On Oct. 1, HDDA: Heavy Duty, a community of the Auto Care Association, pushed forward on the development of heavy-duty product data standards by announcing the launch of four additional categories to generate product attribute definitions. This brings the project’s total categories completed or in progress to nine of the initial 20.
The new categories that entered the research phase on Oct. 1 are:
- Axles – Driven, Front Steering;
- Charging System;
- Ignition System; and
- Exhaust System.
Each manufacturer participating in a product category is asked to submit the attributes of their products they currently provide to the heavy-duty supply chain, in order for their parts to be properly matched to a repair and sold. Attributes include details from brand, to measurement information, green materials labeling and other critical details a customer needs to identify the correct replacement part.
“The adoption of heavy-duty product information standards will enable the aftermarket to generate new sales opportunities,” said Sheila Andrews, director of HDDA and Heavy Duty Markets for the Auto Care Association. “Not only do product data standards facilitate the use of ecommerce, but they also empower the existing counter sales person to offer customers more options for parts purchase while arming them with more knowledge on the products available.”
While HDDA: Heavy Duty is the steward of the standards creation project, it is the independent heavy-duty aftermarket that truly owns the project, the association says. All the research necessary for the success of this project is generated by the industry, reviewed by the industry and validated by the industry. The Auto Care Association would like to recognize and extend its gratitude to all of the current volunteer companies and supporters, including:
- AP Exhaust
- Associated Equipment
- ATA/TMC
- Auto Power Corp.
- Autologue Computer Systems Inc.
- BBB Industries
- Bendix
- Bosch
- Cardone Industries
- Centric Parts
- Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network
- Continental Contitech
- Dana
- DAS Companies
- Delphi Product and Service Solutions
- Denso
- Donaldson
- Dorman Products
- DSI Solutions Inc.
- DST Systems
- Eaton
- Elring Klinger
- EPICOR
- Federal-Mogul
- FleetPride
- Gates
- Genuine Parts Co.
- Great Dane Trailers
- Great Neck Saw
- Grote
- HDA Truck Pride
- Haldex
- Hendrickson
- Holman Parts
- Karmak Corp.
- Mahle
- MANN+HUMMEL
- Meritor Inc.
- Michigan Truck Spring
- Midwest Heavy Duty
- Midwest Truck
- Midwest Wheel
- Northern Radiator
- O’Reilly Auto
- Parker Hannifin Filtration Group
- Phillips Industries
- Ranger Brake Products
- Reach Cooling
- Rush Enterprises
- SAF Holland
- SKF
- Spectra Premium
- Standard Motor Products
- Stemco
- Tenneco
- Thermal Solutions Manufacturing
- Timken
- TRP Parts
- Truck Supply of South Carolina
- UAP Heavy Vehicle Parts Division
- Velvac
- Vipar
- WABCO
- Walker Products
- Webb Wheel
- WHI/eBay
HDDA: Heavy Duty says it welcomes additional volunteers to provide input on the remaining product categories. A list of those categories and their start dates is available at the comprehensive standards resource center webpage. Volunteer companies and individuals can join the project on the site through the volunteer portal.
For additional information on the heavy-duty product data standards project, visit hdda.org or contact Sheila Andrews at [email protected].
