U.S. Manufacturing Leader Murray, Inc. Drives Improved Financial Processes with Cognos Finance— Consumer goods manufacturer trims 'time-to-decision' with Cognos — BURLINGTON, MA, February 14, 2002—When Murray, Inc., an industry-leading manufacturer of lawn tractors, walk-behind mowers, snow blowers, and recreational vehicles, needed a complete solution for budgeting, forecasting, and consolidation, it looked to Cognos (Nasdaq: COGN; TSE: CSN), the leading global provider of business intelligence solutions. With a highly diversified product set, distributed through thousands of retail outlets across the U.S. and internationally, Murray, Inc. adopted Cognos Finance to both simplify and accelerate its financial processes. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, Murray, Inc. has been a fixture of the U.S. consumer goods sector for over a century. From its early beginnings as a maker of supply fenders, hoods, gas tanks, and running boards as well as the collectible Steelcraft Wheel Goods toy line, Murray has been defined by its drive for constant innovation. Murray has grown to over four million square-feet of manufacturing space in three assembly plants throughout Tennessee. A complex company in a competitive sector, that same drive for constant improvement extends to the way in which Murray manages its financial processes. Today, the organization is using Cognos Finance as the integrated solution for its financial reporting as well as for managing the complexity of its budgeting and forecasting cycles. As a key consumer goods supplier to retailers like Wal-Mart and Home Depot, the need for fast access to accurate financial information is critical, according to Rose Melillo, financial systems analyst, Murray, Inc. "The powerful integration of budgeting, forecasting, consolidation, and reporting in an 'all in one' solution is key to accelerating our processes. Cognos Finance offers a powerful, Web-based solution that enables our financial professionals to create accurate, timely financial reports and put financial performance information into the hands of our decision-makers. And just as importantly, the speed with which we have financial information ensures even better strategic decision-making as an organization." Cognos Finance 5.1 provides today's organizations with a unique, integrated environment for accelerating financial processes — from rapid monthly and quarterly closes, facilitating corporate budgeting processes, to integrating up-to-date results with forecasts from the field. Cognos Finance customers can create an accurate view of the financial information, and then share that information over a secure Web-based environment. "Organizations in competitive sectors like Murray continue to embrace Cognos Finance as a solution that delivers both deep insight into financial data and the ability to drive that information out across the organization to improve decision-making," said Alan Rottenberg, senior vice president, Cognos Analytic Applications Business Unit. "Against a tough economic backdrop, accelerated access to accurate financial data is key to the continued market leadership of innovative companies like Murray." About Murray, Inc. |