Kinpo Makes the Calculation: IBM and Dassault Systèmes PLM Solutions Reduce Product Design Time Significantly

World’s number 1 calculator manufacturer delivers more attractive products to market faster, strengthens lead in fast-changing consumer electronics industry

Taipei, Taiwan and Paris, France – November 4, 2003 – IBM and Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced that Kinpo Electronics Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of calculators, has implemented CATIA V5, a core application of IBM’s Product Lifecycle Management portfolio developed by Dassault Systèmes, to help the company significantly shorten its product design time. The collaborative product development application has enabled Kinpo to launch new calculator, digital voice recorder, digital still camera, global positioning systems and cable modem products on the market within a very short product lifecycle time.

In order to respond to the fast-changing world of consumer electronics and deliver high quality products to its demanding customers, Kinpo’s management began a testing project to find a process-centric, yet user-friendly PLM solution to encourage creativity and innovation, foster collaboration, and drive down product development costs. Kinpo chose CATIA V5 and implemented it in its Consumer Electronics Department in early 2002. One year into the deployment, the IBM PLM solution has confirmed its ability to help Kinpo become more competitive by reducing the product development cycle significantly and integrating design and manufacturing processes among the different product divisions.

The PLM solution has also helped Kinpo to synchronize its processes with outside contractors and better manage design changes in the later stages of product development. The result is first-time-right design, more efficient production and fewer delays. Thanks to the success of the PLM solution, Kinpo is increasing business with renowned firms such as Texas Instruments, Casio, Citizen, Canon, Thales, and Terayon. Today, Kinpo currently boasts a 20% share of the calculator market worldwide.

“PLM Solutions from IBM and Dassault Systèmes have helped us to minimize design mistakes and reduce time spent for unnecessary rework freeing our engineers to focus on more creative work,” said Sinclair Kou, president, Kinpo Electronics, Inc. “By taking full advantage of CATIA V5’s integrated solutions for different engineering domains for knowledgeware technology, ease-of-use, and hybrid modeling design capability, we can deliver cutting-edge consumer electronics products to the global market faster and better. The PLM solution has helped our company synchronize processes with our own outside contractors, with economies of time and resources naturally ensuing.”

“Innovation and responsiveness are key to success in the consumer electronics industry,” said Etienne Droit, executive vice president Sales and Services, Dassault Systèmes. “The dramatic reduction in development cycles achieved by Kinpo illustrates the competitive edge CATIA V5 provides to companies in a marketplace where speed, reactivity and fast turnaround are critical.”