Suppliers Feel Pinch from Auto Industry
Workers at the Timken Co. can spin magic with bearings, crafting superb tapered bits of metal tinier than grains of sand and 9-ton sculptured steel behemoths. The friction-reducing bearings let cars, sport utility vehicles, railroad engines, space satellites, computer disk drives and even missile guidance systems function. But for all that specialized engineering, the $3.8 billion Canton manufacturer is caught in the same pythonlike economic squeeze as businesses large and small across the world: how to cut costs and do more with less, because if they don’t, someone else eventually will.
Rep. Knollenberg Introduces Bill To Fight Counterfeit Goods
U.S. Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich. 9th District) yesterday introduced legislation to strengthen the federal law used to prosecute counterfeiters whose products threaten public health, harm American manufacturers and cost jobs in the U.S. The Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act would require the mandatory destruction of equipment used to manufacture and package counterfeit goods. In addition, the proposed legislation addresses methods that counterfeiters have used to evade prosecution, such as the selling of patch sets or medallions that can later be attached to generic merchandise and given the appearance of a genuine product, as well as placing a counterfeit mark on goods not specifically listed in the trademark registration.
Activant Reports Successful Launch of New Jobber Management System Product
Activant Solutions recently launched a new Windows-based Jobber Management System (JMS) designed for small and mid-sized auto parts distributors. According to Jonathan Gear, vice president of marketing for Activant, the new JMS system can serve as a replacement for older (CCITRIAD) systems such as Series 12 or Loadstar.
MEMA President Chris Bates Resigns
MEMA chairman Scott Meyer announced today that Chris Bates, president and CEO of the association since 2001, has resigned from the organization after 16 years of service. A reason for Bates’ resignation was not provided. MEMA has formed a search committee to identify and evaluate potential successors to Bates.
Dan Daniel Talks about the Future of ArvinMeritor’s LVA Business
Dan Daniel, president of ArvinMeritor’s Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) division, shared his predictions and plans for the future of ArvinMeritor’s LVA unit during an exclusive presentation on May 11 to Babcox editors and media representatives. ArvinMeritor is an $8 billion dollar company, with $850 million in annual sales at its Light Vehicle Aftermarket division, which Daniel leads. Two-thirds of the company’s business is in North America.
DST Asks: What Information Would You Like to Capture About Your Customer Base?
“Can I have your telephone number?” That’s not just a question asked by a hopeful suitor after a chance meeting and lingering cocktails with another stranger in the night anymore. It’s now heard every time a pack of batteries is sold at any RadioShack in the country. And who said romance is dead?
MEMA Honors Sen. Alexander and Rep. Knollenberg with Joe Magliochetti Industry Champion Award
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) were recently honored as inaugural recipients of the Joseph M. Magliochetti Industry Champion Award, presented by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) on May 5. The award, which was created to honor the work of legislators helping to advance the automotive industry, was presented at a special dinner during the first MEMA Legislative and Public Policy Summit in Washington, D.C.
Two Collins & Aikman Board Members Resign
Two board members investigated internally for insider deals have resigned from auto supplier Collins & Aikman Corp. (C&A), which has lost money three years in a row, and on Thursday reported another first-quarter loss. The quarter’s red ink was slightly less than it was the same period a year ago.
Delphi Named One of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens
Delphi has been named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2004 by Business Ethics magazine. Now in its fifth year, the annual listing identifies companies among the Russell 1000 — the largest publicly traded companies — that excel at serving a variety of stakeholders. Delphi ranked 34th overall on the 2004 list.
DST Asks:Does Your Multi-Store Business Management System Capture and Consolidate Operating Information?
It’s the American way. Start your own business. Perfect your methods. Hire good people. Grow your customer base. Perfect the idea at one location, then expand by adding new locations that share the same business model. Thousands of successful retail enterprises have started in exactly this way. It’s a fundamental way to apply the principle we all learned in Economics 101 – economies of scale. Business 101 would call it leverage. Good entrepreneurs call it survival!