Kodak Implements Camstar Solution for Manufacturing Image Sensors

Campbell, Calif, United States, Wednesday, May 26, 2004 (Business Wire India)--Kodak ISS develops, manufactures and markets image sensors for applications ranging from satellite and medical imaging solutions to digital cameras and machine vision products.

"Kodak's image sensors are used in a wide variety of products. As a result we must manufacture them to meet numerous specifications," said Chris McNiffe, General Manager at Kodak's ISS. "Camstar allows us to track each product through the complex manufacturing environment, and allows us to ensure that all of our products meet required specifications and our strict quality guidelines."

The division wanted to replace its legacy shop floor tracking system with an MES that is more flexible, scalable and easy-to-use, and would enable it to improve yield, decrease costs and bring products to the market faster. Kodak's ISS division chose InSite in part because of Kodak Research Laboratories' previous successes with Camstar's products.

As part of the new system, Kodak ISS implemented the InSite bill of process that provides real-time tracking of each device as it moves through the manufacturing process. InSite also employs on-the-spot quality checks and statistical process control (SPC), using pre-defined definitions and action plans. The application instantly notifies personnel of production problems, enabling plant managers quickly to address issues and prevent serious quality problems.

In addition, the division easily can adapt InSite to meet its design and development needs. As product mix and volume change, the division rapidly can model new products and processes. This enables Kodak to reduce the time needed to ramp-up from prototype to high-volume production.

"Our solution and technology are ideal for companies that manufacture products for highly-regulated industries or need to meet stringent specification requirements," said Dave Cone, president and CEO of Camstar. "Our customers need to be able to track products through the entire manufacturing process and record this information quickly and efficiently. InSite allows them to do this automatically."

Camstar's InSite is based on a high-performance .NET architecture that allows companies to tailor the software for multiple and unique factory environments quickly while standardizing on a single technology. Its "out-of-the-box" configuration allows for rapid implementation and eliminates the need for custom coding.

About Kodak Image Sensor Solutions (ISS)

Committed to being the world's leading supplier of image sensor solutions for high performance imaging markets, Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions (ISS) division is solving its customers' imaging needs by focusing on developing, manufacturing and marketing solid state charged-coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors for applications ranging from satellite and medical imaging solutions to digital cameras and machine vision products. Under its business charter, ISS is responsible for aggressively identifying and marketing new applications and solutions to help Kodak's OEM partners and customers integrate Kodak components into their products and applications.

About Camstar Systems, Inc: Camstar is a leading provider of enterprise manufacturing execution and quality management systems for life sciences, semiconductor, electronics and other global industrial manufacturers. Camstar's InSite product manages, monitors and synchronizes manufacturing activities across globally distributed plants, and integrates them in real-time with core business processes. The system enables customers to respond rapidly to changing demand, optimize the use of production assets, and quickly ramp the production of new products. More than 100 leading companies, including IBM, Corning, Kodak, Hitachi, Johnson & Johnson, Nortel, ZOLL Medical and Zeiss Meditec rely on Camstar as a trusted software partner.

For more information about Camstar and its InSite product, call 1-408-559-5700 or 1-800-237-2841, or visit www.camstar.com.

CONTACT: Camstar - Terry Starek, 408-558-5817 tstarek@camstar.com or Carter Ryley Thomas PR Jennifer Riggle, 757-640-1982 jriggle@crtpr.com