<PAGE>

                                  GENRAD, INC.

                               SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

         This SEVERANCE AGREEMENT is entered into between GenRad, Inc. (the
"Company") and Peter Miles ("Executive") effective as of the 1st day of
September 2000.

         Executive is a key executive of the Company and a vital part of its
management. In consideration of Executive's continued employment with the
Company, the parties agree as follows:

         1. TERM; WINDOW PERIOD. The term during which this Agreement (the
"Agreement") will be in effect (the "Term") will begin on the date of this
Agreement (the "Effective Date") and, except as provided below, will
terminate on the date which is one year from the date the Company advises
Executive in writing that the Company is terminating this Agreement. If a
Change of Control (as defined in Exhibit A) occurs during the Term, the
Agreement will remain in effect until all obligations hereunder have been
discharged. The period starting on the date of such a Change of Control and
ending on the third anniversary of the Change of Control will be a "Window
Period" during which special provisions of this Agreement will apply.

         2. POSITIONS AND DUTIES. Subject to the provisions of the Agreement:

                  2.1 Executive is currently employed or to be employed by
the Company as its Vice-President, Diagnostic Solutions, with
responsibilities consistent with this position. The Company may hereafter
reassign Executive to a different position, with responsibilities consistent
with such new position, provided that such different position shall not
entail responsibilities materially less than those of Executive's current
position.

                  2.2 Executive will devote his entire business time and
attention and his best efforts to the duties and services of his positions.
However, Executive may serve on boards of directors of other businesses and
attend to personal investments and community and charitable service, provided
that such activities are not competitive with the business of the Company and
do not interfere with the performance of Executive's duties to the Company.

         3. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. During his employment by the Company,
the Company will provide compensation and benefits to Executive as follows:

                  3.1 BASE SALARY. "Base Salary" means the remuneration
regularly paid to Executive for services rendered in connection with the
Executive's employment with the Company. Executive's Base Salary as of the
Effective Date will be (pound) 100,000.00 (UK - Sterling) per year, payable
in accordance with the applicable payroll practices of the Company. The
Company will review Executive's Base Salary annually, and Executive will
receive such adjustment in base salary, if any, for each succeeding year as
the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") determines in its sole
discretion.


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Executive's Base Salary will not be decreased during any Window Period, and
will not be decreased other than during a Window Period except as part of a
general reduction in which the base salaries of all corporate officers of the
Company have been decreased.

                  3.2 PERFORMANCE BONUS. Executive will be eligible for an
annual performance bonus, which (except as provided below) shall be
determined by the Board in its sole discretion. Executive's bonus for any
year ending during a Window Period will not be less than 100 percent of his
bonus for the completed year immediately preceding the Change of Control.

                  3.3 OTHER BENEFITS. Executive will be entitled to
participate in all plans, policies and arrangements (or in any successor or
supplemental plans, policies or arrangements) generally made available to
officers of the Company. Such benefits shall not be reduced during the Window
Period, provided, however, that any changes in the terms of such benefit
programs generally applicable to other program participants shall be
applicable to Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not
be entitled to participate in any severance or comparable plan, policy or
arrangement maintained by the Company and generally available to its other
employees other than that set forth in this Agreement.

         4. SEVERANCE BENEFITS.

                  4.1 SEVERANCE BENEFITS DURING WINDOW PERIOD. If the Company
terminates Executive's employment without Cause (as defined below) during a
Window Period, or if Executive terminates his employment with the Company for
Good Reason (as defined below) during a Window Period, and subject to
Sections 4.3 and 5 below, the Company will provide severance benefits to
Executive as follows (all payments and other benefits provided under this
Section 4.1 being called collectively the "Severance Benefits"):

                           (a) Within 10 days following the Effective Date of
                  the Release and Waiver described in Section 4.3, the Company
                  will pay to Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to two
                  hundred percent (200%) of the sum of (A) Executive's annual
                  Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the termination
                  (or, if his Base Salary has been reduced within 60 days of the
                  termination or at any time after the Change of Control, his
                  Base Salary in effect prior to the reduction), plus (B) the
                  amount of the bonus earned by Executive for the fiscal year
                  completed immediately prior to the termination.

