SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )
 
    Filed by the Registrant /X/
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
 
    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    /X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant  to  Section  240.14a-11(c)  or  Section
         240.14a-12
 
                              Symix Systems, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/ /  $125 per  Exchange Act  Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2)  or
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ /  $500  per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).
/ /  Fee  computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules   14a-6(i)(4)
     and 0-11.
     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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     5) Total fee paid:
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/X/  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2)  and identify the  filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement  number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     1) Amount Previously Paid:
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                                     [LOGO]
 
                         2800 CORPORATE EXCHANGE DRIVE
                                   SUITE 400
                              COLUMBUS, OHIO 43231
                           TELEPHONE: (614) 523-7000
 
                   NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
To the Shareholders of
SYMIX SYSTEMS, INC.
 
    NOTICE  IS  HEREBY GIVEN  that a  Special Meeting  of the  Shareholders (the
"Meeting") of Symix Systems, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the offices of
the Company, 2800 Corporate  Exchange Drive, Columbus, Ohio  43231, on June  26,
1996, at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
 
    1.To  consider and  vote upon  a proposal to  adopt an  amendment to Article
      FOURTH of  the Company's  Amended Articles  of Incorporation  which  would
      increase  the authorized number of shares of the Company from 6,000,000 to
      21,000,000, of which 20,000,000 shall  be common shares, each without  par
      value, and 1,000,000 shall be preferred shares, each without par value.
 
    2.To  consider  the  adoption  of the  Symix  Systems,  Inc.  Employee Stock
      Purchase Plan.
 
    3.To transact such other  business as may properly  come before the  Special
      Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
 
    Shareholders  of record at  the close of  business on June  6, 1996, will be
entitled  to  receive  notice  of,  and   to  vote  at,  the  Meeting  and   any
adjournment(s) thereof.
 
    YOU  ARE  CORDIALLY  INVITED  TO  ATTEND  THE  MEETING.  THE  VOTE  OF  EACH
SHAREHOLDER IS IMPORTANT, WHATEVER THE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES HELD. WHETHER  OR
NOT  YOU PLAN  TO ATTEND THE  MEETING, PLEASE  SIGN, DATE AND  RETURN YOUR PROXY
PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. SHOULD YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY REVOKE
YOUR PROXY AND VOTE  IN PERSON. ATTENDANCE  AT THE MEETING WILL  NOT, IN AND  OF
ITSELF, CONSTITUTE REVOCATION OF A PROXY.
 
                                            By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
                                            LAWRENCE W. DELEON
                                            SECRETARY
 
Columbus, Ohio
June 7, 1996

                                     [LOGO]
 
                         2800 CORPORATE EXCHANGE DRIVE
                                   SUITE 400
                              COLUMBUS, OHIO 43231
                           TELEPHONE: (614) 523-7000
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                    GENERAL
 
    This  Proxy Statement  is furnished in  connection with  the solicitation of
proxies by  the  Board of  Directors  of Symix  Systems,  Inc. ("Symix"  or  the
"Company") to be used at a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") to be
held  on June 26,  1996 and at  any adjournment or  adjournments thereof. Shares
represented by properly executed proxies will  be voted at the Meeting. Where  a
choice  is specified by the  shareholder, the proxy will  be voted in accordance
with such choice. Any  proxy may be revoked  at any time insofar  as it has  not
been exercised by delivering a later-dated proxy to Symix or by giving notice of
revocation of the proxy to Symix either in writing or in open meeting.
 
    This  Proxy Statement was first  mailed to shareholders on  or about June 7,
1996.
 
    June 6, 1996  has been fixed  as the  record date for  the determination  of
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment
or adjournments thereof. On the record date, there were outstanding and entitled
to  vote, 2,759,788 Common Shares of Symix.  Each shareholder is entitled to one
vote for each share held.
 
                        PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
 
    The following  table sets  forth the  name  and address  of the  only  known
shareholder  of Symix who beneficially owns more than 5% of the common shares of
Symix (the "Common Shares"), and the number of Common Shares beneficially  owned
and  the percentage  of Common  Shares so  owned by  such shareholder  as of the
record date:
 


                                                                               AMOUNT AND NATURE OF  PERCENT OF
NAME AND ADDRESS                                                               BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP     CLASS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------  -----------
                                                                                               
Lawrence J. Fox
2800 Corporate Exchange Drive
Suite 400
Columbus, Ohio 43231                                                               1,054,427(1)           38.2%

 
- ------------
 
    (1) See note 1 and note 2 to next table.

    The following table sets forth, as  of the record date, certain  information
as  to the  share ownership  of each  director, and  the share  ownership of all
directors and officers as a group:
 


                                                                              AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
                                                                                   BENEFICIAL        PERCENT OF
NAME                                                                              OWNERSHIP(1)          CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  -----------
                                                                                               
Lawrence J. Fox............................................................         1,054,427(2)        38.2%
John Tait..................................................................            15,078(3)          *
Duke W. Thomas.............................................................            20,819(4)          *
Larry L. Liebert...........................................................            10,000(5)          *
James A. Rutherford........................................................            40,000(6)        1.4%
Stephen A. Sasser..........................................................            58,000(7)        2.0%
All directors and officers as a group (10 persons).........................         1,198,324(8)        43.4%

 
- ------------
 
    *Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Common Shares.
 
    (1) Each named beneficiary owner has  sole voting and investment power  with
      respect to the shares listed.
 
    (2) Includes 44,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty days.
 
    (3) Includes 10,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty days.
 
    (4) Includes 10,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty days.
 
    (5) Includes 10,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty days.
 
    (6) Does not include 120,000 shares held by Roundwood Capital L.P., of which
      Mr.  Rutherford is  a limited partner.  Includes 10,000  shares subject to
      options exercisable within sixty days.
 
    (7) Includes 50,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty days.
 
    (8) Includes  134,000 shares  subject to  options exercisable  within  sixty
      days.
 
