Michael Dedrick

Rapid ROI on Critical Production Line Prompts Plant-Wide Deployment of Shoplogix’s Plantnode® Solution

MISSISSAUGA, ON – July 22, 2009 – Marketwire

Shoplogix is pleased to announce that Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s largest provider of dialysis services and products, increased productivity at its Ogden, Utah manufacturing facility by 5% in just 30 days using Shoplogix’s Plantnode RPM solution. Based on the rapid success of the Plantnode RPM solution, Fresenius Medical Care will be implementing the solution in all its dialyzer production lines at it’s Ogden facility.

Fresenius Medical Care seeks to maintain a world-class operation within the current manufacturing climate that is characterized by constant, aggressive measurement and improvement of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). As part of its efforts to further optimize plant performance, Fresenius selected the Plantnode solution to automate existing manual data collection efforts, improve data accuracy and increase productivity.

Prior to implementation, the company undertook the Shoplogix Sudden Impact program, which is a 30 day initiative that demonstrates the capabilities of Plantnode. During this program, Fresenius deployed four Plantnodes on a single dialyzer production line to automate the collection, evaluation and display of machine data in real-time. The result was a 5% productivity gain, an outcome which surpassed Fresenius’ initial goal of a 1% to 1.5% productivity improvement.

Rudy Valencia, the Director of Dialyzer Manufacturing at the Ogden Plant, says the product has already exceeded expectations: “From operators to managers, Plantnode makes accurate and reliable machine data highly visible and easily accessible to everyone; this ensures all workers play a role in improving operational performance,” says Valencia. “We are extremely pleased with the results we’ve achieved to date with Plantnode. As we expand our implementation plant-wide, we are building the foundation for a new way to measure and sustain continuous improvements at our production sites.”

Martin Ambrose, CEO at Shoplogix, says that plant operators can use the Plantnode Solution even in the current economic climate to make significant improvements to their productivity: “In the face of today’s economic slowdown, global leaders such as Fresenius Medical Care recognize the critical need to achieve sustainable operational improvements,” says Ambrose.  “With Plantnode, Fresenius realized productivity improvements in just one month, supporting the company’s focus on operational excellence.”

ABOUT FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE

Fresenius Medical Care is the world’s largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis due to chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,770,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,448 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to 187,476 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world’s leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers, and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS/P).

For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the company’s website at http://www.fmc-ag.com.

ABOUT SHOPLOGIX

Shoplogix is a leading provider of real-time performance management solutions that optimize manufacturing processes to reduce costs and increase profitability. Shoplogix solutions form the foundation for continuous improvement by providing manufacturers with the tools to rapidly improve plant performance and the technology to sustain productivity.

For more information visit, http://www.shoplogix.com

Press Contact:
Tracy Robertson
Director of Marketing
Shoplogix Inc.
1-877-469-9994 Ext. 118
pr@shoplogix.com