Automotive Suppliers Brought Down New Jobs in July
A disappointing employment report from the Department of Commerce last week caught Wall Street off guard and sent stock prices tumbling for the second day in a row. The unemployment rate edged down slightly to 5.5 percent in July, from 5.6 percent in June, but the bad news came in the area of job creation. Only 32,000 new jobs were added in July; economists had been expecting more than 200,000.
Charting Your Supply Chain DNA
How do you develop an integrated operating system that can simultaneously improve working capital, enhance revenue and margin, and improve order-to-delivery speed and predictability? One innovative approach is to select and configure a unique blend of capabilities and strategies, or “supply chain DNA,” across the dimensions of process, information, cash and organization. Over the coming weeks we’ll present a multi-part roadmap to executing that approach-and in the process, achieving all three benefits at once.
Hoon Chung Named President and CEO of DST
Former Activant Automotive Group executive Hoon Chung has been named president and CEO of DST Inc. Company founder Ray Stover was named chairman and vice president of business development. Stover said the entire DST family is energized by the appointment of Chung as president and CEO. “Hoon exemplifies the growing trend in the aftermarket to recruit the best of the best in supply chain management expertise to chart the course for an industry in vital need of next generation solutions,” said Stover.
CARDONE Industries Launches New Online Parts Catalog
CARDONE Industries recently launched its new CARDONE WebCat online catalog. The CARDONE WebCat utilizes self-filtering searches designed to eliminate the dead ends that can occur while searching the web for auto parts. Users can browse the catalog by application, product line or part number to find the appropriate parts. CARDONE has launched WebCat as a free service for all users following the successful unveiling to direct customers of a version of CARDONE WebCat that contains more robust capabilities.
Five States Home to One-Third of Independent Repair Shops, Auto Parts Stores, Says AAIA
The five largest U.S. states comprise one-third of all U.S. independent repair shops and automotive retail establishments, according to new data reported in the “2004/2005 Aftermarket Factbook,” which is published by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois also dominate the U.S. motorist population, with more than one-third of all licensed drivers.
Ride Your Hog and Save a Dog
The third annual NASCAR Caf
Automobile Club of Southern California Signs Multi-Year Sponsorship of Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has signed an agreement to become the presenting sponsor of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif., according to museum officials. The Auto Club sponsorship includes a specially designated Automobile Club of Southern California area inside the Museum that will feature a permanent display of historic racing memorabilia. As part of the deal, the Auto Club will also remain presenting sponsor of the annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield.
NACE 2004 to Offer Continuing Education Courses for Claims Professionals
This year, the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) educational conference will include an Insurance Track with sessions designed specifically for today’s claims professional, including continuing education credit opportunities. NACE is scheduled to take place Nov. 3-6, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas.
NABC Sets Record Pace for Pride Award Nominations
Nominations for the National Auto Body Council’s Pride Award are being received in record numbers, according to Stacy Bartnik, NABC’s Pride Committee Chairman. Nominations for the National Auto Body Council’s Pride Award are being received in record numbers, according to Stacy Bartnik, NABC’s Pride Committee Chairman. The Pride Awards are bestowed at the Industry Night of Achievement during NACE week.
Speedco Truck Lube to Sell Goodyear Truck Tires
Speedco Inc., a leading national on-highway truck lube provider, has announced it will begin selling Goodyear truck tires at its stores nationwide. In addition to its current offering of services, Speedco recently expanded its services to include selling new and retreaded tires and offering tire service at its 32 stores over the next two years. The company has already begun offering the new tire services at Speedco stores in Atlanta, Ga.; Amarillo and El Paso, Texas.
Visteon Village Opens in Michigan
A corporate headquarters is often chilly, remote and austere. Visteon Corp.’s new home is more like a friendly village square, and that’s by design. Visteon Village, as the auto-parts supplier calls its new corporate center in Van Buren Township,Mich., is modeled after a small town, with human-scale buildings that cluster together, and an array of attractions from shops to a waterfront promenade to make life more pleasant for employees.
Gentex Uses Foreign Sales To Boost U.S. Market
At a time when so much focus is on job losses to overseas markets, Gentex Corp. is growing business and jobs at home on the strength of sales to foreign automakers in Asia and Europe. Gentex’s sale of auto-dimming automotive mirrors to foreign-based automakers has surpassed sales to customers in North America during 2004. Overseas shipments accounted for slightly more than half of mirror sales during the first six months of the year and 51.6 percent of the 3 million mirrors shipped during the second quarter alone.