                                   PROPOSAL 1
 
                             PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF
                          AMENDED ARTICLES TO INCREASE
                       AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES
                               (Item 1 on Proxy)
 
    The  Amended Articles  of Incorporation  of the  Company presently authorize
6,000,000 shares, of which 5,000,000 are  Common Shares, without par value,  and
1,000,000  are  preferred  shares, without  par  value. The  Company's  Board of
Directors has  unanimously  adopted  a resolution  proposing  and  declaring  it
advisable  that Article FOURTH  of the Company's Amended  Articles be amended in
order to increase its authorized shares  from 6,000,000 to 21,000,000, of  which
20,000,000  will be  Common Shares and  1,000,000 will be  preferred shares, and
recommending  the  approval   of  the  proposed   amendment  to  the   Company's
shareholders.  A  copy of  the proposal  is included  as Annex  A to  this Proxy
Statement. Of  the  Company's  presently  authorized  5,000,000  Common  Shares,
2,759,788  were outstanding as of June 6, 1996, and 2,088,112 were available for
issuance (excluding treasury shares). None of the Company's authorized preferred
shares are outstanding.
 
    The proposed amendment would not change the powers, preferences or rights of
the holders of the  Common Shares. The  Board of Directors  believes that it  is
desirable  and in  the best  interests of  the Company  and its  shareholders to
increase the number of Common Shares that the Company is authorized to issue  in
order  to ensure that  the Company will  have a sufficient  number of authorized
Common Shares available in the future to provide it with the desired flexibility
to meet its business needs. If this proposal is approved by shareholders of  the
Company, the additional authorized Common Shares could be available to Symix for
a  variety of  corporate purposes, including,  for example,  the declaration and
payment of share
 
                                       2

dividends to the Company's shareholders; share  splits; use in the financing  of
expansion  or future  acquisitions; issuance pursuant  to the  terms of employee
benefit plans; and  use in  other possible  future transactions  of a  currently
undetermined  nature. The Board of Directors has contemplated the possibility of
a share split, but no  definite decision has been  made regarding such a  split.
Furthermore, the Company has no current plans to use the newly authorized shares
in any financings or acquisitions.
 
    If  the proposed  amendment is  adopted, the  Company would  be permitted to
issue the  additional  authorized  Common  Shares  without  further  shareholder
approval,  except  to the  extent otherwise  required  by the  Company's Amended
Articles of Incorporation, by law or by the NASDAQ or any securities exchange on
which the  Common  Shares  may be  listed  at  the time.  The  authorization  of
additional Common Shares will enable the Company, as the need may arise, to take
timely  advantage  of  market  conditions  and  the  availability  of  favorable
opportunities without  the delay  and  expense associated  with the  holding  of
another  special meeting of its  shareholders. It is the  belief of the Board of
Directors that  the  delay necessary  for  shareholder approval  of  a  specific
issuance  could be  to the  detriment of the  Company and  its shareholders. The
Board of Directors does not  intend to issue any  Common Shares except on  terms
which  it deems to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Existing shareholders of the Company have no pre-emptive rights to purchase  any
Common Shares issued in the future. Depending on the terms thereof, the issuance
of Common Shares may or may not have a dilutive effect on the share ownership of
the Company's then-existing shareholders.
 
    Although  the Company has  no such intentions, the  proposed increase in the
authorized and unissued Common Shares might  be considered as having the  effect
of  discouraging an attempt by another person or entity, through the acquisition
of a substantial number of Common Shares, to acquire control of the Company with
a view to imposing a merger, sale of all or any part of the Company's assets, or
a similar transaction, since the issuance of  new Common Shares, in a public  or
private  sale, merger or similar transaction, could  be used to dilute the share
ownership of a person or  entity seeking to obtain  control of the Company.  The
Board  of Directors has no  present knowledge of any  present or past efforts to
gain control of the Company and has not received any indication from any  person
or entity that such person or entity is interested in acquiring the Company.
 
REQUIRED VOTE AND RECOMMENDATION
 
    THE  AFFIRMATIVE VOTE  OF THE  HOLDERS OF  NOT LESS  THAN TWO-THIRDS  OF THE
COMMON SHARES ENTITLED  TO BE  VOTED AT  THE MEETING  IS REQUIRED  TO ADOPT  THE
PROPOSED  AMENDMENT  TO  ARTICLE FOURTH  OF  THE COMPANY'S  AMENDED  ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION. For  purposes  of  determining  whether  such  a  vote  has  been
obtained,  abstentions mathematically will have the same effect as votes against
the proposal. Broker non-votes have no  effect in determining whether such  vote
has  been obtained.  As of  June 6, 1996,  the Company's  executive officers and
directors held approximately 43.4% of  the outstanding Common Shares and  voting
power  of the Company.  If the amendment  is approved, it  will become effective
upon the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to the Company's Amended  Articles
of  Incorporation with the Secretary  of State of Ohio,  which is expected to be
accomplished as promptly as practicable after such approval is obtained.
 
    THE BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT THE  SHAREHOLDERS  VOTE  FOR  THE
PROPOSED  AMENDMENT  TO  ARTICLE FOURTH  OF  THE COMPANY'S  AMENDED  ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION. UNLESS  OTHERWISE DIRECTED,  THE PERSONS  NAMED IN  THE  ENCLOSED
PROXY  WILL VOTE THE COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED  BY ALL PROXIES RECEIVED PRIOR TO
THE MEETING, AND  NOT PROPERLY REVOKED,  IN FAVOR OF  THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT  TO
ARTICLE FOURTH.
 
                                   PROPOSAL 2
 
                    APPROVAL OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                               (Item 2 on Proxy)
 
    Subject  to shareholder approval,  the Board of  Directors adopted the Symix
Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan  (the "Plan") in February, 1996.  The
Plan  provides for  the purchase  of Common Shares  by employees  of the Company
and/or its  subsidiaries through  payroll  deductions. A  copy  of the  Plan  is
included as Annex B to this Proxy Statement.
 
                                       3

                              SUMMARY OF THE PLAN
 
    GENERAL.   The purpose of  the Plan is to  provide eligible employees of the
Company and/or  its  subsidiaries  with  an opportunity  to  acquire  an  equity
interest  in the Company through the purchase of Common Shares, and thus develop
an incentive to remain with the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and to  provide
a  means  for employees  to  share in  the future  success  of the  Company. The
proceeds from the Plan  will provide additional capital  for the Company,  which
will  be used for general corporate purposes. It is the intention of the Company
to have the Plan qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section  423
of  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the "Code"), and the options
issued pursuant to the Plan are  intended to constitute options issued  pursuant
to  an "employee stock purchase  plan" within the meaning  of Section 423 of the
Code. The Plan  is administered by  the Compensation Committee  of the Board  of
Directors (the "Committee").
 
