SAS key to 2003 InfoWorld 100 honor for Progress Rail

SAS® financial management and performance management software drive strategic decision making

CARY, NC  (Dec. 03, 2003)  –  Progress Rail Services Corp. was recently named to the 2003 InfoWorld 100 list, and executives for the integrated railroad services company today lauded SAS' contribution to this honor.

"We are extremely gratified that the editors of InfoWorld have recognized us for our vision and hard work," said David Klementz, chief financial officer for Progress Rail. "SAS has played a central role by supplying the software technology and the expertise to help us pull information together from our widespread operations and make better strategic decisions."

The InfoWorld 100 annually honors companies that demonstrate the most creative use of cutting-edge technologies to further their business goals. Companies were nominated by InfoWorld readers, technology partners, and end-user companies in early fall 2003; the winners were revealed last month.

Progress Rail turns to SAS for one version of the truth

Over a five-year period, Progress Rail made almost 20 acquisitions to better serve its customers, resulting in multiple financial systems and data sets. The company turned to SAS® Strategic Performance Management and SAS® Financial Management Solutions to enable its managers to operate from a single, integrated system so that all business decisions are based on the same set of data.

The SAS solutions combine information from disparate transactional systems into one information repository, providing an immediate benefit to Progress Rail by cutting the month-end close from 14 days to six. Further fine-tuning by SAS analytics yields a single version of the truth, which serves as the basis for both strategic and operational decision making. Specifically, 34 performance measures -- including operational, quality, financial, customer service and sales/marketing metrics -- are monitored and used across the enterprise to support strategic planning at the corporate, department and individual employee levels.

Ultimately, this strategy enables company executives to examine business trends with confidence in the data. The SAS scorecard provides senior managers with high-level views of critical financial and strategic drivers from individual business units, divisions and facilities. By using SAS, senior managers can focus on the strategic direction of the business since they are now able to drill deeper into the data to find the answers to their questions as they arise.

"SAS helps us in the IT department by eliminating repetitive, time-consuming, manual reporting tasks," said Jim Lawley, vice president of information technology for Progress Rail. "By giving senior managers the power to answer their own questions on the fly and by accelerating other financial management processes, SAS has allowed us to focus our time and talents on more strategic activities that will make Progress Rail more competitive."

Full coverage of the 2003 InfoWorld 100 can be found at http://www.infoworld.com/565.

About InfoWorld Media Group

For 25 years, InfoWorld Media Group has provided cutting-edge coverage and evaluation of IT products and services for technology experts in senior management. Through integrated channels including print, online, and events, InfoWorld reaches the most influential senior-level information technologists -- those who drive their enterprises' strategies and technology purchases. Powered by a continued investment in an independent Test Center, InfoWorld analysts and editors provide both hands-on analysis and evaluation, as well as expert commentary on issues surrounding emerging technologies and products.

About IDG

InfoWorld is a division of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and event company. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 330 targeted Web sites in 80 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events worldwide, and IDG's research company, IDC, provides global market intelligence and advice through 51 offices in 43 countries worldwide. Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.

About Progress Rail Services

Progress Rail is a major supplier of products and services to railroads and transit systems in North America, including new and reconditioned railcar parts, rail, rail welding and trackwork components, railcar and locomotive repair and leasing, railway maintenance-of-way equipment, and grade crossing signal devices. It has facilities in 25 states, Canada and Mexico. Progress Rail is a subsidiary of Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), based in Raleigh, N.C., which is primarily engaged in electric power production in North Carolina and Florida, as well as other enterprises.

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