An Oakland, Calif., shipping concern, operating in the Asia-Pacific basin, uses modern ships and equipment, as well as IBM and ROLM products, to cut days off normal shipping schedules. The company's most recent acquisition, an IBM 3090 processor, further expands its information-handling capabilities.

For many customers, IBM is a partner of long-standing. As the management and communication of information become even more deeply integrated into their operations, the need for customers and IBM people to work closely together grows as well. While products and programs, service and support continue to take new forms, the objective remains the same—improved productivity at an affordable cost.

Buyers from a department store chain based in Los Angeles learn to use systems that improve operations such as inventory management. The company links its six department store divisions and four specialty store chains through a centralized data processing center. The network includes 17,000 terminals in 300 locations with access to centralized data bases.