    The  Plan is conducted  in separate offerings  not to exceed  one year each.
Subject to termination of the Plan,  the Committee determines the date on  which
each  offering under the Plan will commence. As authorized by the Committee, the
first offering  under the  Plan  commenced on  March 1,  1996  and will  end  on
December 31, 1996. A total of 100,000 shares (subject to adjustment due to stock
dividends,  recapitalization,  merger, consolidation,  split-up,  combination or
similar events) have been reserved for issuance in the first offering under  the
Plan.
 
    ELIGIBILITY.    Participation  in  the  Plan  is  completely  voluntary. Any
employee of the Company and/or  a subsidiary of the  Company who is employed  by
the  Company and/or such subsidiary  on the effective date  of an offering under
the Plan, and who  is or will  be customarily employed by  the Company and/or  a
subsidiary  of the Company for more than twenty (20) hours per week and for more
than five (5)  months per  year, may participate  in offerings  under the  Plan.
However,  "highly compensated employees"  and all directors  and officers of the
Company are not eligible to participate  in offerings under the Plan. Under  the
Plan,  "highly compensated employees"  are those employees of  the Company (or a
subsidiary of the Company) who have a  base salary in excess of $100,000  (U.S.)
per  year or who individually  own greater than 5%  of the total combined voting
power or value of all  classes of shares of the  Company or a subsidiary of  the
Company.  In addition,  an employee who  has combined rights  to purchase Common
Shares  under  employee  stock  purchase   plans  of  the  Company  and/or   its
subsidiaries  which accrue at a  rate exceeding $25,000 of  fair market value of
Common Shares per year is not eligible  to participate in an offering under  the
Plan  during each calendar year in which such combined rights exist. The Company
estimates  that  approximately   300  employees  of   the  Company  and/or   its
subsidiaries presently are eligible to participate in offerings under the Plan.
 
    PAYROLL  DEDUCTIONS.   If an employee  elects to participate  in an offering
under the  Plan,  deductions are  taken  from  the employee's  salary  or  wages
(excluding  commissions) during the offering period in amounts authorized by the
employee. The amount  deducted form  the employee's salary  or wages  (excluding
commissions)  must be in whole  dollars or percentages, must  be at least $20.00
per month and must be less than or equal to 10% of the employee's base salary or
wages (excluding commissions). Payroll deductions for an employee are  deposited
in  a  cash account  maintained for  the  employee (the  "Cash Account")  by the
custodian for the Plan.
 
    GRANT OF OPTIONS AND PURCHASE PRICE.  Options to purchase Common Shares will
be granted to participants who elect to participate in an offering. Such options
are exercisable on the  last business day of  the offering (the "Option  Date").
The total number of Common Shares subject to options on each Option Date may not
exceed the number of Common Shares authorized for issuance during the applicable
offering.  Options granted for each offering  will terminate following the close
of business on the Option Date for  the offering to the extent such Options  are
not exercised on the Option Date.
 
    The purchase price for a Common Share under each offering will be determined
by  the Committee prior to the first business day of the month designated as the
start of an offering (the "Effective Date")  and will be stated as a  percentage
of  the fair market value of the Common  Shares on either the Option Date or the
Effective Date, whichever is the lesser, but the purchase price may not be  less
than the lesser of ninety
 
                                       4

percent  (90%) of the per share fair market value of the Common Shares as of the
Effective Date for the offering  or ninety percent (90%)  of the per share  fair
market value of the Common Shares as of the Option Date for the offering.
 
    The  per share fair market value  of a Common Share on  any date will be the
per share  closing price  of the  Common Shares  on the  NASDAQ National  Market
System  or on any national stock  exchange on such date or,  if no such sales of
Common Shares are made on such date,  on the next preceding date on which  sales
of  Common Shares were made  on NASDAQ or on any  national stock exchange. As of
March 1, 1996, the closing price for Common Shares as reported on the NASDAQ was
$11.63 per share.
 
    EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.  An option to purchase Common Shares under the Plan  is
exercisable  on its Option Date. Each  participant in the Plan automatically and
without any act on his part will be  deemed to have exercised his option on  the
Option Date to the extent that the amount in his Cash Account on the Option Date
is  sufficient to purchase whole Common Shares. Fractional Common Shares are not
issuable under the Plan. Any remaining  amount credited to a participant's  Cash
Account  which is not sufficient to purchase a whole Common Share will remain in
the participant's Cash Account for use in the next offering unless withdrawn  by
the  Participant. If the aggregate Cash  Account balances of all participants on
any Option Date exceeds the amount required to purchase all of the Common Shares
subject to options on the Option Date ("Option Shares"), then the Option  Shares
will  be allocated pro  rata among the  participants in the  proportion that the
number of Option Shares  bears to the  number of Common  Shares that could  have
been  purchased  with such  aggregate amount  if an  unlimited number  of Common
Shares were available  for purchase. Any  excess balances in  the Cash  Accounts
will  remain in the Cash Accounts for  use in the next offering unless withdrawn
by the participants.
 
    A separate share  account for  each participant  will be  maintained by  the
custodian  for the Plan  and will be  credited with the  number of Common Shares
purchased by  the participant  on each  Option  Date, subject  to the  right  of
withdrawal of the Common Shares by the participant. Society National Bank, N.A.,
Cleveland, Ohio, is the initial custodian for the Plan.
 
    TRANSFERABILITY  OF OPTIONS.  A participant may not assign, transfer, pledge
or otherwise dispose of any payroll  deductions credited to his Cash Account  or
any  of his rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive Common
Shares under the Plan (except by will  or pursuant to the laws of  inheritance).
Options   are  exercisable  during  the   participant's  lifetime  only  by  the
participant. Any  attempt  by  a  participant to  assign,  transfer,  pledge  or
otherwise  dispose of his interest  under the Plan will be  null, void and of no
effect.
 
    DURATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE  PLAN.  The Plan  will remain in effect  until
(i)  the purchase  by participants of  all of  the Common Shares  subject to the
Plan; or (ii) termination of the Plan by the Board of Directors of the  Company,
whichever  occurs  first.  Termination  of  the  Plan  will  not  affect options
previously granted under the Plan. In addition,  if the Plan is not approved  by
the   Company's  shareholders  prior  to  December   30,  1996,  the  Plan  will
automatically terminate, and each participant will receive a refund of the total
amount of payroll deductions credited to his Cash Account, plus interest.
 
    The Committee may at any  time make changes in or  additions to the Plan  as
the Committee deems advisable. However, except as otherwise provided in the Plan
or  applicable law, and except with respect  to changes or additions in order to
make the Plan comply with  Section 423 of the Code,  the Committee may not  make
any changes or additions which would adversely affect options previously granted
under the Plan and may not, without approval of the shareholders of the Company,
make  any changes or additions which would  (a) increase the aggregate number of
Common Shares subject to the plan or which may be subscribed to by an  employee,
(b) decrease the minimum purchase price for a Common Share, or (c) change any of
the  provisions  of  the  Plan relating  the  eligibility  for  participation in
offerings.
 
    ADMINISTRATION OF THE  PLAN.  The  Plan is administrated  by the  Committee,
which  is appointed by the Board of Directors and which must consist of not less
than three (3) members of the Board  of Directors. Each member of the  Committee
must be an outside director of the Company and is not eligible to participate in
the  Plan.  Subject to  the provisions  of  the Plan  and such  instructions and
limitations as may be established by the Board, the Committee is vested with the
authority to make, administer, interpret and rescind such rules and  regulations
as  it deems necessary to administer the Plan. Among other things, the Committee
 
                                       5

determines the time and  terms of offerings under  the Plan. Any  determination,
decision  or  action  of  the Committee  in  connection  with  the construction,
interpretation, administration or application of the Plan is final, binding  and
conclusive  upon  all participants  and any  and all  persons claiming  under or
through any participant. The Committee may delegate any portion of its authority
to administer the Plan on a day-to-day basis to such officers of the Company  as
it  deems appropriate, except with  respect to discretionary decisions regarding
participation in the Plan by any executive officers or other persons subject  to
Section  16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Except as otherwise provided
herein, all costs of administration of the Plan are borne by the Company.
 
    FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES.   The  following general  descriptions of  federal
income  tax  consequences  is  based  upon  current  statutes,  regulations  and
interpretations. This  description  is  not intended  to  address  specific  tax
consequences  applicable to an individual participant  who receives an option to
purchase Common Shares under the Plan.
 
    The Plan is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan"  within
the meaning of Section 423 of the Code. The granting of an option under the Plan
will  have no  immediate federal  income tax  consequences to  a participant. In
addition, a participant will not realize taxable income at the time he exercises
an option. Generally, a participant will recognize taxable income under the Code
only upon the disposition of  Common Shares purchased under  the Plan or on  the
death  of the  participant if  he has  purchased Common  Shares under  the Plan.
However, any interest on a participant's accumulated payroll deductions returned
to him  in  cash will  be  taxed as  ordinary  income. The  federal  income  tax
treatment  applicable to a disposition of Common Shares purchased under the Plan
is discussed further below.
 
    Any participant in the  Plan who disposes of  Common Shares purchased  under
the  Plan or any participant who dies while holding Common Shares transferred to
him pursuant  to  his exercise  of  an option  under  the Plan,  will  recognize
ordinary  income in the year of such disposition  or death in an amount equal to
the lesser of (i) the  excess of the fair market  value of the Common Shares  at
disposition  or death over  the amount actually  paid for the  Common Shares; or
(ii) the excess of the  fair market value of the  Common Shares at the time  the
option  was granted over the option price. Any remaining gain will be taxed as a
capital gain in the year  of disposition. If, however,  the sales price is  less
than  the purchase price paid by the participant, the participant will recognize
a capital loss.  If the  participant has held  the Common  Shares acquired  upon
exercise  of his  option less than  one year, the  capital gain or  loss will be
short-term; if the participant has held the Common Shares for one year or  more,
the capital gain or loss will be long-term.
 
    Generally,  the issuance and  exercise of options  to purchase Common Shares
under the Plan will not  have a taxable effect on  the Company; however, in  the
event of a disposition of Common Shares by a participant, the amount of ordinary
income attributable to the participant because of such disposition is deductible
by  the Company as  an employer business  deduction in the  year of disposition.
Dividends credited to a participant's  Cash Account will be considered  ordinary
income. The Plan is not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
 
REQUIRED VOTE AND RECOMMENDATION
 
    THE  AFFIRMATIVE VOTE  OF THE  HOLDERS OF  NOT LESS  THAN A  MAJORITY OF THE
COMMON SHARES PRESENT  IN PERSON OR  BY PROXY AND  ENTITLED TO BE  VOTED AT  THE
MEETING IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN. For purposes of
determining   whether   such   a  majority   has   been   obtained,  abstentions
mathematically will have the same effect  as votes against the proposal.  Broker
non-votes have no effect in determining whether such majority has been obtained.
 
    THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS THAT  THE  SHAREHOLDERS  VOTE  FOR THE
PROPOSED ADOPTION OF THE PLAN. UNLESS  OTHERWISE DIRECTED, THE PERSONS NAMED  IN
THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY WILL  VOTE  THE COMMON  SHARES  REPRESENTED BY  ALL PROXIES
RECEIVED PRIOR  TO  THE MEETING,  AND  NOT PROPERLY  REVOKED,  IN FAVOR  OF  THE
PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE PLAN.
 
                                       6

                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
    Financial statements of the Company are not included in this Proxy Statement
as they are not material to a decision regarding Proposal 1 or Proposal 2.
 
    Management and the Board of Directors do not know of any other matters which
may  come before the Meeting. However, if any other matters properly come before
the Meeting, it is the intention of  the persons named in the accompanying  form
of proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
 
    The  enclosed proxy is being  solicited by the Board  of Directors of Symix,
and Symix will bear the cost of solicitation of proxies. In addition to the  use
of  the  mails, proxies  may  be solicited  by  officers, directors  and regular
employees  of  Symix,   personally,  by   telephone,  by   telegraph  or   other
communication methods.
 
