Apprentice Systems Simplifies Project Management With Support for
the Microsoft Office System

Automates The Creation Of Complex Project Plans

            HUDSON, Ohio – October 21, 2003 – Apprentice Systems Inc. is showcasing its innovative process and project solution today at the worldwide launch of the Microsoft Office System.  This solution, comprised of the Apprentice Process Modeler and Project Apprentice, automates the generation of complex project plans in Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003 and Microsoft Office Project Server 2003.  The automation is based on process knowledge captured in the Apprentice Process Modeler, which uses Microsoft Office Visio Standard 2003 for visualizing process structure and rules.

            “Apprentice Process Modeler and Project Apprentice build a bridge between process and project  management,” said Debra Walker, CEO, Apprentice Systems.  “Typically, these groups form islands of expertise in an organization.  We bring them together.”

            Utilizing expertise developed in product design automation, Apprentice Systems provides tools that allow any organization to quickly capture their proprietary process knowledge and use it to generate individual projects designed to meet specific requirements. 

            The solution is being used at Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), a national retailer which sells specialty outdoor products in 24 states and on the Web.   REI designs and manufactures many of the products it sells, creating a challenging project planning environment.

            “The Microsoft Office System, Apprentice Process Modeler and Project Apprentice will enable us to generate a season’s worth of projects in a day rather than the weeks it would take with a traditional template approach,” said Kevin Myette, Director of Business Operations, REI.  “This allows us to create projects at the product level rather than the category level.”   REI is also using the Apprentice Systems’ tools to better understand and redesign their new product processes.  “Process changes will be automatically reflected in new projects because of the process and project integration,” said Myette.

            Apprentice Systems builds its software solutions on the Microsoft Office System platform because of its completeness and its familiarity among potential customers.  By creating applications that integrate several Microsoft Office System products along with its own proprietary software, Apprentice Systems delivers high value solutions that address many problems facing information workers today. 

“The Microsoft Office System is all about helping our customers be more productive, particularly when it comes to managing projects,” said Mike Gelon, Director, Information Worker Product Management Group, at Microsoft Corp.  “Using the Apprentice Process Modeler and Project Apprentice in conjunction with Project 2003 and Visio 2003 can really jump-start the project management process.  This gives customers more time for actually managing the projects and making them even more successful.”

            Apprentice Systems is an Ohio corporation specializing in software solutions that capture expert knowledge and put it to work throughout an organization.  More information can be found at http://www.apprenticesystems.com/.   

           Recreational Equipment, Inc. ( REI) was founded in 1938.  Since then, it has grown into a renowned consumer cooperative supplier of specialty outdoor products.  Based in Kent, Washington, REI has more than 7,000 employees and serves more than 2 million members through 68 retail stores in 24 states and by direct sales through the Internet, telephone, and mail.

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All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 For more information, press only:

Debra Walker, Apprentice Systems Inc., 330 650 9649, dwalker@apprenticesystems.com