ERP systems facilitate a variety of users' UI needs:

• Users in the back office need UIs that process electronic paperwork efficiently.
• Front office users want flexible datasets they can sort, filter and move into Excel.
• Planners for the shop floor need UIs that allow them to see how best to juggle tasks and machine assignments.
• All users need usability, flexibility, performance, easy deployment and updating.

QAD not only understands these needs, but has developed a UI that addresses these needs now and for the future. With the upcoming release of the all-new QAD .NET UI, QAD customers will experience the performance and interactivity of a local application, with the ease of administration and deployment of a Web application.

Take these steps to learn how the latest technology, architecture and interaction design principles are being applied to improve the QAD user experience:

• Download the exclusive presentation: QAD's Next Generation UI Architecture
• View a demonstration of the new UI: QAD .NET UI demo, also available on the QAD Solutions Guide site.
• Hear more in-depth knowledge from the experts themselves, register to attend QAD Explore 2006, May 7 -10 in Denver, CO.

To consistently meet today's high-pressure manufacturing expectations-and keep customers happy-schedulers need tools and applications that allow real-time visibility and quick access to detailed scheduling information. Without these tools, schedulers must often sort through a multitude of reports and inquiries, and review multiple screens to create a production schedule. Most schedulers work around the problem by building their own intricate arrangements of spreadsheets to consolidate the many pieces of information they need.

The production schedulers at A.J. Antunes faced the same work-around issues. Happily, when QAD Production Scheduler became available, decision makers at A.J. Antunes saw the opportunity to help the company's production schedulers dramatically improve the production scheduling process-while also improving production efficiencies and driving down costs.

Says Mike Ferrusquia, director of manufacturing for A.J. Antunes, "The power of QAD Production Scheduler is in its ability to provide the user with a clear vision of all of the factors that must be considered in the scheduling process, as well as a simple interface for the input and implementation of schedules and updates. The design of the user functionality is excellent and there is no question that it serves its intended purpose very effectively."

A.J. Antunes and its production schedulers look forward to ongoing improvements in the scheduling process, and the gains that result from more efficient production scheduling. Read the complete case study to learn more business benefits obtained with QAD Production Scheduler.

A New Year; A Fostered Commitment to Your Success

QAD Global Services is ready to meet the consulting, education and support needs of business, wherever manufacturing is happening. QAD Global Services helps our customers achieve outstanding results by delivering best-in-class practices, a proven methodology and a passion for success.

QAD Consulting has a full range of consulting and implementation capabilities to support your company's needs through all phases of the business lifecycle.

QAD Education offers a full palette of services including customized development of eLearning courses and the option of hosting your own Learning Management System environment.

QAD Support is a global network of solution and technology experts, dedicated to helping your QAD solution run smoothly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Which technology topic would you like to learn more about at Explore 2006? 25% User Interface 00% Database Tuning 25% Interoperability/Integration 38% RFID 00% eLearning 13% Service Oriented Architecture

Jean Claude Walravens Joins QAD as Vice President of QAD EMEA
Walravens began his position as VP of QAD EMEA January 1, 2006. Walravens will focus on accelerating the company's profitable growth throughout Europe , the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and managing operations in Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. He also will oversee a broad network of QAD distributors and resellers across EMEA.

Under his leadership, QAD EMEA will continue to provide superior support and solutions to automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial and life sciences customers, including Lear, Caterpillar, JCI, TRW, Genzyme, UCB Pharma, Philips, Thales, Akzo Nobel, Unilever, Kraft and Pepsico.

View the full press release to read Walravens' own words about QAD and his new position.

QAD Explore 2006: Igniting Innovation for the Global Enterprise. May 7 - 10 in Denver, CO.
Ignite business improvement for your company. Launch to a new level of global competitive advantage. Exceed expectations with innovative strategies for maximum ROI.

QAD Explore provides opportunities for our customers to leverage top-notch applications, technology and services to the highest degree. QAD Explore is the recognized knowledge center for manufacturing ERP and the forum for QAD customers to meet and share strategies for exceeding expectations in the global marketplace.

At QAD Explore, you'll gain innovative strategies and ideas that will spark enhanced performance and accelerate competitive advantage for your business, both globally and locally.

• Learn how attending Explore 2006 will propel your career. Visit explore.qad.com.
• Automatically Schedule Explore on your MS Outlook calendar.

QAD Becomes the First Software Company to Join the European Automotive Industry Organization Odette
QAD brings to Odette both deep expertise in the global automotive sector and experience providing leadership and resources to help establish supply chain technology standards in the European and North American automotive industries. Its membership in Odette will help advance similar initiatives in Europe to enhance operational aspects of the supply chain for greater efficiency.

