Management Dynamics, Inc
Management Dynamics, Inc
September 28, 2006

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Hallmark Enhances Inbound Transportation Management with Management Dynamics' Supply Chain Visibility and Event Management Solution

Global Greeting Card Publisher Improves Visibility and Trading Partner Connectivity

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, September 28, 2006 -- Management Dynamics, a leading provider of global trade management solutions, today announced that Hallmark Cards, Inc., the personal expression industry leader of greeting cards, implemented its Supply Chain Visibility and Event Management solution for Hallmark's transportation and logistics operations. Hallmark is leveraging the global, multimode visibility solution to streamline purchase orders, inbound inventory, order fulfillment and trading partner performance - facilitating end-to-end collaboration across its supply chain network.

Hallmark selected Management Dynamics' solution to establish a complete end-to-end source of order and shipment information to help manage their inbound supply chain. With multiple trading partners involved in each shipment and long lead-times from their manufacturing base in Asia, Hallmark's logistics team needed better tools to pinpoint in-transit delays and resolve issues before they impacted the demand plan. Now Hallmark can share critical order, shipment and inventory information with employees in purchasing, warehousing and inventory planning groups. And with the system's sophisticated scorecarding functionality, the Hallmark logistics team can easily measure and analyze the performance of their vendors and service providers.

"We needed one secure central location for tracking and analyzing inbound shipments across our partner network," said Cathy Burrow, International Transportation & Customs Manager for Hallmark Cards, Inc. "Management Dynamics delivered with a complete end-to-end solution supported by an established track record of customer implementations and carrier partnerships. We now have the ability to spend more time on strategic initiatives, such as managing our carriers' performance, and proactively identifying bottlenecks in our domestic and international supply chain before they impact the bottom line."

Management Dynamics' comprehensive Supply Chain Visibility solution supports the key objectives of Hallmark's inbound transportation management program, including:

  • One central location for tracking critical shipment information, providing visibility to inventory in-transit and speeding the flow of goods to distribution

  • Event alerting capabilities that anticipate potential inventory receipt and fulfillment issues and prompt rapid resolution before they impact availability

  • Accelerated fulfillment of "hot items" with the ability to track orders and expedite delivery

  • Significant reduction in the number of service calls by automating proactive notification of shipments and establishing a one-stop resource for trading partners
     

  • Real-time measurement and analysis of vendor and carrier performance using scorecards and ad-hoc reporting tools

"By utilizing our supply chain visibility solution, Hallmark has optimized its global trade operations to improve cost efficiencies and increase responsiveness to market demand. We are thrilled that one of America's most successful and recognizable brands has selected Management Dynamics to help them achieve this objective," said Jim Preuninger, CEO of Management Dynamics. "Hallmark's success in streamlining their inbound transportation management operations is testament to our ability to deliver global trade management solutions that truly improve visibility and enhance collaboration across the global supply chain."

About Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Kansas City-based Hallmark Cards, Inc. is known throughout the world for its greeting cards, related personal expression products, and television's most honored and enduring dramatic series, the Hallmark Hall of Fame. The company's Binney & Smith subsidiary, maker of CrayolaŽ crayons and markers, is the leading producer of art materials for children and students. Through licensing leadership and joint ventures, Hallmark continues to expand its product formats and distribution avenues. The company publishes products in more than 30 languages and distributes them in more than 100 countries through a multi-national strategy. In 2005, Hallmark reported consolidated net revenues of $4.2 billion.