SmartMRO Established as the Next Generation Third Party Supply Chain Solution Provider

ANN ARBOR, MICH., (August 4, 2007) – SmartMRO (http://www.SmartMRO.com) — an organization created to save companies significant time and money on indirect material, MRO commodities and outsourced services — today launched as the first and only true unbiased third party supply chain solution provider. SmartMRO is a strategic and financial partnership between Youngstown, Ohio-based Forge Industries and Ann Arbor, Michigan-based TrackSpeed, LLC.

Billed as an Integrated Services Management (ISM) solutions organization, SmartMRO differentiates itself from other material managers by remaining agnostic to supplier, brand and equipment. This approach allows it to find the best product and service offerings without compromising quality, performance, budget or integrity.

In short, SmartMRO guides clients toward successfully achieving their financial and outsourcing objectives. SmartMRO professionals comprehensively evaluate and manage core partners such as product, service and equipment providers for each client.

“SmartMRO addresses critical gaps in the supply chain that industrial distributors, integrated supply firms and indirect material managers have failed to resolve,” said Brent David Ray, managing partner and founder of SmartMRO. “Our consultative and integrated approach to client relationships, along with the flexibility of the SmartMRO web-based technology platform, defines our Integrated Service Management (ISM) model as truly client-centric versus supplier-centric. SmartMRO represents the next generation of MRO management.”


Each SmartMRO project is managed using key performance indicators (KPIs). Customers retain full rights and data ownership that is used on the SmartMRO system. The company receives zero compensation from mark-ups, rebates, commissions, payment discounts or finance fees.

The five primary KPIs utilized on the SmartMRO scorecard include:
•Product cost
•Demand and consumption management
•Inventory, asset and spare parts performance
•Process improvements and efficiencies, and
•Stewardship initiatives.

The company’s service offerings include supply chain management consulting, procurement and vendor evaluation services, low cost country sourcing (LCCS), on-site supervision and staffing and software development. A wide range of technology offerings are also available such as procurement and inventory management modules, warranty and repairable asset module (WRA), controlled access module, enterprise component sharing and excess and obsolete (E&O) disposition module.

SmartMRO, through its partner, Forge Industries, maintains operations in 13 countries and on three continents with further expansion being considered in coming months and years.

About Forge Industries
Based in Youngstown, Ohio, Forge Industries is privately-owned, diversified holding company generating USD$500 million in annual portfolio revenue. Forge has 41 years of industry experience in manufacturing, distribution and global logistics. The company is an international business leader with operations in 13 different countries and 1,200 team members.

About TrackSpeed, LLC
TrackSpeed is the leader in providing web-based inventory management and global tracking technology. Its Web-based systems optimize inventory management, asset tracking and procurement management. TrackSpeed boasts a strong user base of Fortune 1000 firms.

About SmartMRO
Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, SmartMRO is a third party Integrated Service Manager (ISM). SmartMRO’s divisions include: http://www.surplustrack.com, http://www.securetrack.com, http://www.LCCmarketplace.com and http://www.ComponentSharing.com. More information is available at http://www.smartmro.com.

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