Straightline Delivers End-to-End Distribution System Through Logistics and Technology Partnerships

Straightline Source, a division of United States Steel LLC (NYSE: X), America's largest integrated steel maker, announced its selection of software solutions from a number of leading technology and logistics providers. Straightline combines these products with U.S. Steel's advanced supply chain management technology to offer customers of all sizes a direct buying experience for processed steel products at consistently low prices.

"By working in partnership with a select group of proven technology and logistics suppliers, Straightline has merged proven functionality with our in- house technology in order to create a seamless order-to-delivery system," said Dan Pavlick, managing director of strategy and information, Straightline. "This not only improves our overall operating efficiency, but more importantly aids in delivering a robust customer experience," Pavlick said.

Straightline's partner solutions include:

IBM's Websphere application server acts as the software platform for http://www.straightline.com/, the customer-facing website through which orders are placed. This enables the deployment, integration and management of Straightline's e-business applications.

Oracle delivers an integrated suite of products which operationalizes the customer order and catalog management processes, maintains transactional history and supports work order schedules. Straightline is also utilizing the full suite of Oracle's financial applications. The Oracle 11i applications suite integrates with Oracle's 8i database management system for supporting order entry, tracking and fulfillment, as well as for purchasing, accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Sun Microsystems provides the hardware platform upon which the IBM Websphere and Oracle applications and database operate. Replicated systems, coupled with IBM's EdgeServer technology, provide for high availability, load- balanced access to the system. Additionally, the Web applications adhere to Sun's J2EE application architecture.

Strategic Systems International (SSI) provides an order aggregation system that optimally combines similar customer orders to best utilize Straightline's inventory and processing capabilities. The system generates work orders that are presented to the processors via the Web. SSI is also providing supply chain planning and optimization systems to Straightline for sales forecasting, enterprise planning and inventory management. The forecasting and planning systems will enable Straightline to manage customer demand and plan inventory and processing requirements.

LiveCapital enables Straightline to quickly authenticate and determine the creditworthiness of customers. Their DecisionExpress product works in combination with Dun & Bradstreet information to allow real-time authorization of credit lines, which speeds the process of accepting initial orders from new customers.

Output Solutions LLC provides Straightline's electronic invoice delivery system. Customer invoices are delivered in .pdf format, either via fax or e-mail, using StreamServe and RightFax products. This not only eliminates paper invoicing but also enables quicker invoice delivery and payment turnaround than traditional mail.

Transtar Logistics LLC is the third-party logistics provider for Straightline. They are responsible for the transportation of steel products for Straightline's various processor and warehouse partners, providing intra- plant transportation and moving finished products to Straightline customers. Transtar Logistics has selected Alternative Distribution Systems' Logistics Management System, a web-enabled software solution, for optimizing cost- effective logistics activity for Straightline and its customers.

All of these solutions are integrated with U.S. Steel's advanced supply chain management technology to deliver a comprehensive steel-buying solution for Straightline customers.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Straightline Source is a division of United States Steel LLC. Straightline specializes in distributing carbon flat-roll steel, offering a variety of hot roll, cold roll and galvanized products to customers of all sizes. These products are available in slit coil, stock sheets and custom cut-to-length sheets. For more information, visit our website at http://www.straightline.com/.

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SOURCE: Straightline Source

Contact: Judy Sapos of Straightline Source, +1-412-433-7833, or
JMSapos@straightline.com

Website: http://www.straightline.com/
http://www.usx.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/929150.html