Says John Canvin, managing director of Odette, "The advantages of making QAD the first software vendor member of Odette were clear, from QAD's contributions to automotive industry standards, to its role as a valued partner to automotive manufacturers and suppliers worldwide. We anticipate QAD will provide the technological insight and industry experience that will help Odette further its work to improve automotive supply chain function. With QAD's help, we also hope to encourage the software industry to develop solutions that support Odette standards." Learn more. Read the full press release for details of this unprecedented invitation.

Exciting QAD events are happening right now in your region and around the world! Check out the QAD Events page for more information.

Customer Satisfaction with QAD Support has never been so high!

QAD Support mission statement:
"To be a world-class organization that achieves the highest level of customer satisfaction by consistently exceeding the customer's expectation."

We measure customer satisfaction with periodic surveys, and by inviting our customers to assess our performance after a support Incident is closed every 30, 45 or 60 days (you determine your frequency when taking the survey).

The questions are based on industry standards, and a free-text box is available to enter any further comment you might have.

How are we doing?
The survey results for the 2005 year-end reflect our commitment to helping our valued customers succeed. QAD Support strives to maintain 100 percent customer satisfaction rates:

Note: The number of surveys collected in the months of October and November significantly dropped, so the results do not reflect a typical monthly average.

What else can we do for you?
QAD Support professionals strive for continuous improvement in customer service. We value your feedback. Voice your opinion by responding to surveys or by getting in touch with QAD Support at any time.

Brad Fugitt (brf@qad.com) Vice-President of Global Support
Paul Corson (pmc@qad.com) Support Manager Americas
Cindy Hung (cin@qad.com) Support Manager Asia-Pacific
Aldo Bosman (ayb@qad.com) Support Manager EMEA

What's New and What's Coming

QAD Learning Portal Access learningportal.qad.com to view these new courses:

Inventory Management: Concepts and Practices
This course examines inventory from two points of view:

• Conceptual and standards issues of inventory, based on the APICS mode
• Demonstrates how QAD MFG/PRO helps you deal with inventory issues and implement solutions.

Lee Kirkpatrick, an expert in inventory management and QAD MFG/PRO applications, explains inventory topics and issues and ways to effectively implement policies and practices.

Accounts Receivable

QAD MFG/PRO Accounts Receivable manages all aspects of your receivables function. This course covers all areas of the Accounts Receivable module from set-up to payment application. It also covers setup issues in related modules including customer address records, sales order control and bank maintenance.

Learn more about these and other courses currently available on the QAD Learning Portal: Featured Courses Overview.You will find many other educational courses created by today's manufacturing experts, as well as QAD MFG/PRO core functionality courses on MRP and MPS.

Web Events. Log in to the ServiceLinQ eLearning Web Events Archive to view the recording of past Web events, including:

QAD Production Scheduler (QPS)
Manufacturers face constant fluctuations in demand and handle increasingly complex product mixes. This makes visibility of the production environment-and information that impacts it-vital to determining appropriate action. The QAD Production Scheduler provides near real-time visibility into key production scheduling information on a single screen. Learn more about this new Web-based product offering from QPS Product Manager, Carianne Nieuwstraten and Business Analyst, Brent Shooltz.

Customer Schedules
In this Web event, senior instructor and consultant, Lee Kirkpatrick explains how QAD MFG/PRO Customer Schedules can help you reduce paperwork and errors.

• Receive your customers' shipping schedules electronically.
• Integrate your customers' shipping requirements with your MRP.
• Synchronize your customers' calendars with your operations.
• Send Advanced Ship Notices (ASNs).
• Track shipments.

Knowledgebase. This month 80 new solutions have been published in the QAD Knowledgebase . Check out the most used solutions this month:

• Are there any changes to 1099-MISC Form Print for Tax Year 2005 (Solution ID qad40483)
• How to configure a secondary SQL92 Broker for PROGRESS 9.1D. (Solution ID qad24768)
• Unable to move installed base item with closed call in 11.3.13 Installed Base Move (Solution ID qad41415)

Q-Village Discussion Forum. Get connected with your peers and industry experts in the QAD community. Check out this month's hot discussion topic:

• Is it possible to suppress display of an account containing non-zero value in Trial Balance, Balance Sheet and Income Statement. (Click here to review)

Customer Advisories. No new advisories were posted last month. Read about Customer Advisories .

If you would like to receive an e-mail notification when a new customer advisory is posted to QAD ServiceLinQ, please update your Web account profile and check the customer advisory box under e-mail options.

QAD ServiceLinQ is Your Online Support Center, providing a vast array of product information, knowledge repositories, analytical tools and direct access to QAD experts any time, any place. Register for your individual QAD Web Account today to receive the full benefit of ServiceLinQ!

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