Sterling Commerce Customer H.J. Heinz Company Named a 2010 Progressive Manufacturing 100 Award Winner

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - May 5, 2010) -  Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) company, announced today that H.J. Heinz Company, one of the world's leading marketers and producers of healthy and convenient foods, has been named to the sixth annual Progressive Manufacturing 100 (PM 100) by Managing Automation Media. The prestigious listing recognizes the top 100 manufacturers who have achieved business transformation through the use of technology across eight categories. Heinz topped the Supply Network Mastery category in the area of Supply Chain Execution for its efforts to transform its logistics operations by creating synergies between its raw goods and finished goods sides of its business. 

"Through the use of Sterling Commerce solutions, we have become better connected with our entire supply chain network, giving us visibility to quickly address issues and provide top-notch customer service," said Scott Steeves, director, Transportation and Warehousing, for H.J. Heinz Company. "With a strategic view across our supply network, we've also been able to decrease our carbon footprint by eliminating old practices of paper-based interaction and reducing our empty mile transportation."

Heinz has advanced its logistics operations by implementing one system, Sterling Transportation Management System (TMS), to manage both inbound and outbound logistics operations. Sterling TMS, the world's largest on-demand transportation management solution, enables Heinz to efficiently plan and execute both inbound and outbound transportation processes while also automating processes such as freight audit and payment in a manage-by-exception environment. The solution standardizes the communications process to Heinz's suppliers and gives the company end-to-end visibility into the supply chain.

As part of its logistics transformation, Heinz also upgraded its business-to-business (B2B) integration capabilities with Sterling Integrator and Sterling Collaboration Network, part of Sterling Business Integration Suite, to optimize communications across the company's complex network of over 1,200 trading partners and more than 20 manufacturing locations in the U.S. Together, Sterling Integrator (a service-oriented architecture-based B2B communications platform) and Sterling Collaboration Network (a hosted service providing secure connectivity and collaboration with customers and business partners) provide Heinz with a flexible solution for connecting and collaborating with its suppliers, customers, and third-party logistics providers, no matter their size, technologies, and processes. 

"The changes at Heinz required a new mindset to look at both the inbound and outbound processes as a holistic model, whereas most companies today look at these separately," said Richard Douglass, global industry executive, manufacturing for Sterling Commerce. "We're proud to see Heinz recognized for its efforts to transform its logistics operations by enabling its staff to branch into a new area of supply chain management and leveraging our applications and business integration solutions to do so." 

"The companies recognized in our 2010 list dramatically underscore how the manufacturing industry will begin to emerge in an even stronger position once recovery takes a firm hold," said David R. Brousell, editor‐in‐chief of Managing Automation Media. "Heinz reflects great creativity and inventiveness in their use of technology, as well as an enduring resilience to continually improve every aspect of their business."

The PM100 Winners will be honored at the Progressive Manufacturing Awards Gala during the Progressive Manufacturing Summit 2010 on May 5 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. For more information, visit: http://www.managingautomation.com/awards/index.aspx.

About Sterling Commerce
Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) company, helps companies optimize and transform their Business Collaboration Network to accelerate revenues and reduce costs. Sterling Commerce provides more than 18,000 customers worldwide applications and integration solutions to connect, communicate and collaborate inside and outside their enterprise. More information can be found at www.sterlingcommerce.com.

Contact Information:

For more information, contact:
Julie Redard
Sterling Commerce
(978) 513-6386
Julie_Redard@stercomm.com

Jamie Leicht
Fleishman-Hillard
(619) 237-7711
jamiemarie.leicht@fleishman.com