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
    Any  proposals by  Symix shareholders intended  to be presented  at the 1996
Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by Symix prior to June 16,  1996
in order to be considered for inclusion in Symix's 1996 Proxy Statement.
 
                                            By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                            LAWRENCE W. DELEON,
                                            SECRETARY
 
                                       7

                                    ANNEX A
 
    RESOLVED, that the first paragraph of Article FOURTH of the Amended Articles
of Incorporation of the Company be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
        FOURTH:  The authorized number of shares of the corporation shall be
    21,000,000,  of  which 20,000,000  shares shall  be common  shares, each
    without par value, and 1,000,000 shares shall be preferred shares,  each
    without par value.

                                    ANNEX B
                              SYMIX SYSTEMS, INC.
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                         (AS AMENDED ON APRIL 24, 1996)
 
    1.   PURPOSE OF THE  PLAN.  The purpose of  the Symix Systems, Inc. Employee
Stock Purchase  Plan (the  "Plan") is  to provide  eligible employees  of  Symix
Systems,  Inc. (the  "Company") and/or its  subsidiaries with  an opportunity to
acquire an equity interest in the Company through the purchase of common  shares
of  the Company ("Common Shares"), and thus  develop an incentive to remain with
the Company and/or  its subsidiaries, and  to provide a  means for employees  to
share  in the  future success of  the Company.  The proceeds from  the Plan will
provide additional  capital for  the Company,  which will  be used  for  general
corporate  purposes. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify
as an "employee stock purchase plan"  under Section 423 of the Internal  Revenue
Code  of  1986,  as  amended (the  "Code"),  and  the Plan  is  to  be construed
accordingly.
 
    2.  ADMINISTRATION.   The  Plan shall  be administered  by the  Compensation
Committee  (the "Committee") consisting of not less than three members who shall
be appointed by, and shall serve at  the pleasure of, the Board of Directors  of
the  Company. Each member  of the Committee  must be an  outside director of the
Company and shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan. Subject to express
provisions of the Plan and to such instructions and limitations as the Board  of
Directors  of the Company may  establish from time to  time, the Committee shall
have the  authority  to  prescribe,  amend and  rescind  rules  and  regulations
relating  to the Plan. The Committee may  interpret the Plan and may correct any
defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan to  the
extent  necessary for  the effective operation  of the  plan. Any determination,
decision or action taken  by the Committee  on the matters  referred to in  this
paragraph shall be conclusive.
 
    The  Committee may delegate  any portion of its  authority to administer the
Plan on  a day-to-day  basis to  such officers  of the  Company as  it may  deem
appropriate;   provided  that  any  discretionary   decisions  with  respect  to
participation in the Plan by any executive officers or other persons subject  to
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act may be made only by the Committee.
 
    3.   EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN.  The Plan shall become effective on March 1,
1996.
 
    4.   SHARES SUBJECT  TO THE  PLAN.   Subject to  adjustment as  provided  in
Paragraph 17 herein, not more than 100,000 Common Shares of the Company shall be
offered  under the Plan. The Common Shares subject to the Plan may be authorized
and unissued Common Shares  or previously issued Common  Shares acquired by  the
Company and held as treasury shares.
 
    5.   OFFERINGS UNDER THE PLAN.  After  the Plan has become effective, one or
more "Offerings",  as determined  by  the Committee,  may  be made  to  eligible
employees  to purchase Common Shares  subject to the Plan.  The Offerings may be
consecutive or concurrent as determined by  the Committee. With respect to  each
Offering,  the Committee shall specify an Offering Period and the maximum number
of Common Shares that may be  purchased under the Offering. The Offering  Period
shall  not exceed twelve (12) months. Common  Shares not sold under one Offering
may be offered again in any subsequent Offering.
 
    The first business day of the month designated by the Committee as the start
of the Offering Period applicable to  an Offering shall be the "Effective  Date"
of such Offering under the Plan.
 
    6.   ELIGIBILITY.   Subject to the terms  of this Plan,  any employee of the
Company (and any employee of  any subsidiary of the  Company which from time  to
time  may be designated by the Committee  for inclusion in an Offering under the
Plan under Paragraph 20 hereof) who is employed by the Company at the  Effective
Date  of an Offering, and  who is or will be  customarily employed for more than
twenty (20) hours  per week  and for  more than five  (5) months  per year,  may
participate  in Offerings  under the  Plan, with  the exception  that all highly
compensated employees and  all directors  and officers  of the  Company are  not
eligible  to participate in  the Offerings under  the Plan. For  purposes of the
Plan, "highly compensated  employees" are those  employees of the  Company or  a
subsidiary  of the Company that have a  base salary in excess of $100,000 (U.S.)
per year or own greater than 5% of  the total combined voting power or value  of
all classes of shares of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

    Nothing  contained herein  and no  rules and  regulations prescribed  by the
Committee shall permit  or deny participation  in any Offering  contrary to  the
requirements  of the  Code (including,  without limitation,  Sections 423(b)(3),
423(b)(4) and 423(b)(8) thereof).
 
    Nothing contained  herein and  no rules  and regulations  prescribed by  the
Committee shall permit any employee to be granted an Option under the Plan:
 
    (a)  If, immediately after such Option  is granted, such employee would own,
and/or hold outstanding options or rights to purchase, shares of the Company  or
of  any subsidiary of  the Company possessing  five percent (5%)  or more of the
total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company  or
such subsidiary; or
 
    (b)  Which permits an employee's rights  to purchase Common Shares under all
employee stock purchase plans of the  Company and of its subsidiaries to  accrue
at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) of fair market
value  of Common Shares  (determined as of  the date such  right is granted) for
each calendar year in which such right is outstanding at any time.
 
    For the purpose of  clause 6(a) above, the  provisions of Section 424(d)  of
the  Code shall apply in  determining the stock ownership  of each employee. For
the purpose of Clause (b) above, the provisions of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code
shall apply in determining  whether an employee's Options  and other rights  are
permitted to accrue at a rate in excess of the permitted rate.
 
