aPriori grants Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering $2.34 million in software to provide students with real-world experience in product cost assessments.
Concord, MA, May 8, 2007 – aPriori, the leading provider of Enterprise Cost Management solutions for discrete product and manufacturing companies, and the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, an innovator in engineering education, today announced a unique academic partnership. aPriori will provide Olin with its Enterprise Cost Management software platform, valued at $2.34 million, over a three-year period. The aPriori software will be integrated into Olin's curriculum and accessible to all Olin students, as well as industry sponsored senior consulting programs (SCOPE).
"We are excited to be supporting and partnering with Olin College, one of the nation's best and most innovative design and engineering schools," said Frank V. Azzolino, President and CEO of aPriori. "Historically, engineering education has focused on the aspects of form, fit and function of a product design. With aPriori software, students will be able to consider the financial impact of design and manufacturing decisions."
Olin engineering students receive a four-year education based on the Olin Triangle, a combination of rigorous science and engineering fundamentals, entrepreneurship and the liberal arts. Olin places a great deal of emphasis on engineering design, starting with simple hands-on projects and culminating in a major senior year consulting project for a corporate sponsor.
The early immersion of engineering students in design processes corresponds to aPriori's method of integrating real-time, predictive, and precise cost assessments early in a product's design, supply, and manufacturing phases. Both approaches teach that early and precise information gathering provides engineers more time to make the right long-term decisions. To reinforce the importance of cost assessments in their approach, Olin will be using aPriori's Enterprise Cost Management software in a variety of its engineering and mechanical engineering courses as well as in projects.
"We provide our engineering students with a full complement of tools and experiences to prepare them for their future careers," states Joanne Kossuth, CIO and Associate Vice President of Development at Olin College. "We are very excited about partnering with aPriori in supporting engineering education."
About aPriori
aPriori Enterprise Cost Management software improves the financial results of discrete manufacturing and product companies by enabling them to actively control product cost of goods sold (COGS) with real-time, predictive, and precise cost assessments. aPriori's proven and patented software platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce the cost of their products in real time, prior to design, sourcing, and manufacture. This enables companies to understand the cost impact of product design decisions earlier than ever before, reduce their cost of goods sold, and improve operating margins. For more information, visit www.apriori.com.
About Olin College and the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, America's newest engineering college, is dedicated to producing technological leaders for the future through an innovative engineering education that bridges science and technology, enterprise, and society. Skilled in independent learning and the art of design, Olin graduates seek opportunities to make a positive difference in the world. Located in Needham, MA, and enrolling 300 students, Olin College shares cross-registration programs with Wellesley College, Babson College, and Brandeis University. For more information, visit www.olin.edu.
aPriori and aPriori Technologies are registered trademarks of aPriori Technologies Inc.
aPriori Media Contact:
John Busa
Vice President, Marketing
978-371-2006
jbusa@apriori.com
Olin College Media Contact:
Joanne Kossuth
Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice President Development
Olin College of Engineering
781-292-2431
Joanne.Kossuth@olin.edu