DES PLAINES, Ill., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- AgileTek, LLC announces that it is expanding its AgileConnect (TM) Enterprise Interoperability service for manufacturers to include services and products for implementing Lean Manufacturing. Don Opperthauser, Managing Partner at AgileTek, says, "Lean Manufacturing and Enterprise Interoperability are both initiatives that drive the real innovation required for manufacturers to be competitive in a tough global economy. It is important for these initiatives to be addressed in a unified, holistic way, not as separate unrelated improvement programs." AgileTek reports making a substantial investment to select best-of-breed partners and build the strong relationships that best serve their client's interests. Mr. Opperthauser notes, "We make life easier for manufacturing executives. Our AgileConnect (TM) service offers the assurance of a single source provider; we have cooperative partners collaborating to achieve the client's key objectives. They can avoid the all too frequent situation where competing and unaligned partners drive up costs, cause confusion and create operational disconnects."

AgileTek is partnering with three world-class companies to bring the best in Lean consulting services and software products into AgileConnect (TM). The Cumberland Group provides consulting in Lean, Six-Sigma and enterprise- level performance improvement initiatives. Pelion Systems is the first technology provider to develop applications that extend lean flow principles across a supply network to enable visibility, collaboration and synchronize operating schedules to respond to demand. Ultriva offers a very robust, user- friendly, and deeply functional electronic Kanban application. Leveraging AgileConnect (TM) resources and years of successful experience, manufacturers now have a convenient and cost effective partner to help them achieve their mission critical goals.

About AgileTek, LLC

AgileTek is a well-established project-based software services firm based in Des Plaines, IL. AgileTek teams specialize in providing custom software solutions for medium and large-sized companies who value innovation, time to market, and the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). AgileTek is considered a competitive onshore outsourcing partner by some of the most dynamic global companies in the world. ( http://www.agiletek.com/ )

About The CUMBERLAND Group

The CUMBERLAND Group provides specialized management services to companies using Lean, Six-Sigma and Supply Chain Management to drive innovation and substantial performance improvements. Since 1981, CUMBERLAND has helped clients to accelerate progress on their most critical enterprise improvement projects. CUMBERLAND provides strategic and project management services that enable project teams to rapidly apply the most valuable methods and techniques required to build, and sustain, an agile enterprise. CUMBERLAND Group clients include U.S. and international Fortune 1000 companies such as Agilent, Motorola, Johnsonville Foods, Gardner Denver, Pratt & Whitney and the U.S. Department of Defense agencies involved in aeronautical systems design and maintenance.

About Pelion Systems

Pelion Systems is the market leader in Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO) software products and services based on Lean, Six Sigma, and Flow Manufacturing principles. Pelion is the first technology provider to develop applications that apply lean principles across the supply network to enable actionable visibility, meaningful collaboration and synchronize production and distribution schedules in response to demand. With Pelion, leading manufacturers are able to liberate capital, grow profits and sustain breakthrough performance by optimizing and synchronizing operations while extending support to their supply network including suppliers, customers and outsourced service providers in their business operations. Pelion MPO integrates easily with existing ERP, MRP and APS systems and is able to scale from a single facility to an enterprise implementation. ( http://www.pelionsystems.com/ )

About Ultriva

Ultriva, Inc., is a leader in lean manufacturing software that drives lean processes across the supply chain -- from suppliers to customers. Ultriva's flagship product, Ultriva Electronic Kanban, eliminates stock-outs while reducing inventory levels up to 75 percent. Ultriva Lean Scheduling complements demand-driven replenishment strategies by optimizing production schedules in real-time around the most variable customer demand. Ultriva Supplier Replenishment extends the replenishment capabilities of kanban to include schedule-based replenishment, discrete POs, min/max, consignment and VMI (vendor-managed inventory) replenishment methods. Ultriva's products are in use worldwide reducing manufacturing costs with industry leaders such as Rexnord, Emerson, Ingersoll-Rand and Invensys. Founded in 1999, the company pioneered the creation of an application development platform that has helped move lean manufacturing from a paper-based system to one incorporating modern computer technology, allowing seamless integration of the suppliers and customers into plant production processes.

Through partnerships with lean consultants, and hardware and software providers, Ultriva provides a comprehensive solution that enables companies to quickly adopt lean manufacturing techniques while streamlining and optimizing their supply chain across customers, plants and suppliers. ( http://www.ultriva.com/ )

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

CONTACT: Don Opperthauser for AgileTek, LLC, +1-847-699-2216 (Office),
or +1-847-770-1637 (mobile), or dopperthauser@agiletek.com

Web site: http://www.agiletek.com/
http://www.pelionsystems.com/
http://www.ultriva.com/

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