    7.   PARTICIPATION IN  OFFERINGS.  Except  as may be  otherwise provided for
herein, each  employee who  is eligible  for  and elects  to participate  in  an
Offering shall be granted Options for as many full Common Shares as he may elect
to  purchase during that Offering, to be  paid by payroll deductions during such
period; provided, however, that the amount  elected must be in whole dollars  or
percentages,  the minimum deductions of an employee  shall not be at a rate less
than Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per month  and the maximum deductions shall not  be
at a rate exceeding ten percent (10%) of the base salary of an employee. Subject
to  this Paragraph  7, all  such eligible  employees shall  be granted  the same
rights and privileges under each such Offering.
 
    The "Annual Enrollment Date" for any  Offering shall be the Effective  Date.
In  order to  participate in  the Offering an  eligible employee  must enroll by
completing and forwarding (i)  an "Enrollment/Change Form"  to the Committee  at
least  twenty  (20)  days  prior  to the  Annual  Enrollment  Date  and  (ii) an
"Authorization for Payroll Deductions" form to the appropriate payroll  location
at  least twenty (20) days prior to the Annual Enrollment Date for the Offering;
provided, however, that an  eligible employee hired during  the twenty (20)  day
period prior to the Annual Enrollment Date may participate in the Plan by filing
an  Enrollment/Change Form and  Authorization for Payroll  Deductions form on or
before such  Annual Enrollment  Date.  Notwithstanding any  provision  contained
herein,   for   the  initial   Annual  Enrollment   Date   for  the   Plan,  the
Enrollment/Change Form and the Authorization for Payroll Deductions form must be
completed and forwarded prior to March 9, 1996, unless extended by the  officers
of  the Company. The Authorization for  Payroll Deductions form will authorize a
regular payroll deduction from that employee's compensation during the  Offering
Period  applicable to that Offering, commencing  with the Annual Enrollment Date
following timely receipt of  such authorization. Payroll  deductions may not  be
retroactive.
 
    The  amounts withheld through  such payroll deductions  shall be credited to
each Participant's cash account (the "Cash Account"). The withholdings for  each
calendar  month from compensation  of a Participant  shall be made  on a date or
dates specified by the Company  (the "payroll deduction date(s)"). Such  amounts
will  be delivered  to a  custodian for  the Plan  selected by  the Company (the
"Custodian") and held  pending the  purchase of  Common Shares  as described  in
Paragraph 10 hereof.
 
    Subject  to the other limitations of this Paragraph 7, a Participant may, by
written notice to the  Company at least  twenty (20) days  prior to any  payroll
deduction  date, increase or decrease the amount  of his payroll deduction as of
such payroll deduction  date; provided,  however, that  a Participant's  payroll
deduction may be changed only twice during any Offering.
 
                                       2

    Notwithstanding  the foregoing, a  Participant may by  written notice to the
Company  at  least  twenty  (20)  days  prior  to  any  payroll  deduction  date
discontinue  payroll  deductions  as  of such  payroll  deduction  date. Payroll
deductions may not thereafter be resumed until the next Annual Enrollment Date.
 
    A Participant may withdraw from the  Offering entirely at any time prior  to
the  Option Date (as  defined in Paragraph  8) for the  Offering by delivering a
"Withdrawal Notice" to the Company. If such notice is received by the Company at
least twenty (20) business days prior to the Option Date, the Participant's Cash
Account balance will not be used to  purchase Common Shares on the Option  Date.
Instead,  the  Cash Account  balance will  be refunded  to the  Participant. The
Participant will not be eligible to  re-enroll in that Offering, but may  resume
participation  on the Annual Enrollment Date for the next Offering. In addition,
the Committee may impose such other  restrictions on the right to withdraw  from
Offerings as it may deem appropriate.
 
    8.  GRANT OF OPTIONS.  Options to purchase Common Shares shall be granted to
Participants  who  elect to  participate  in an  Offering.  Such Options  may be
exercised on the last business day of the Offering (each such last business  day
is  referred to herein as an "Option Date"). The number of Common Shares subject
to Options on each Option Date shall not exceed the number of shares  authorized
for  issuance during the applicable Offering.  Options granted for each Offering
shall terminate  following the  close of  business on  the Option  Date for  the
Offering to the extent such Options are not exercised on such Option Date.
 
    9.  INTEREST ON CASH ACCOUNTS.  The payroll deductions and other monies held
in  Participants' Cash Accounts shall  bear interest at a  rate as may be agreed
upon by the Company and the Custodian.
 
    10.  PURCHASE  PRICE AND  EXERCISE OF  OPTIONS.   The purchase  price for  a
Common  Share under each Offering shall be  determined by the Committee prior to
the Effective Date of each Offering and  shall be stated as a percentage of  the
fair  market value of a Common Share on  either the Option Date or the Effective
Date, whichever is the lesser, but the purchase price shall not be less than the
lesser of ninety percent (90%) of the per share fair market value of the  Common
Shares  as of the Effective Date for the Offering or ninety percent (90%) of the
per share fair market value of the Common  Shares as of the Option Date for  the
Offering.
 
    The  fair market value  of a Common Share  on any date  shall be the closing
price per share of the Common Shares on the NASDAQ National Market System or  on
any  national stock exchange on such date or,  if no such sales of Common Shares
are made on  such date,  on the  next preceding date  on which  sales of  Common
Shares were made on NASDAQ or on any national stock exchange.
 
    Each  Option shall  be exercised  on the  Option Date  with respect  to such
Option. Each Participant automatically and without  any act on his part will  be
deemed  to have exercised an  Option on each Option Date  to the extent that the
amount in his Cash Account on such  Option Date is sufficient to purchase  whole
Common  Shares on the Option  Date. Fractional Common Shares  will not be issued
under the Plan. Any  remaining amount credited to  a Participant's Cash  Account
which  is not sufficient to  purchase a whole Common  Share shall remain in such
Participant's Cash Account for use in the next Offering unless withdrawn by  the
Participant.
 
    The Company shall deliver to the Custodian as soon as practicable after each
Option  Date a certificate for the total number of whole Common Shares purchased
by all Participants on such Option Date. If the aggregate Cash Account  balances
of  all Participants on any Option Date  exceeds the amount required to purchase
all of the Common Shares subject to Options on that Option Date, then the Option
Shares (as defined in  Paragraph 18 hereof), shall  be allocated as provided  in
Paragraph 18 hereof.
 
