experience must include QA leadership on a team that delivered commercial software to a large customer base.

Solid understanding of the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and QA/Test Methodologies including demonstrating improvements.

Direct experience developing test automation strategies for enterprise applications.

Familiarity with CAD software and manufacturing processes systems a plus.

aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

aPriori
www.aPriori.com
John Busa
jbusa@apriori.com
978-371-2006

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Manufacturing Process Cost Modeler Part of aPriori Growth

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/03/2006 -- The aPriori cost management platform uses innovative, patent protected technologies, and is capable of using design information driven off of MCAD geometry. Additionally the ability to model production facilities (including machine capabilities, raw materials, and facility cost structure) and the specific cost accounting methodologies, accurate predictive, allow "forward looking" real time cost estimates.

The firm anticipates huge staff growth for the remainder of 2006. Manufacturing Process Cost Modelers are central to the growth. Cost Modelers will be responsible for the development and support of cost models for a constantly growing list of manufacturing processes. Processes cover many areas of machining processes, welding, assembly, plastic part fabrication, finishing, and casting. Comfortable with 3D CAD systems, this individual must have a solid understanding of how design factors, such as part geometry and tolerances, impact the cost of many manufacturing processes. Coordinating closely with a wide variety of other experts, this individual will master the use of the company's proprietary cost modeling language to develop cost models that will estimate part and tooling costs starting with basic part 3D geometry.

• BS or better in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering.
5-10 years industrial experience involved with the design and/or manufacturing of mechanical parts.
• Expertise with a variety of manufacturing processes.
• Some experience pulling together process or product costs, at least using spreadsheets.
• Experience with programming languages a plus, but not a requirement.
• Ability to assemble large varieties of information about a manufacturing process together into a coherent mechanistic model, some of which may be new to the individual.
• Ability to work under time pressure.

aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

Contact:
John Busa
aPriori
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

aPriori Technologies Reduces Product Costs for Discrete Manufacturers

Concord, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/29/2006 -- According to Frank Azzolino, President of aPriori Technologies, "Real-time, predictive cost assessments are required to allow discrete manufacturers to reduce product costs, drive profits and support."

MCAD and PLM markets are maturing and a PLM market that continues to miss the hopeful expectations of the industry pundits. There have not been significant advances in MCAD since the late 1980's. The game changing technology of 'feature based solid modeling' has become a commodity as all of the players have caught up over the past decade. For a variety of reasons the PLM market has underperformed. Although the theory of product lifecycle management is sound, realizing the vision has eluded many companies, taken far longer, cost much more than expected, and failed to deliver as promised.

According to Azzolino, "One of the reasons for this is the inherent disconnect between the goals and objectives of the product-centric engineering constituents and a company's financially based business objectives. There is no better example of this disconnect than the stark difference between the language of engineering and the language of business. MCAD and PLM have historically focused on the engineering and design aspects of product delivery. The language of engineering as spoken by MCAD and PLM is based on physical attributes of the product and technological capabilities of the software solutions used."

The language of the business is time and money. It is no secret that the profit motive is what drives critical company decisions. It is also no secret that much of a product's ability to achieve the expected financial goals is driven by design and manufacturing decisions that occur very early in and continually throughout the product delivery process. The holy grail of 'collaboration' is meaningless if the parties are not speaking a common language. The 'lingua franca' that translates the language of engineering into the language of business is 'cost', specifically, product cost.

Extending beyond the design engineering value, accurate product cost estimates offload the estimating burden from manufacturing engineers and planners already challenged with demanding production schedules, decreasing capital investment, and a dwindling experience base. In addition, predictive cost assessments offer procurement and sourcing professionals a much needed "should cost" from which to make better, more efficient sourcing decisions while negotiating from a fact-based position. Finally, program and project management benefit from real time visibility to product cost information continually throughout the product development and delivery process thus avoiding the sudden shock of bad news late in the process.

The result, product cost knowledge, is the common language spoken across the enterprise and is clearly focused on the business goals (as opposed to parochial product or feature oriented goals) that reduce costs, increase margins and contribution, drive profits and support growth.

Based in Concord, MA, aPriori (www.apriori.com) is the technology leader providing innovative cost management solutions to the discrete manufacturing industry. aPriori's Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle. aPriori's Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to "cost-critical" decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business "offensive." aPriori's patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages. The aPriori Platform truly enables "Cost Knowledge Before it Matters."

Contact:
John Busa
aPriori
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm