Texas. - May 01, 2008 - Intermet Corporation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of cast-metal automotive components, has launched a comprehensive series of information technology (IT) projects to promote efficiency, customer responsiveness and real-time decision making for everyone from senior managers to shop floor operators.

"We recognize that information technology is critical to decision making at all levels in our extremely dynamic and competitive environment," said Jeff Mihalic, president and CEO, Intermet Corporation. "This is why we have developed a comprehensive IT strategy that addresses all aspects of our business and allocated the capital necessary to rapidly deploy our strategy."

IT Strategy Provides Platform for Growth
The portfolio of nearly 100 different information technology projects will improve the flow and availability of data and standardize the IT infrastructure within its plant, administrative and sales operations. As the company's IT infrastructure is standardized, it will also be upgraded to support next-generation applications and services.

"The execution of this strategy will unify IT across the organization, allow us to be more efficient and exchange information much faster," said Greg Buxkemper, director of IT at Intermet. The projects will be undertaken over the next three years and span the Ferrous, Die Cast and PCPCT business groups, he said.

Focus on Shop Floor Data Collection Drives Quality and Uptime Improvements
Intermet's Columbus, Georgia foundry has become a showcase for the use of shop floor data collection technology. The company is expanding the GE Fanuc ProficyT system used at its Columbus foundry to the company's remaining ferrous foundries in Lynchburg and Radford, Va., and in Hibbing, Minn.

"This system monitors and records hundreds of process and environmental variables throughout the Columbus plant. It has been instrumental in helping us quickly resolve issues while reducing scrap and downtime," Buxkemper said.

Similar efforts are underway in the company's die cast facilities. Those projects will expand the use of the ShotscopeT process monitoring system to drive uptime improvements and maintain the company's focus on quality.

Another set of projects will digitize and automate the delivery of work instructions and quality notes to shop floor employees in order to protect customers
sensitive information while improving both quality and efficiency. Sales and Business Systems Enhancements Improve Collaboration with Customers The strategy also includes equipping Intermet's sales force with new tools and a customer relationship management system that will allow associates to spend more time collaborating with current and potential customers. The sales team will be able to target their activity in the areas of greatest opportunity.

The company's financial systems will also be consolidated into a single platform that will further improve operations. In particular, it will allow better integration with customer systems and increase responsiveness to customer requests.

About Intermet: Founded in 1846, Intermet Corporation is a leading manufacturer of cast-metal components for the automotive, commercial-vehicle and industrial markets. With approximately 2,000 employees, the company is organized into three distinct manufacturing groups: Die Cast, Ferrous and PCPCT. More information is available on the Internet at www.intermet.com.