Lawson Software Introduces Lawson QuickStep Manufacturing

Pre-configured business processes speed deployment of business software to deliver faster ROI

Nov. 11, 2008 – Lawson Software (Nasdaq: LWSN) today announced the general availability of Lawson QuickStep Manufacturing, a pre-configured enterprise resource planning (ERP) software package designed to help manufacturers achieve faster business results. The application package helps address manufacturers’ industry-specific business needs, including visibility across global supply chains. It also offers the ability to manage a diverse range of products, and it supports a variety of product delivery and supply methods.

QuickStep Manufacturing combines manufacturing-specific content with built-in business best practices based on Lawson’s deep knowledge of the manufacturing industry and the company’s proven implementation methodology. The application package will help reduce the time, cost and risks typically associated with an ERP software implementation by pre-configuring 70 percent to 90 percent of manufacturing business processes within the Lawson system. As a result, Lawson QuickStep Manufacturing provides a compelling deployment model for process, discrete and mixed-mode manufacturers that create complex products based on custom orders or through mass production.

Lawson QuickStep Manufacturing also offers a lower total cost of ownership by helping manufacturers reduce ERP system installation time by up to 50 percent. In addition to its pre-configured business processes, the software package also includes e-learning tools and documented business processes to help manufacturers speed employee training. It helps customers address many manufacturing-specific business challenges, including:
Aggregation and visibility of organization-wide production data;
Management of complex and expanding product lines;
Visibility of the entire order chain for optimal material flow and inventory reduction; Implementation of lean manufacturing principles, enabling manufacturers to focus on the customer while removing unnecessary work and costs.

“With increased product complexity and production spread across multiple geographies, manufacturers need a comprehensive business system that’s simple to install and use,” said Suzanne Benn, manufacturing and maintenance marketing director for Lawson. “Lawson QuickStep Manufacturing helps manufacturers simplify software deployment, which can help them achieve business results faster and respond quickly to changing customer demand.”

Lawson QuickStep Manufacturing is the latest Lawson QuickStep application, targeting key industries the company serves. Other Lawson QuickStep application packages include QuickStep Distribution, QuickStep Enterprise Asset Management, QuickStep Food & Beverage, QuickStep Fashion, QuickStep Government and QuickStep Healthcare. QuickStep solutions were sold in more than 40 percent of Lawson’s new customer deals during the company’s 2008 fiscal year.