Herman Trend Alert: Transnational Job Movement
Many Americans are upset about the migration of jobs to countries like India and China. While the perception is that a huge proportion of jobs is permanently leaving the U.S., the reality seems to be considerably different.
CARQUEST’s Pete Kornafel Talks About His New Book on Inventory Management
Pete Kornafel, vice chairman of CARQUEST, recently wrote and published “Inventory Management and Purchasing — Tales and Techniques from the Automotive Aftermarket,” a practical guide to inventory management for wholesale distributors and stores that supply “hard goods.” Kornafel took some time last week to speak with aftermarketNews.com about the inspiration for his new book.
CARQUEST Vice Chairman Kornafel Authors Book on Inventory Management
CARQUEST Auto Parts Vice Chairman Pete Kornafel knows inventory management. As owner and president of a successful automotive parts distributor (Hatch Grinding Co.) for more than 25 years, Kornafel could write the book on inventory management — and so he did. Kornafel recently wrote and published “Inventory Management and Purchasing — Tales and Techniques from the Automotive Aftermarket.” All proceeds from the book, which is on sale now, will help fund automotive scholarships through the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium Scholarship fund or one of the four automotive scholarships that Kornafel and his wife have established.
Process Management Framework
Two articles back we talked about the role of the process owner. This person is a critical leader and driver of change, but can’t make it happen alone. Operational innovation in the process enterprise can produce significant performance improvement, but it requires close teamwork across multiple departments to achieve its full potential. Today’s article looks at the cross-functional infrastructure necessary to support the process owner in driving change.
Herman Trend Alert: Where the Jobs Are (Or Will Be)
One of the major problems faced by employers in the U.S. and in other countries is a shortage of skilled workers. Employers are struggling to find thousands of qualified Heating and Air Conditioning engineers, specialized computer programmers, imaging technicians, pharmacists, hotel clerks and even housekeepers. These jobs exist now, not just in some future scenario.
USA Industries Hosts Visit With President George W. Bush
President George W. Bush stopped by Bay Shore, N.Y.-based USA Industries on March 11 as part of his initiative to address job growth in the U.S. USA Industries President and Owner Vincent Trapani greeted President Bush with a brief factory tour. While there, the president held a discussion about job creation and the economy. Approximately 700 people attended the event, including 200 USA Industries employees and their family members, customers, sales reps, service partners, as well as national and local press. New York State Governor George Pataki and several other federal, state and local political figures were also in attendance.
Process Performance Metrics
In the previous two installments, we discussed the process enterprise and how it is created in an organization. Last issue in particular, we identified that one of the key roles of the process owner is to identify important dimensions of process performance and establish appropriate measures. This week we’ll talk about key differences between traditional measures of performance and the new measures needed in a process enterprise.
Motorists Want More Safety Features, Less Frill, Research Finds
Automotive manufacturers, while pushing hi-tech frills, are not meeting customers’ needs for safety related features, according to consumer opinion research.
Automotive Exterior Market Expected to Grow
The automotive exterior market is expected to grow by more than 10 percent by 2009, according to a report from consulting firm CSM Worldwide. The automotive exterior market is expected to grow by more than 10 percent by 2009, according to a report from consulting firm CSM Worldwide.
High-tech is Giving Drivers Another Set of Eyes on Highways
Advances in automotive technology are giving drivers another set of eyes. There is parking assistance that backs a car into a parking space, miniature cameras that help a driver see at night and in blinding sunlight, detection devices that sound an alert when a driver crosses into a lane without activating the turn signal or starts to get too close to a pedestrian.
Defining Your Process Model
In our last article we identified seven critical attributes of the process enterprise. Starting today, we’ll spend several weeks exploring some of the practical issues involved in bringing these key attributes to your own organization.
White House Ready to Name Manufacturing Czar
The Bush administration is likely to name Anthony Raimondo, chairman and CEO of Behlen Manufacturing Co. in Columbus, Neb., as its manufacturing czar as early as today, reports Reuters. One of his chief functions will be to help recover some 2.5 million manufacturing jobs lost since early 2001.