IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 16, 2001—Wonderware Corp. today announced a restructuring program to streamline its organization and improve its capabilities to deliver software functionality, web enabled plant information, and product ordering and configuration.
"We are dedicated to making the necessary changes that ensure Wonderware remains the leader in providing software for manufacturing management information in the new millennium," said Joe Cowan, president and chief executive officer. "Over the past several months we've realized that our organization, business and development processes need to be more agile and efficient for a changing market."
Cowan said hallmarks of Wonderware's development success include ease of use, the most connections to plant floor devices, a two-click upgrade path, and extensibility. "We remain committed to these principles and must rejuvenate the entrepreneurial spirit in our culture that allows us to rapidly adapt to change," he said.
As part of the restructuring process, the company will reduce its worldwide employment by about 20% by the end of January 2001. The reductions will consolidate or eliminate some internal functions and layers of management and eliminate about 150 positions.
"The new Wonderware will continue its leadership in providing supervisory control/HMI software to manufacturing," Cowan said. "Over the years, we've broadened our product offerings and functionality to include the leading components for batch, plant historian and relational database and tracking.
With this restructuring, we will more effectively leverage the best available technologies such as XML, CE, and Terminal Services. We are confident Wonderware will capture the lead in web-enabled manufacturing information, the MES marketplace and a new market space we'll call 'Asset Efficiency' going forward, " he continued.
About Wonderware
Wonderware, an independent operating unit of the Invensys Software Systems (ISS) Division of Invensys plc., is the world's leading supplier of industrial automation software. Founded in 1987, Wonderware pioneered the use of Microsoft Windows-based, human-machine-interface (HMI) automation software for manufacturing operation systems.
Today, Wonderware's mission is to provide integrated software suites that drive the customer's strategic, planning and operational decision-making based on real-time plant floor information. Recent corporate and product acquisitions have broadened Wonderware's market coverage to range from "sensor to supply chain." In addition to its HMI and manufacturing execution systems (MES) products, Wonderware offers leading enterprise asset management (EAM) solutions as well as strategic consulting services.
Wonderware is based in Irvine, Calif., and has regional sales and development offices throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia to provide support to its network of more than 160 independent distributor offices. Wonderware has more than 180,000 successful software installations in more than 25,000 plants worldwide. For more information, visit the Wonderware home page at: http://www.wonderware.com.
About Invensys
Invensys plc is a global leader in the automation and controls industry. With its head office in London, England it operates in all regions of the world through four focused divisions - software systems, automation systems, power systems and control systems.
With over 90,000 employees, the company's products and services range from advanced control systems and networks for automating industrial plants and controlling the environments of buildings, to electronic devices and controls found in residential buildings and light commercial applications, plus complete power systems for the telecommunications and information technology industries. For more information, visit the Invensys home page at http://www.invensys.com.
