Equipment and Tool Institute Appoints Three to Leadership Positions
The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) board of directors has appointed three members to leadership positions. Mike Cable, vice president, OEM sales, at Hickok, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, has accepted the position of Underhood Technology Group (UTG) chairman. The UTG deals with the diagnostics related to the vehicle’s drive-train and power driven subsystems.
Leadership for Change — Cross-Functional Collaboration and Breakthrough Thinking
Last time we talked about the role of change leadership in aligning resources and setting expectations on the magnitude and pace of change. Today we want to talk more about cross-functional collaboration and breakthrough thinking.
G8 Encourages More Remanufacturing
At the recent G8 Summit Meeting held in Savannah, Ga., on June 8-10, 2004, the leaders of the eight industrialized countries announced their commitment to remanufacturing.
SEMA Sets Fall Dates for Installer Certification Tests
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) will hold its fall test session for Z1-Z4 accessory installation certification on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in more than 700 locations around the United States and Canada, as well as elsewhere outside the United States. All tests begin at 7 p.m. Registration for the tests closes Wednesday, Sept. 22.
Johnson Controls to Expand Vehicle Component Plant in China
Since entering China’s emerging automotive market in 1997, vehicle-interior supplier Johnson Controls has invested millions of dollars, opened 12 facilities and won sourcing contracts for dozens of cars and trucks. Now, it’s gearing up for more growth with an $8 million expansion of a seat-component production plant near Shanghai.
Pep Boys Remodels Stores, Adds New Brands and Product Categories
Yesterday, Pep Boys celebrated grand re-openings at five newly remodeled stores in Jacksonville, Fla. The re-openings — which featured special retail and service promotions, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, remote radio broadcasts and a market-wide sweepstakes promotion — are part of a major “retail renewal” initiative that the company has undertaken.
ThyssenKrupp Budd Appoints Wollenhaupt Chassis Stamping & Systems President
ThyssenKrupp Budd has appointed Kai-Uwe Wollenhaupt as president of the company’s Chassis Stamping and Systems Sector. In this role, Wollenhaupt will be responsible for chassis frame component operations in Hopkinsville, Ky., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and a new plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, as well as chassis module production facilities in Columbia, Tenn., Fowlerville, Mich., and London, Ontario.
Leadership for Change — Aligning Resources and Setting Expectations
In this series on change leadership, we’ve talked so far about creating a vision, identifying key initiatives, and limiting active initiatives to a manageable number. Another critical task for leadership is to make sure that functional departments are aligned with active initiatives.
DST Asks: Parts Distributors — Do Your Customers Order Parts Online?
Help Wanted – Parts Counterman, Requirements: Must be willing to work 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. Understands and has committed to memory a world-class multi-line parts catalog. Always knows correct pricing of each item. Processes parts orders in nanoseconds. Never puts customers on hold. Works for electricity – no salary or extra benefits. Any bets on how many responses you’ll get to that classified ad? Selling auto parts would be a lot easier and less costly if you could make those kinds of hires. Actually, it turns out that such resources are available today, just not human resources, the kind we would advertise for in the local paper. Instead, we might call them “cyber-employees” – a new species that forms the backbone of e-business and works in the world of browser-based technology on the Internet.
Honeywell CPG Launches New Line of Cap and Thermostat Products
Honeywell Consumer Products Group (CPG) has taken steps to increase its role as a “one-stop shop” for its customers with its introduction into the cap and thermostat market through its FRAM and Prestone brands. Honeywell CPG now offers a complete line of value, mid-grade and premium thermostat and cap products. CSK and Murray’s will begin rolling out the new line this month.