                           (b) Within 10 days following the Effective Date of
                  the Release and Waiver described in Section 4.3, the Company
                  will also pay to Executive a pro-rata portion of his target
                  bonus (provided for in Section 3.2 above) for the year of
                  termination.

                           (c) The Company will continue for a period of three
                  years from the date of employment termination to provide
                  Executive with the same or


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                  substantially similar insurance benefits and other health and
                  welfare benefits referenced in Section 3.3 above (subject to
                  any contribution to premiums required of plan participants
                  generally) other than participation in the Company's 401k plan
                  and any Company sponsored stock purchase plan. To the extent
                  the Company is unable to provide such benefits to Executive
                  under its existing plans and arrangements, it will either
                  arrange to provide Executive with substantially similar
                  benefits upon comparable terms or pay Executive cash amounts
                  equal to Executive's cost of obtaining such benefits. The
                  Company's obligation to provide each such benefit shall
                  terminate immediately upon Executive's becoming eligible
                  (either as a participant or a dependent) to participate in a
                  plan providing comparable benefits sponsored by another
                  employer, except that the Company shall pay any increase in
                  the contribution to premiums required of Executive (or the
                  plan participant of whom Executive is a dependent, if
                  applicable) in order to participate in such other employer's
                  plan.

                           (d) Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the
                  plans or arrangements under which they are granted, all
                  options to purchase Company stock held by Executive will
                  become exercisable immediately upon the Effective Date of the
                  Release and Waiver described in Section 4.3.

                  4.2 SEVERANCE BENEFITS OTHER THAN DURING WINDOW PERIOD. If
the Company terminates Executive's employment without Cause other than during
a Window Period, or if Executive terminates his employment with the Company
for Good Reason other than during a Window Period, and subject to Sections
4.3 and 5 below, the Company will provide severance benefits to Executive as
follows (all payments and other benefits provided under this Section 4.2 also
being called collectively "Severance Benefits"):

                           (a) Within 10 days following the Effective Date of
                  the Release and Waiver described in Section 4.3, the Company
                  will pay to Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to one
                  hundred percent (100%) of Executive's annual Base Salary in
                  effect immediately prior to the termination (or, if his Base
                  Salary has been reduced within 60 days of the termination, his
                  Base Salary in effect prior to the reduction).

                           (b) Subject to the last sentence of this subsection
                  (b), the Company will continue for a period of one year from
                  the date of employment termination to provide Executive with
                  the same or substantially similar insurance benefits and other
                  health and welfare benefits referenced in Section 3.3 above
                  (subject to any contribution to premiums required of plan
                  participants generally) other than participation in the
                  Company's 401k plan and any Company sponsored stock purchase
                  plan. To the extent the Company is unable to provide such
                  benefits to Executive under its existing plans and
                  arrangements, it will either arrange to provide Executive with
                  substantially similar benefits upon comparable terms or pay
                  Executive cash amounts equal to the cost the Company


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                  would have incurred to provide such benefits. The Company's
                  obligation to provide each such benefit shall terminate
                  immediately upon Executive's becoming eligible (either as a
                  participant or a dependent) to participate in a plan providing
                  comparable benefits sponsored by another employer, except that
                  the Company shall pay any increase in the contribution to
                  premiums required of Executive (or the plan participant of
                  whom Executive is a dependent, if applicable) in order to
                  participate in such other employer's plan.

                  4.3 GENERAL RELEASE AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. The
Company's obligation to pay and provide the Severance Benefits is conditioned
on Executive's prior execution and delivery (without subsequent revocation,
to the extent permitted therein) of a General Release, Waiver and
Confidentiality Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto (a
"Release and Waiver"). The Company shall deliver a form of Release and Waiver
to Executive, for his or her execution, within 10 days following a
termination of Executive's employment that entitles him or her to Severance
Benefits under Section 4.1 or 4.2. In the event Executive fails to execute
and deliver a Release and Waiver to the Company within 60 days following the
delivery of the same to him or her, Executive will be deemed to have waived
his or her rights to Severance Benefits under Section 4.1 or 4.2.

