Management Science Associates, Inc. - Pressroom


	Press Releases
	MSA in the News (Reprints)

Reprinted from:
T.E.Q.

MSA Re-launches MetalSite, ScrapSite On-line E-Commerce Websites

Management Science Associates, Inc. (MSA) of Pittsburgh announced today the re-launching of pioneering metals e-commerce Websites MetalSite and ScrapSite to serve the Steel Industry. "MSA MetalSite and MSA ScrapSite are live, on-line and ready to conduct business as of this morning," according to Dr. Alfred A. Kuehn, Founder and Chairman of MSA, and Patrick J. Gallagher, President of MSA MetalSite. Metals Supply Alliances, LLC, an MSA subsidiary, has purchased the intellectual and proprietary assets of the former MetalSite, Inc., including the MetalSite and ScrapSite names, Dr. Kuehn said.

As of this morning, two steel service centers, JR Metals and Stark Metal Sales, had already posted more than 90 items of hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated-coil products for sale on the site, Mr. Gallagher said. The companies� prime, excess prime and secondary products can be found for sale today in MetalSite�s Auction at www.metalsite.net. Mr. Gallagher said he expected most, if not all of MetalSite's 150 former sellers to resume doing business on the site.

MetalSite was the pioneer and leading force in metals e-commerce before it temporarily suspended operations in June, Mr. Gallagher said. He noted that MSA has used the interim period to thoroughly review more than 300 suggestions for improvements made by customers and to make numerous operating changes designed to speed service and simplify operations for buyers and sellers alike. For the re-launching, MSA MetalSite has attempted to both improve functionality and increase user-friendliness, he said.

"With a smaller group of knowledgeable and experienced MetalSite employees combined with MSA�s proven strength and experience in supply-chain and customer-relationship management, we believe we can provide more value and better service to our customers," Mr. Gallagher said. "We are in a position to work with the Steel Industry to develop Private Branded Marketplaces for prime product and are already in the process of developing pieces of integration to import product information and export order data both to Buyers and Sellers."

Mr. Gallagher noted that factors helping the new venture to succeed in the Steel Industry include MSA's: 1) record of providing a level playing field for clients within highly competitive industries, 2) success in developing supply-chain solutions used by both U.S. and foreign industries, 3) analytical capabilities that turn data into knowledge, and 4) domain knowledge and practical experience gained by working with most of the North American steelmakers over many years.

MSA Process Automation Solutions & Services, Inc. (MSA PASS), an MSA spin-off that specializes in steel-mill automation, will integrate its optimization and process automation systems with the MetalSite and ScrapSite software to reduce operating costs and provide greater value to steel and scrap industry participants. In addition, MSA develops and hosts Internet client applications for a variety of customers in a number of other industries, so that its resources will be valuable in supporting the new firm. It is hoped that MSA�s enhanced exchange capabilities coupled with its research and innovation can help to increase the competitiveness of the domestic steel and scrap industries, Mr. Gallagher said.

With more than 800 employees and an average annual growth rate of 18 percent, MSA is one of Pittsburgh�s fastest growing high-tech companies. It has more than 300 clients, including some of the largest U.S. and foreign corporations and institutions and maintains offices in New York City, Boston, Chicago, High Point, NC; Toronto, Canada; Cardiff, Wales; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.