QAD Helps Retina Implant AG Realize Its Vision

Jan. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- QAD Inc. , a leading provider of enterprise software and services for global manufacturers, announced today that Retina Implant AG, a German medical device company delivering the industry’s first-to-market electronic retinal prosthesis, will implement QAD Enterprise Applications as it transitions the company from researcher to manufacturer.
   
Since 1996, Retina Implant AG has been conducting research focused on bringing the first fully functioning subretinal implant to market. The implant restores partial sight to blind and visually impaired patients. With its second human clinical trial launching early in 2011 in, and the recent opening of its manufacturing facility in Tübingen-Reutlingen, Germany, Retina Implant AG needed to secure an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that would help it meet its impending manufacturing, supply chain and regulatory compliance challenges.

Retina Implant AG selected QAD Enterprise Applications for its proven experience and focus on global Life Sciences products manufacturers.

QAD Enterprise Applications, with its built-in core functionality and support for Life Sciences manufacuturers such as lot and serial number traceability, shop floor control and global trade compliance, will help Retina Implant AG operate in accordance to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), and to comply with global trade requirements and including Conformite Europeene  (CE) mark approval.

As a medical device manufacturer, Retina Implant AG needs to address complex issues with suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers in taking its retinal implant to market.
“We’re excited Retina Implant AG chose QAD as its applications provider.” said Riya Cao, Director of Life Sciences for QAD. “QAD Enterprise Applications provides the tools Retina Implant AG will need as it begins managing demand, promotions, new product introductions and brand development throughout all stages of its company and product development.”

Retina Implant AG is planning to invest nearly $2 million to equip its facility with specialized equipment to produce these state-of-the-art retinal implants. The company estimates its manufacturing capacity initally at 1500 units per year, and looks forward to further expansion in future.

About Retina Implant AG
Retina Implant AG is the leading developer of sub-retinal implants for partially sighted and blind patients. After extensive research with German university hospitals and institutes which began with a large grant from the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education in 1996, Retina Implant AG was founded by Dr. Eberhart Zrenner and his colleagues in 2003 with private investors with the goal of developing the first fully-functioning electronic retinal implant to restore useful vision to the blind. Retina Implant began implanting in human patients in 2005, and has started a second clinical trial this year. To learn more visit http://www.retina-implant.de.

About QAD
QAD is a leading provider of enterprise applications for global manufacturing companies specializing in automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial and life science products. QAD applications provide critical functionality for managing manufacturing resources and operations within and beyond the enterprise, enabling global manufacturers to collaborate with their customers, suppliers and partners to make and deliver the right product, at the right cost and at the right time. For more information about QAD, telephone +1 805-566-6000, or visit the QAD web site at www.qad.com.

"QAD" is a registered trademark of QAD Inc. All other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to Investors:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, evolving demand for the company's software products and products that operate with the company's products; the company's ability to sustain license and service demand; the company's ability to leverage changes in technology; the company's ability to sustain customer renewal rates at current levels; the publication of opinions by industry and financial analysts about the company, its products and technology; the reliability of estimates of transaction and integration costs and benefits; the entry of new competitors or new offerings by existing competitors and the associated announcement of new products and technological advances by them; delays in localizing the company's products for new or existing markets; the ability to recruit and retain key personnel; delays in sales as a result of lengthy sales cycles; changes in operating expenses, pricing, timing of new product releases, the method of product distribution or product mix; timely and effective integration of newly acquired businesses; general economic conditions; exchange rate fluctuations; and, the global political environment. In addition, revenue and earnings in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software industry are subject to fluctuations. Software license revenue, in particular, is subject to variability with a significant proportion of revenue earned in the last month of each quarter. Given the high margins associated with license revenue, modest fluctuations can have a substantial impact on net income. Investors should not use any one quarter's results as a benchmark for future performance. For a more detailed description of the risk factors associated with the company and the industries in which it operates, please refer to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2010 ended January 31, 2010.

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Founded in 1979, QAD has been recognized as a leading provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software applications for global manufacturing companies. Today, QAD enterprise applications leverage advances in Internet and enabling technologies to provide critical functionality for managing manufacturing resources and operations within and beyond the enterprise, enabling global manufacturers to collaborate with their customers, suppliers and partners to make and deliver the right product, at the right cost and at the right time.

QAD enterprise applications are focused and optimized for select manufacturing industry segments: automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial and life sciences.