                  4.4 TERMINATION BY COMPANY FOR CAUSE, BY EXECUTIVE WITHOUT
GOOD REASON, OR ON ACCOUNT OF DEATH OR DISABILITY. Notwithstanding Section
4.1 or 4.2, as applicable, Executive shall not be entitled to any Severance
Benefits under such Section in the event that (a) the Company terminates
Executive's employment for Cause, (b) Executive terminates his or her
employment with the Company other than on account of Good Reason (including
adherence to the procedural requirements set forth in the definition of "Good
Reason"), or (c) Executive's employment is terminated on account of his or
her death or Disability.

                  4.5 EFFECT ON RIGHTS UNDER COBRA. For the purposes of Part
6 of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and
Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), the
qualifying event applicable to the Executive (and his qualifying
beneficiaries, if any) whose employment terminates during the Term (other
than for Cause) shall be the effective date of such employment termination
notwithstanding any continuation of benefits pursuant to subsection 4.1(c)
above.

                  4.6 DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms have
the following meanings:

                           (a) "Cause" means (a) willful malfeasance or gross
                  negligence in the performance by Executive of his or her
                  duties, (b) fraud or dishonesty by Executive with respect to
                  the Company, or (c) Executive's conviction of a felony, or of
                  a misdemeanor that the Company reasonably determines has had a
                  material adverse effect on the Company including through
                  publicity.


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                           (b) "Disability" means Executive's inability for a
                  period of not less than 60 consecutive days, as a result of
                  physical or mental incapacity, to perform each of the material
                  duties of his or her position, if a qualified physician chosen
                  by the Company and reasonably approved by Executive (or his or
                  her conservator) has determined upon examination that it is
                  probable that such inability will continue for an additional
                  60 consecutive days. Executive agrees to submit to one or more
                  such examinations if reasonably requested by the Company.

                           (c) "Good Reason" means (i) failure by the Company to
                  maintain Executive in the position described in Section 2
                  (including any position to which Executive may be reassigned
                  as provided in Section 2), (ii) assignment to Executive of
                  duties materially inconsistent with his or her nominal
                  position, or the removal of the authority and responsibility
                  which is reasonably necessary for Executive to carry out his
                  or her duties in such position, (iii) relocation of
                  Executive's principal place of work to a location more than 50
                  miles from the previous location or (iv) failure by the
                  Company to provide Executive with the compensation and
                  benefits described in Section 3, in each case provided that
                  (x) within 60 days following the onset of such Good Reason
                  Executive gives written notice of his or her resignation
                  identifying the event or change constituting Good Reason and
                  (y) the Company does not alleviate the Good Reason so
                  identified within 10 days following its receipt of such notice
                  from Executive.

         5. LIMITATIONS ON SEVERANCE BENEFITS.

                  5.1 Except as provided in Section 5.2 below, the payments
and benefits to which Executive would otherwise be entitled under Section 4
of this Agreement will be reduced to the extent necessary to prevent
Executive from becoming liable for the excise tax levied on certain "excess
parachute payments" under section 4999 of the Code. If a reduction is made
under this Section 5.1, Executive will have the right to determine which
payments and benefits will be reduced.

                  5.2 The limitations of Section 5.1 will not apply if:

                           (i)      the present value, net of all federal, state
                                    and other income and excise taxes, of all
                                    payments and benefits to which Executive is
                                    entitled hereunder without such limitations,
                                    exceeds

                           (ii)     the present value, net of all federal, state
                                    and other income and excise taxes, of all
                                    payments and benefits to which Executive
                                    would be entitled hereunder if such
                                    limitations applied.

                  5.3 Determinations under this Section 5 will be made by the
firm of certified public accountants then serving as the Company's auditor
unless Executive has reasonable objections to the use of that firm, in which
case the determinations will


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be made by a comparable firm chosen by Executive after consultation with the
Company. The determinations of such firm will be binding upon the Company and
Executive.

