Top Performers in Electronic Design Hit Engineering Design Deadlines 50% More Frequently Than Average Companies

BOSTON, MA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 1, 2007 -- Companies that are best in class at electronic design are hitting their engineering design deadlines 85% of the time, according to research by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS). This is 50% more frequently than average companies.

Findings from a new Aberdeen Group benchmark report, "Electronics - Correct by Design," also reveal that best-in-class companies average 23% fewer re-spins per product than average-performing companies.

"Electronics companies compete on the basis of time to market," says Ric Stanley, Research Analyst in Aberdeen's Product Innovation and Engineering practice and report author. "The ability of companies that are best in class at electronic design to reduce re-spins and hit their deadlines more frequently than other companies gives them a significant competitive advantage. They are setting themselves apart by adopting design for manufacturability (DFM) processes and technology, high-level verification tools, and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions."

Specifically, report findings show that best-in-class companies are:

--  50% more likely than average companies to use DFM tools in all phases
    of development, particularly early and late in the design process.
--  Almost 40% more likely to be using advanced verification tools than
    other companies, allowing them to spend less time in verification than
    other companies while hitting their product reliability and performance
    targets at a 96% and 97% average, respectively.
--  50% more likely than other companies to use product data management
    (PDM) and PLM solutions to integrate people, processes, and technology --
    especially to integrate design processes across departments and integrate
    design into their new product development process.
    

The report, "Electronics - Correct by Design," is available to the public for free based on the underwriting of Agile Software, Flomerics, Infotech, and UGS. For a complimentary copy, click here: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=3862

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen is a leading provider of fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having benchmarked more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is uniquely positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen™ for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen http://www.aberdeen.com or call (617) 723-7890, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748 or go to http://www.harte-hanks.com.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Ric Stanley Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5203 Ric.Stanley@aberdeen.com