Update: Reorganization at DENSO Sales California
Yesterday, DENSO Sales California, Inc. announced that Richard Shiozaki had been appointed vice president of aftermarket sales and corporate services. Shiozaki’s promotion was part of a reorganization at DENSO Sales California that also included a move for Peter Klotz, who had been serving as vice president of the sales group. Klotz is now serving as vice president of the aftermarket planning group, according to the company.
USWA Files Complaint Against Continental Tire North America
The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) filed a formal complaint July 19 with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Continental Tire North America (CTNA) claiming its plan to end production at its Mayfield, Ky., plant “is illegal and should be halted by the federal government.”
Gentex to Break Ground on New Facility
Gentex Corp. will break ground on its new technology center and manufacturing facility on Monday, August 2. The new facility will nearly double Gentex’s mirror manufacturing capacity and provide office, meeting and testing space for its engineering and research & development teams. The company estimates that it will add more than 600 jobs over the next five years, as a result of the expansion.
Nominations Requested for 2004 Automotive Leader of the Year
The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) is seeking nominations for its 46th annual Automotive Leader of the Year Award. This prestigious award was established in 1959 to honor and recognize individual contributions to the motor vehicle aftermarket. The 2003 award was presented to Richard Morgan, president and CEO of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. The 2004 award will be presented on Sunday, Oct. 31, at the Opening General Session during the 2004 Annual AWDA-AAIA Business/Education Conference at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.
NABC to Raise $50,000 for SkillsUSA
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) said it intends to raise $50,000 for SkillsUSA, a national organization serving more than 264,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled and service occupations.
NABC to Raise $50,000 for SkillsUSA
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) said it intends to raise $50,000 for SkillsUSA, a national organization serving more than 264,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled and service occupations.
Visteon Reports Improved Second Quarter Earnings
Visteon Corp. reported second quarter 2004 net income of $31 million, or 24 cents per share. These results are an improvement of $198 million, or $1.57 per share, compared to a net loss of $167 million, or $1.33 per share, in the second quarter 2003. Second quarter results include after-tax special charges of $3 million in 2004 and $170 million in 2003.
Installer or Technician — What Are You?
“He thinks I’m working on parts. I’m working on concepts.” I recently came across this sentence in the book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” Unfortunately, this sentence describes the mentality of some elements in the aftermarket. It really got me thinking about an incident that happened to me earlier in the week. I was talking to a person involved in the aftermarket and he kept using the word “installer” to describe shops and technicians. Personally, I find the word “installer” to be very offensive. It does not describe the full role of the professional automotive technician in the aftermarket. It reduces technicians to merely “parts swappers” and not diagnosticians.
Today is the Deadline for AWDA One-on-One WD Registrations
Today is the official deadline for warehouse distributors (WD) participating in the AWDA-AAIA Business/Education Conference to submit one-on-one meeting requests to the AAIA/AWDA headquarters. WD meeting requests will be compiled in the coming days and preliminary schedules sent to member manufacturers along with complete conference registration materials. Manufacturers will then have until Aug. 27 to request meetings with WDs. The final, consolidated one-on-one meeting schedules will be mailed in mid-September.
Portals Help Manufacturers Predict Delays in Material Shipments
It’s 10 o’clock on Sunday night — do you know where your raw materials, parts, components and sub-assemblies are? That shipment of motors from Taiwan? The load of automotive frame parts bound for the Port of Oakland that you’ll need a week from Thursday on a just-in-time basis? How about those disk drives and capacitors your materials chief ordered from a new supplier in China for your finished-goods assembly plant? Chances are, if yours are among the billions of dollars worth of goods crossing the Pacific Ocean — or any ocean, for that matter — you’re not sure where your cargo is.
SPX Service Solutions Acquires Actron Manufacturing
SPX Corp. announced today that it has acquired the assets of Cleveland, Ohio-based Actron Manufacturing Co. Actron produces automotive test equipment and instrumentation under the Actron, KAL-EQUIP and Faze brand names, among others. The company has annual revenues of approximately $35 million.
DENSO Sales California Names New VP
Richard Shiozaki has been appointed vice president of aftermarket sales and corporate services for DENSO Sales California, Inc., the $500 million affiliate of DENSO Corp. Shiozaki, who formerly served as senior manager of the aftermarket sales group, assumes new responsibilities for corporate services from Mark Jonas, who retired in June.