MIDLAND, Mich. – Launched less than one year ago, the National Catalog Managers Association’s (NCMA) Automotive Catalog Professional (ACP) designation program is off to a strong start, with the first class of participants expected to graduate in 2012, according to the association. The ACP program is administered through the University of the Aftermarket.
 
University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank, MAAP, highlighted the program’s early success in a general session presentation during last week’s NCMA Knowledge Exchange Conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. Cruickshank and the NCMA board collaborated in the development of the program to recognize NCMA members who are committed to professional development and who exemplify cataloging best practices.
 
“We’ve had strong participation in this program from the very start,” Cruickshank said. “NCMA members clearly understand that the ACP designation helps enhance the prestige of one of the most important functional areas within any aftermarket manufacturing or distribution enterprise.”
 
ACP program requirements include a minimum of three years of aftermarket experience, participation in NCMA programs, a research paper covering a catalog-related topic of particular interest to the participant and completion of University and NCMA coursework.

Among the required program courses are the online ACES and PIES standards clinics available through the University of the Aftermarket’s “On-Demand” online course catalog at www.universityoftheaftermarket.com.
 
“The ACP program is hitting its stride at a time when excellence in cataloging and data management has become a key competitive differentiator for aftermarket suppliers and distributors,” said NCMA President Mark Richardson, MAAP. “It is incumbent upon our members to help move the industry forward in the information age, and this will require a commitment to continuous learning.”
 
For more information regarding the ACP designation program, visit www.universityoftheaftermarket.com or call 1-800-551-2882.