         6. EMPLOYMENT "AT WILL". Neither this Agreement nor the Severance
Benefits to be provided to Executive hereunder shall be deemed to limit,
replace or otherwise affect the "at will" nature of Executive's employment
with the Company. Executive's employment with the Company continues to be for
an unspecified term and may be terminated at will at any time with or without
cause or notice by either the Company or Executive. This at-will relationship
cannot be changed absent an express intent as set forth in a separate and
individualized written employment contact signed by both Executive and the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

         7. WITHHOLDING. All payments required to be made by the Company to
Executive under this Agreement will be subject to the withholding of such
amounts, if any, relating to tax and other payroll deductions as may be
required by law.

         8. FEES AND EXPENSES. In the event of a termination of Executive's
employment during a Window Period, the Company will pay any and all fees and
expenses (including legal fees and other costs of arbitration or litigation)
that may be incurred by Executive in enforcing his or her rights under this
Agreement. Fees and expenses incurred by Executive in connection with his or
her execution of a Release and Waiver shall not be construed as having been
incurred in connection with the enforcement of his or her rights hereunder.

         9. NO DUTY TO MITIGATE. Severance Benefits payable under this
Agreement as a result of termination of Executive's employment will be
considered severance pay in consideration of Executive's past service and his
or her continued service from the Effective Date, and Executive's entitlement
thereto will neither be governed by any duty to mitigate his or her damages
by seeking further employment nor offset by any compensation that he or she
may receive from other employment (except to the extent expressly provided in
Section 4.2(b) herein with respect to insurance benefits).

         10. CONFIDENTIALITY AND EXCLUSIVITY. Executive agrees to maintain
the confidentiality of the Company's (and its related entities' and
projects') books, records, financial information, technical information,
business plans and/or strategies, and other confidential and/or proprietary
matters unless required to make disclosure in the performance of his or her
duties for the Company or as a result of a legal proceeding or other legally
mandated cause. The parties recognize and agree that should the Company be
required to pursue a claim against Executive under this Section 10, the
Company will likely be required to seek injunctive relief as well as damages
at law. Accordingly, Section 11, Arbitration, will not apply to any action by
the Company against Executive for violation of this Section 10. Executive
agrees for purposes of any disputes arising under this Section 10 to submit
to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

         11. ARBITRATION. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10, any
dispute or controversy between the parties involving the construction or
application of any terms,


<PAGE>

covenants or conditions of this Agreement, or any claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, that is not resolved within 20 days by the
parties will be settled by arbitration in Boston, Massachusetts, in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in
effect, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof and Executive hereby waives
any right to resolve such dispute or controversy by any other procedure,
including, without limitation, any administrative claims procedure set forth
in a benefit or similar plan, or by any other forum, including, without
limitation, any other judicial forum, the Department of Labor or the Internal
Revenue Service. The Company and Executive agree that the arbitrator(s) will
have no authority to award punitive or exemplary damages or so-called
consequential or remote damages such as damages for emotional distress. Any
decision of the arbitrator(s) will be final and binding upon the parties.
Upon request, the arbitrator(s) shall submit written findings of fact and
conclusions of law. The parties agree that the fees and costs incurred for
the arbitration shall be assessed equally to Executive and the Company and
that each party shall bear its own attorneys' fees and costs in connection
with its own representation. The parties agree and understand that they
hereby waive their rights to a jury trial of any dispute or controversy
relating to the matters specified above in this Section 11.

         12. RIGHTS OF SURVIVORS. If Executive dies after becoming entitled
to Severance Benefits under Section 4 following termination of employment but
before all such Severance Benefits have been provided, (a) all unpaid cash
amounts will be paid to the beneficiary that have been designated by
Executive in writing (the "beneficiary"), or if none, to Executive's estate,
(b) all applicable insurance coverage will be provided to Executive's family
as though Executive had continued to live, and (c) any stock options that
become exercisable under Section 4 will be exercisable by the beneficiary, or
if none, the estate.

