MIDLAND, MI -- By September, school is in session all over North America and for the University of the Aftermarket. The University will be offering three educational opportunities during the month of September.

First, "Using Balanced Scorecards to Achieve Business Strategy and Deliver Results" will be presented by Julie Diehl, Mike Davidson and Ryan Senter of Alvarez & Marsal, a global professional services firm, on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in cooperation with AAIA's Aftermarket Financial Symposium. This program will focus on defining the balanced scorecard; how organizations are successfully using balance scorecards to manage their business; and helping participants think about how a balanced scorecard could impact their organization. The seminar includes hands-on activities to help attendees get started in developing the balanced scorecard for their own organization. To sign up, please go to univaftmkt.org/courses/G536.htm.

The University's second seminar will be "Aftermarket Overview" presented on Tuesday & Wednesday September 27 & 28, 2005 - hosted by Federal-Mogul Corporation in Southfield (Detroit), MI. The key objective of this course is to provide an industry overview and a "real world" perspective of the issues that impact a warehouse distributor, jobber, retailer and service dealer. Whereas this course has been a U of A staple for years, this year's edition will be significantly revised with new presenters such as Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA; Mike Lambert, Aftermarket Distribution Network and Ted Wise, O'Reilly Auto Parts.

This course will feature discussion of aftermarket distribution channels, critical aspects of the WD-jobber-service dealer relationship, as well as WD and retailer relationships. To register, please go to univaftmkt.org/courses/G539.htm.

The third University course will be "Industry Standards for Aftermarket eCommerce" held on September 27 - 28, 2005 - hosted by Delphi Automotive Systems in Troy, MI. This comprehensive program will give participants a complete orientation and provide basic implementation skills for the industry standards for electronic catalog (ACES) and product information (PIES). Added content will explain and demonstrate the industry standard for Internet Parts Ordering (IPO) and the PARTnerShip Network communication software.

The first day discussion will relate to components of the AAIA Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES), the fundamentals of Internet Partners Ordering (IPO), as well as provide a detailed explanation of AAIA vehicle-and-parts type database structures. The second day will focus on the presentation of Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) components & business practices. Participants will have the option of attending either day or both days. To sign up, please go to univaftmkt.org/courses/G508_2005.htm.

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