Manex to co-lead business assessment and assistance team

HAYWARD, CA -- February 28, 2006 -- The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), the State's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction, selects R.W. Beck, Inc., prime contractor, and The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex), one of five key partners, to implement the Tire-Derived Product Business Assistance Program (BAP). Together, R.W. Beck and Manex will collaborate with CIWMB to supply a wide range of private business assistance services.

The BAP, with a total of $3.85 million in funding over two and a half years, is designed to increase demand for California tire-derived products - molded products, rubberized mulch, playground coverings, sports surfacing materials and other products - by building capacity and improving cost efficiencies of tire-derived product businesses.

"We're excited to partner with R.W. Beck to help tire-derived product businesses take advantage of the program to improve their business performance for greater resiliency, growth and competitiveness in this emerging industry," said Brent Meyers, President & Chief Executive Officer, Manex. "For over a decade, manufacturers have selected Manex for its ability to deliver solutions that address their unique business needs and challenges."

"This new, ambitious program will provide additional depth to the board's existing, exemplary market development programs, and could provide a model for other efforts beyond waste tires - both in California and nationwide," said Ed Boisson, Project Manager, R. W. Beck.

Together R.W. Beck, Manex and key partners have joined forces to provide a complimentary portfolio of innovative and transformational services, leveraging depth and breadth of industry and business expertise, resources and processes to implement BAP.

The CIWMB (www.ciwmb.ca.gov) manages the estimated 76 million tons of waste generated each year by reducing waste whenever possible, promoting the management of all materials to their highest and best use, and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

Founded more than 60 years ago, R. W. Beck (www.rwbeck.com) is a technically based management consulting and engineering firm providing services to both public and private sectors in the areas of energy and water/waste resources.

About Manex
Founded in 1995, The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) (www.manexconsulting.com) provides a broad array of proven advisory and implementation solutions exclusively to manufacturers, distributors, and their supply chains, enabling them to increase growth, productivity, quality, and profitability. Manex delivers high-impact solutions in four key areas: strategy, people, process and performance. Meaningful, rapid impact and ROI are achieved through a modular-yet-holistic approach encompassing corporate strategy and planning, marketing strategy, training and development, lean manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, Six Sigma, ISO, and performance management systems.