    The Custodian shall establish and maintain a separate share account for each
Participant  (a "Share  Account"), which  shall be  credited with  the number of
whole Common  Shares  purchased on  each  Option  Date by  each  Participant.  A
Participant  may withdraw the Common  Shares credited to his  Share Account on a
first-in-first-out basis by written notice to the Custodian at least twenty (20)
days prior to an  Annual Enrollment Date.  A Participant may  withdraw all or  a
portion  of the  Common Shares which  were credited  to his Share  Account on or
prior to the Option  Date immediately preceding such  Annual Enrollment Date.  A
Participant will be charged a fee by the Custodian for each such withdrawal. The
amount of such fee shall be as agreed from time to time by the Custodian and the
Company. The initial fee shall be $5.00 per withdrawal.
 
                                       3

The  Custodian shall deliver  to such Participant a  share certificate issued in
his name for the number  of whole Common Shares he  wishes to withdraw from  his
Share Account. At least annually, there shall be delivered to each Participant a
statement  of his  Share Account showing  the number of  Common Shares purchased
during the  preceding  twelve months  (or  lesser  period of  existence  of  the
Offering),  the Option prices paid for the  Common Shares, the dates of purchase
of the Common Shares, and  the amount to be included  in the ordinary income  of
the  Participant at such  time as the  Common Shares are  sold, as prescribed by
Section 423(c) of the Code.
 
    Society National Bank, N.A. shall be the initial Custodian. The Company  may
remove  any Custodian,  and any  Custodian may resign,  upon 60  days' notice in
writing to the other party, as the case may be. Any successor Custodian shall be
appointed by  the Company.  The Company  shall pay  all fees  and costs  of  the
Custodian  as agreed between  the Company and  the Custodian from  time to time,
except for the withdrawal fees payable by Participants as described above.
 
    The Company may, at any time after the end of an Offering Period, close  the
Cash Accounts of employees not participating in another Offering under the Plan,
in  which  case  any balance  in  such Cash  Accounts  will be  refunded  to the
employees. Any balance remaining in the Cash Account of a Participant after  the
end of an Offering Period shall remain in the Participant's Cash Account for use
in the next Offering.
 
    The  Company may, at any time after the end of an Offering Period, close the
Share Accounts  related to  such Offering,  in which  case the  Custodian  shall
deliver  to each Participant in that Offering  a share certificate issued in his
name for  the number  of whole  Common  Shares credited  to his  Share  Account,
without charging a withdrawal fee.
 
    11.   REGISTRATION OF CERTIFICATES.  Common Shares withdrawn by Participants
will be registered, and share certificates therefor will be issued, only in  the
name of the Participant.
 
    12.   RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDERS.   With respect to  Common Shares subject to an
Option, pending exercise of such Option, the Participant shall not be deemed  to
be  a  shareholder and  shall not  have any  of  the rights  or privileges  of a
shareholder. A Participant who has exercised an Option shall have the rights and
privileges of a shareholder immediately following such exercise.
 
    13.   USE OF  PLAN  FUNDS.   Subject to  Paragraph  10 hereof,  all  amounts
received  by the Company upon exercise of  Options granted under the Plan may be
used for any corporate purpose or purposes of the Company.
 
    14.   TERMINATION  OF  EMPLOYMENT.   If  the  employment  of  a  Participant
terminates  for  any reason,  including death,  disability, retirement  or other
cause, his participation in  the Plan automatically and  without any act on  his
part shall terminate as of the date of termination of his employment. As soon as
practicable  following the Participant's termination  of employment, the Company
shall  refund  to  such  Participant  (or  beneficiary,  in  the  case  of   the
Participant's  death) any and all  amount in his Cash  Account and the Custodian
shall deliver to such Participant a share certificate issued in his name for the
number of  whole Common  Shares  credited to  his  Share Account  through  prior
Offerings.
 
    15.   RESTRICTION UPON  ASSIGNMENT.  Options granted  to a Participant under
the Plan  shall not  be transferable  (including pledge  or hypothecation),  and
shall  be exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant.
The Company  shall  not  recognize and  shall  be  under no  duty  to  recognize
assignment  or purported assignment  by a Participant  of his Options  or of any
rights under his Options.
 
    16.  GOVERNMENT  REGULATIONS.  The  Company's obligation to  issue, sell  or
deliver  any Common Shares under this Plan is subject to all applicable laws and
regulations and  to the  approval of  any governmental  or regulatory  authority
required  in  connection with  the  issuance, sale  or  delivery of  such Common
Shares. The Company shall not be required  to issue, sell or deliver any  Common
Shares  under this  Plan prior  to (a)  the approval  of such  Common Shares for
quotation on NASDAQ as National Market Systems Securities or for listing on  any
national  stock exchange,  and (b) the  completion of any  registration or other
qualification of such Common Shares under any state or Federal law or any ruling
or regulation of any governmental or  regulatory authority which the Company  in
its sole discretion shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
 
                                       4

    17.   ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES UPON  CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, in  the event of any change in the  outstanding
Common   Shares,   by  reason   of  a   dividend   payable  in   Common  Shares,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation,  split-up, combination  or exchange  of
shares,  or the  like, appropriate  adjustments shall  be made  to the aggregate
number and class of shares subject to  the Plan, the number and class of  shares
subject to outstanding subscription rights, the purchase price per share (in the
case  of shares subject to outstanding  subscription rights), and the number and
class of shares which may be subscribed  to by any one employee, and such  other
adjustments shall be made as may be deemed equitable by the Committee.
 
    18.   PROPORTIONATE DISTRIBUTION.  If the aggregate Cash Account balances of
all Participants on any Option Date exceeds the amount required to purchase  all
of  the Common Shares subject to Options  on that Option Date ("Option Shares"),
then the Option Shares shall be allocated pro rata among the Participants in the
proportion that the number of Option Shares bears to the number of Common Shares
that could  have been  purchased with  such aggregate  amount available,  if  an
unlimited  number  of  Common  Shares  were  available  for  purchase; provided,
however, that no  reduction shall  prohibit any employee  participating in  that
Offering  from purchasing at least five (5) full Common Shares during the course
of the Offering. Any  balances remaining in Participants'  Cash Accounts due  to
over  subscription will remain in the Participants' Cash Accounts for use in the
next Offering unless withdrawn by the Participant.
 
