Visteon Names Kenneth Woodrow to Board of Directors
Kenneth Woodrow has been elected to Visteon’s board of directors. He will serve on the audit, corporate governance and nominating committees. Woodrow spent 31 years at Target Corp. (formerly Dayton-Hudson Corp.), serving as vice chairman from 1999 until his retirement in 2001.
Charting Your Supply Chain DNA — The Transformation Roadmap
What is the roadmap that successful companies follow in redefining their supply chain? Technology companies like Apple, Cisco, Dell and others are setting the trend toward faster innovation cycle times and shorter time to market. Supply chain velocity and agility are the bedrock of their competitive differentiation. As this transformation gradually cascades across industries, including automotive, implementation of the supply chain lifecycle based on the DNA building blocks we have been talking about can help companies manage these transformations effectively. The DNA building blocks represent strategies and distinguishing capabilities that have been implemented by the business-innovation leaders.
Audit on NHTSA’s Office of Defects Questions Decision to Limit Early-Warning Reporting Information to Public
An audit report released by the Office of the Inspector General regarding the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) activities related to the Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act criticized the agency’s handling of its Early-Warning Reporting (EWR) data collection system and the lack of analytical tools.
UAW Launches TV and Radio Ad Campaign in Eight Battleground States
United Auto Workers (UAW) President Ron Gettelfinger announced that UAW V-CAP, the union’s Voluntary Community Action Program, is launching a $2.3 million independent ad campaign in support of presidential candidate John Kerry. The ad campaign is being funded by UAW members’ voluntary contributions to UAW V-CAP, the union’s federal political action committee.
Pronto Presents Coni-Seal with Brand Supplier of the Year Award
The National Pronto Association has named Coni-Seal the recipient of its 2004 Pronto Brand Supplier of the Year Award. The award is presented annually in recognition of a commitment to excellence in supplying quality private-branded products to the National Pronto Association membership. The award was presented to Coni-Seal at Pronto’s recent Owner’s Conference held in Orlando, Fla.
Monro Muffler Brake Signs Agreement to Acquire Five Stores
Monro Muffler Brake has signed an agreement to acquire five retail tire stores from Donald Rice Tire Co., Inc. The stores are located in the Baltimore market and have combined sales of approximately $6.5 million. The company plans to provide further detail regarding the acquisition during its second quarter conference call on Oct. 14.
Timken Appoints Director of Automotive Strategy Development
The Timken Co. announced that Kenneth Hopkins has joined the company as director of automotive strategy development. He will report to Jacqueline Dedo, president – Automotive, and will have responsibility for developing the long-term strategy for the company’s global Automotive Group, which had 2003 net sales of $1.4 billion.
Amcast President and CEO Joseph Grewe Resigns
Joseph Grewe, president and CEO of Amcast Industrial Corp., has advised the company’s board of directors that he will be resigning from his position as an officer and director of the company, effective Nov. 1. Grewe will be rejoining his former employer, Saint-Gobain, a producer, processor and distributor of materials such as glass, ceramics, plastics and cast iron. Grewe’s responsibilities will be assumed by Byron Pond, Amcast’s board chairman and former CEO.
2004 PERA Convention Deemed a Success
With a sharp focus on business education, the Production Engine Remanufacturers Association (PERA) said its recent convention, held Sept 29-Oct.2 in California, was one of its most successful annual conventions in years.
American Axle & Manufacturing Announces Executive Appointments
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. (AAM) has this week announced several executive assignments and appointments.
Willi Berchtold Named CFO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Willi Berchtold will take over the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of ZF Friedrichshafen AG from Paul Ballmeier, who plans to retire in 2005.
Stability Control Jumping from Autos to Semis
Motive technology is always on the go. Take the rearview mirror. It made its way from the Indy 500 in the early 1900s onto every passenger vehicle made today. Now, an automotive technology is being used on semitrailer trucks. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems of Elyria, Ohio, has come up with a stability control system for 18-wheelers like those found in cars. It says the system could reduce the number of semi rollovers by 50 percent.