         13. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to and be binding upon the
Company's successors and assigns and upon the Executive's heirs, executors,
legal administrators and guardians. This Agreement shall not be assignable by
Executive.

         14. SUBSIDIARIES. For purposes of this Agreement, employment by a
corporation or other entity that is controlled directly or indirectly by the
Company will be deemed to be employment by the Company. Thus, references in
the Agreement to "Company" include such corporations or other entities where
appropriate in the context.

         15. AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION; WAIVER. Except as provided in clause
(1) of Exhibit A, this Agreement may not be amended unless agreed to in
writing by Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party of any breach
of this Agreement will be deemed a waiver of a subsequent breach.

         16. SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Agreement
is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall
remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law. In
the event that any provision is unenforceable on the basis that it is
overbroad, in lieu of deletion such provision shall be deemed limited to the
extent necessary so as to render it enforceable to the maximum extent
permitted by law.


<PAGE>

         17. CONTROLLING LAW. This Agreement will be controlled and
interpreted pursuant to Massachusetts's law without regard to the conflict of
law principles thereof.

         18. SUPERSEDED AGREEMENT. This Agreement supersedes any prior or
Contemporaneous agreement or understanding, written or oral, between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         19. NOTICES. Any notices required or permitted to be sent under this
Agreement are to be delivered by hand or mailed by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, or by any recognized express courier service,
and addressed as follows:

             IF TO THE COMPANY:
             GenRad, Inc.
             7 Technology Park Drive
             Westford, MA  01886-0033
             Attn: President

             IF TO EXECUTIVE:
             Peter Miles
             5 Lansdown Close
             Cheadle Holme
             Stockport Cheshire SK8 7HU UK


         Either party may change its address for receiving notices by giving
notice to the other party.

                                      * * *


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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
as of the date first set forth above.

                                       "EXECUTIVE":

                                       ____________________________
                                       Peter Miles

                                       ____________________________
                                       Date



                                       GENRAD, INC.


                              By:      ____________________________
                                       Robert Dutkowsky,
                                       Chairman of the Board, President & CEO

                                       ____________________________
                                       Date





                                    EXHIBIT A


<PAGE>

         "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following
events:

         (1)   any Person becomes the owner of 20% or more of the Company's
               Common Stock; provided, however, that the Board of Directors
               of the Company may unilaterally amend this clause (1) to
               increase the 20% threshold to any percentage up to, but not
               exceeding, 50%; or

         (2)   individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Continuing Directors") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board; provided, however,
that any individual becoming a director after the Effective Date whose
election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors will be
deemed to be a Continuing Director, but excluding for this purpose any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an
actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11
of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Exchange Act")) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies
or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

         (3)   approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
reorganization, merger, consolidation or other transaction that will result
in the transfer of ownership of more than 50% of the Company's Common Stock;
or

         (4)   liquidation or dissolution of the Company or sale of
substantially all of the Company's assets.

         In addition, for purposes of this definition the following terms
have the meanings set forth below:

         "Common Stock" means the then outstanding Common Stock of the
Company plus, for purposes of determining the stock ownership of any Person,
the number of unissued shares of Common Stock which such Person has the right
to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
passage of time) upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants or options or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term
"Common Stock" does not include shares of preferred stock or convertible debt
or options or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock (including any
shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion or exercise
thereof) to the extent that the Board expressly so determines in any future
transaction or transactions.

                                       A-1

         A Person will be deemed to be the "owner" of any Common Stock of
which such Person would be the "beneficial owner", as such term is defined in
Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Exchange Act.


<PAGE>

         "Person" has the meaning used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act,
except that "Person" does not include (i) the Executive, an Executive Related
Party, or any group of which the Executive or Executive Related Party is a
member, or (ii) the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or an
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or of a wholly-owned
subsidiary.

         An "Executive Related Party" means any affiliate or associate of the
Executive other than the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. The terms
"affiliate" and "associate" have the meanings given in Rule 12b-2 under the
Exchange Act; the term "registrant" in the definition of "associate" means,
in this case, the Company.


                                       A-2