    19.  DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT.  All  cash dividends paid, if any, with  respect
to the Common Shares credited to a Participant's Share Account shall be added to
the  Participant's Cash Account and thereby shall be applied to exercise Options
to purchase whole Common Shares on the Option Date next succeeding the date such
cash dividends are paid by the Company. An election to leave Common Shares  with
the  Custodian shall  constitute an  election to  apply the  cash dividends with
respect to such shares  to the exercise of  Options hereunder. Common Shares  so
purchased  shall be applied  to the shares credited  to each Participant's Share
Account.
 
    20.  DESIGNATION OF  SUBSIDIARIES FOR INCLUSION IN  OFFERINGS.  At any  time
and  from time to time the Committee  may designate for inclusion in an Offering
under the Plan any corporation which, on the Effective Date of that Offering, is
a subsidiary (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) of the Company.
 
    21.  AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.   To the extent permitted by law, the  Committee
may  at  any time  and from  time  to time  make such  changes  in the  Plan and
additions to  it as  the  Committee deems  advisable; provided,  however,  that,
except  as provided in Paragraphs 17, 18  and 20 hereof, and except with respect
to changes or additions in order to make the Plan comply with Section 423 of the
Code, the Committee may not make any changes or additions which would  adversely
affect  subscription rights or Options previously granted under the Plan and may
not, without approval of  the shareholders of the  Company, make any changes  or
additions which would (a) increase the aggregate number of Common Shares subject
to  the Plan  or which  may be subscribed  to by  an employee,  (b) decrease the
minimum purchase price for a Common Share,  or (c) change any of the  provisions
of the Plan relating to eligibility for participation in Offerings.
 
    22.   DURATION AND TERMINATION  OF THE PLAN.   The Plan shall terminate upon
the earlier to occur of the following two events:
 
    (a) The purchase by  employees of all  of the Common  Shares subject to  the
Plan; or
 
    (b) The termination of the Plan by the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
    In addition, if the Plan is not approved by the Company's Shareholders prior
to   December  30,  1996,  the  Plan  will  automatically  terminate,  and  each
Participant will receive a refund of the amounts credited to his Cash Account.
 
    No termination  of the  Plan  shall affect  Options or  subscription  rights
previously granted under this Plan.
 
                                       5

                              SYMIX SYSTEMS, INC.
                   PROXY FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD ON JUNE 26, 1996
 
          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
    The  undersigned  holder(s) of  common shares  of  Symix Systems,  Inc. (the
"Company") hereby  constitutes and  appoints  Lawrence J.  Fox and  Lawrence  W.
DeLeon,  or either of them,  the Proxy or Proxies  of the undersigned, with full
power of substitution,  to attend  the Special  Meeting of  Shareholders of  the
Company  (the "Special Meeting") to be held on  June 26, 1996, at the offices of
the Company, 2800 Corporate Exchange Drive,  Columbus, Ohio at 9:00 a.m.,  local
time,  and any adjournment(s) thereof,  and to vote all  of the common shares of
the Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote at such Special Meeting or
at any adjournment(s) thereof:
 
1.  TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE FOURTH OF THE COMPANY'S AMENDED  ARTICLES
    OF  INCORPORATION  TO INCREASE  THE AUTHORIZED  SHARES  OF THE  COMPANY FROM
    6,000,000 TO 21,000,000,  OF WHICH  20,000,000 WILL BE  COMMON SHARES,  EACH
    WITHOUT  PAR VALUE, AND 1,000,000 WILL BE PREFERRED SHARES, EACH WITHOUT PAR
    VALUE.
 
             / / FOR             / / AGAINST             / / ABSTAIN
 
2   TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE COMPANY'S EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
 
             / / FOR             / / AGAINST             / / ABSTAIN
 
3.  IN THEIR DISCRETION,  THE PROXIES  ARE AUTHORIZED  TO VOTE  UPON SUCH  OTHER
    MATTERS   AS  MAY   PROPERLY  COME  BEFORE   THE  SPECIAL   MEETING  OR  ANY
    ADJOURNMENT(S) THEREOF.
 
    WHERE A CHOICE  IS INDICATED, THE  COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED  BY THIS  PROXY
WHEN  PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED OR NOT VOTED AS SPECIFIED. IF NO CHOICE IS
INDICATED, THE  COMMON  SHARES REPRESENTED  BY  THIS  PROXY WILL  BE  VOTED  FOR
PROPOSAL NO. 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2. IF ANY OTHER MATTERS ARE PROPERLY BROUGHT
BEFORE  THE SPECIAL  MEETING OR  ANY ADJOURNMENT(S)  THEREOF, THE  COMMON SHARES
REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES ON SUCH
MATTERS AS THE DIRECTORS MAY RECOMMEND.
 
     (CONTINUED, AND TO BE EXECUTED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF.)

    ALL PROXIES WITH RESPECT TO COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY PREVIOUSLY GIVEN OR
EXECUTED BY THE  UNDERSIGNED ARE  HEREBY REVOKED.  The undersigned  acknowledges
receipt  of the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy
Statement for the June 26, 1996 meeting.
                                             Dated: ______________________, 1996
                                             ___________________________________
                                                 Signature of Shareholder(s)
                                             ___________________________________
                                                 Signature of Shareholder(s)
 
                                             Please sign  exactly as  your  name
                                             appears  hereon. When common shares
                                             are registered in  two names,  both
                                             shareholders   should   sign.  When
                                             signing as executor, administrator,
                                             trustee,  guardian,   attorney   or
                                             agent,  please  give full  title as
                                             such.   If    shareholder   is    a
                                             corporation,  please  sign  in full
                                             corporate  name  by  President   or
                                             other    authorized   officer.   If
                                             shareholder   is   a   partnership,
                                             please  sign in partnership name by
                                             authorized person. (Please note any
                                             change of address on this proxy.)
 
 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SYMIX SYSTEMS,
                                      INC.
 PLEASE FILL IN, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.