Johnson Controls Adopts Visio Technical as Cost-Effective Alternative
To CAD

Replaces CAD Software With Windows-Based Technical Drawing Program

SEATTLE--June 6, 1995--In a move intended to produce savings of 20 percent
to 40 percent in engineering costs and time, Johnson Controls Inc. of
Milwaukee, Wisc., today announced it has replaced its CAD software with
Visio Corp.'s Visio Technical 3.0 in the company's North American system
and services operation.

The move to visio Technical 3.0--a Microsoft Windows-based technical
drawing solution designed to give mainstream computer users the ability to
produce professional-quality technical drawings quickly and
efficiently--is the result of Johnson Controls' decision to streamline the
drawing process of commercial building control systems so its engineers
can spend a greater amount of time in the field with customers.

To date, approximately 800 systems engineers have replaced their CAD
software with Visio Technical; they use the product to create on-site
project plans and estimates for customers.

"Our customers aren't willing to pay for the complex drawings that
engineering organizations have come to rely on," said Bill Huth, manager
of field engineering support at Johnson Control. "They are only interested
in paying for the final product--a quality control system installation
that provides comfort and security in their buildings. Given this, our
choice was simple: find a way to cut the amount of time design engineers
spend generating drawings so they can spend more time working with
customers and delivering what customers really want."

The Benefits of Standardizing on Visio Technical

As a result of replacing its CAD software with Visio Technical, Johnson
Controls has estimated it will save $6 million per year, with the goal of
saving $7 to $8 million per year once the system is fully implemented
across departments at the company worldwide. This cost savings results
from Visio Technical's ability to replace several complex and
labor-intensive functions of CAD software at Johnson Controls, such as
substituting the management of 4,000 CAD symbols with fewer than 200 Visio
SmartShapes. Visio Technical also can read CAD files in .DWG format, thus
allowing Johnson Controls' engineers to work with the company's thousands
of existing drawings. In addition, Visio Technical, a standard
Windows-based desktop application, provides non-CAD professionals the
ability to create, share and access technical drawings, and the
flexibility to incorporate drawings into other documents. Johnson Controls
is also seeing a faster turnaround time for its design work now that Visio
Technical is used in the design process to create proposals on-site.

According to Huth, the biggest benefit of moving to Visio is that it has
greatly simplified the company's computing environment. "Visio Technical
makes it possible to move from a complex world of CAD to a much simpler
world of Windows-based desktop drawing tools," Huth said. "This simplicity
is driving a great deal of value at Johnson Controls in helping us to
advance our long-term goals of superior customer service and maintaining a
competitive edge."

Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls, a $6.8 billion Fortune 100 company, is a global leader in
the commercial building automation systems that control energy use,
heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security and fire
management for commercial buildings. The company has 55,000 employees
worldwide, and its products and services are represented in 40 countries.

Visio Corp.

Visio Corp., the leading drawing and diagramming software developer, was
founded in October 1990. The Seattle-based company pioneered the drawing
and diagramming market with the release of Visio 1.0 in November 1992.
Since then, Visio has released additional drag and drop drawing products
designed for business, technical and consumer users. The company markets
the Visio product line in the United States, North America, Europe and
Asia.

Visio Corp
520 Pike St, Suite 1800
Seattle, WA 98101
206-521-4500,  fax 206-521-4501

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