Advance Auto, O'Reilly, CARQUEST to Discuss 'Turning on the Data Spigot' at MIS Council Fall Conference

Advance Auto, O’Reilly, CARQUEST to Discuss ‘Turning on the Data Spigot’ at MIS Council Fall Conference

Panelists will include: Scott Luckett, vice president technology standards & solutions, AAIA (moderator), Eugene Cheng, director, content management and strategy -- e-commerce, Advance Auto Parts; John Christie, vice president of e-service-business marketing division, CARQUEST; and Mike Williams, vice president of advanced technology, O'Reilly Auto Parts.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Representatives from Advance Auto Parts, CARQUEST Auto Parts and O’Reilly Auto Parts will discuss how to simplify and quicken the flow of data from suppliers to channel partners, in a presentation titled, “Turning on the Data Spigot,” at the 2009 MEMA Information Services Council Fall Conference. The conference is slated for Sunday, Oct. 11, through Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Marco Island, Fla.

Panelists will include: Scott Luckett, vice president technology standards & solutions, AAIA (moderator), Eugene Cheng, director, content management and strategy — e-commerce, Advance Auto Parts; John Christie, vice president of e-service-business marketing division, CARQUEST; and Mike Williams, vice president of advanced technology, O’Reilly Auto Parts.

Automotive aftermarket professionals who utilize technology are urged to attend the MEMA Information Services Council Annual Fall Conference. This includes those whose responsibilities involve customer service, business support, e-commerce, information services, cataloging, forecasting and supply chain.

“The MIS Council Fall Conference is the only face-to-face forum for technology professionals this year,” noted Chris Gardner, MIS Council group executive and vice president, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). “At this year’s event, aftermarket manufacturers can collaborate on standards and industry initiatives, explore current technology and industry trends, and create open dialogue about innovative ways e-commerce and information technology can impact the aftermarket supply chain.”

Also during the conference, Brad Duncan, CEO of MindQuest, will discuss the new supplier-driven OptiCat e-catalog application that features the Do It Once (DIO) approach to preparation and delivery of critical data.

Other conference highlights will include:
• Keynote Address: The Strength of the Heavy Duty Aftermarket – Tim Kraus, President and COO, Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA)
• MIS Council update – new council vision, mission, name; council activities
• Microsoft SharePoint Server
• S&OP – improving supplier profitability
• Vendor Walks – sponsor demonstrations at their booths
• Collaborative forecasting
• Compliance: eDiscovery
• New approaches to the returns management process
• Business tracks – business process automation, business intelligence

The first registration for MIS Council member companies is free, and additional employees can attend at a discounted rate. Participants can earn 1.5 CEUs through the University of the Aftermarket.

The conference sponsors to date are Activant, ANX eBusiness Corp., Autologue Computer Systems, Corcentric, Edgenet, Experian Automotive, GCommerce, MAM Software, OptiCat, Pricedex Software, R.L. Polk & Co. and Show Me The Parts.

More details, the conference agenda and registration information are available on the Fall Conference page of the MIS Council Web site, www.miscouncil.org.