ATS implements next phase of automation systems group
organizational development program for North America
CAMBRIDGE, ON, Oct. 24 /CNW/ - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. today
announced that its Automation Systems Group (ASG) has completed the next step
in its North American organizational development initiative which is designed
to improve management processes, optimize financial performance and resource
utilization and advance its solutions-based strategy.
Implementation of this improvement program began at the end of August
2006 with the appointment of Jim Sheldon as President of ASG North America.
As a result of completing this next step in the program, all North
American-wide sales and business development for ASG now have centralized
leadership; and the Group's largest division, Cambridge Systems, has
reorganized its operating structure around three key functions: project
management, engineering and manufacturing.
As part of this implementation, four senior management appointments have
been made as follows:
-- Mike Fisher is appointed to the newly-created position of Vice
President, Sales and Business Development, ASG North America with
responsibility for enhancing customer account management and
coordinating the market-leading sales coverage for ASG's eight
operating locations in the US and Canada.
-- Eric Kiisel is appointed to the newly created position of Vice
President, Project Management - Cambridge Systems Division with
responsibility for establishing and driving world-class project
management methodology and standards in forecasting, scheduling,
and project development.
-- Peter Tang is appointed to the newly created position of Vice
President, Engineering - Cambridge Systems Division with
responsibility for all engineering disciplines within the
division.
-- Bob Eckert is appointed to the newly created position of Vice
President, Manufacturing - Cambridge Systems Division with
responsibility for all manufacturing, manufacturing engineering,
materials and machining-related disciplines.
All four senior managers report to Jim Sheldon. In making the
announcement, Mr. Sheldon said: "With my senior leadership team now in place
at Cambridge Systems Division, and ATS veteran Mike Fisher appointed to
coordinate and lead ASG North American sales and business development, I
expect to see acceleration in our improvement initiatives as I finalize our
organizational development program for the balance of our ASG North American
operations. By making these appointments and reorganizing our largest and most
complex division around our key disciplines, we are giving the major drivers
of our performance the attention and management support they need to be
successful."
About ATS
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. provides innovative, custom designed,
built and installed manufacturing solutions to many of the world's most
successful companies. Founded in 1978, ATS uses its industry-leading knowledge
and global capabilities to serve the sophisticated automation systems' needs
of multinational customers in healthcare, computer/electronics, automotive and
consumer products. Through its solar business, ATS participates in the
rapidly-growing solar energy industry. It also leverages its many years of
repetitive manufacturing experience and skills to produce, in high volume,
precision components and subassemblies and to answer the specialized
repetitive equipment manufacturing requirements of customers. ATS employs
approximately 3,800 people at 26 manufacturing facilities in Canada, the
United States, Europe, southeast Asia and China. The Company's shares are
traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ATA. Visit the Company's
website at www.atsautomation.com.
Note to Readers
This press release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws
("forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of ATS, or developments in ATS's business
or in its industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results,
performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure
regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based
on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action.
Forward-looking statements may also include, without limitation, any statement
relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. ATS cautions you not
to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements relate to, among
other things, the outcomes that the organizational development initiative is
designed to achieve; and the expected acceleration in the improvement
initiatives. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements include, among others, general market performance; demand for the
products and solutions manufactured by this business; the success of
competitors with greater capital and resources in exploiting their technology
and marketing their products, and other risks detailed from time to time in
ATS's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators, including ATS's
Annual Report and Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2006. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans,
estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions, and ATS does not undertake any
obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to
these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.
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For further information: Carl Galloway, Vice President and Treasurer, Gerry Beard, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (519) 653-6500