Great Britain’s Automotive Aftermarket Holds Potential for U.S. Suppliers
Recent changes in market access regulations and similarities between consumers in the U.K. and U.S. make the $24 billion automotive aftermarket in Great Britain a potential sweet spot for U.S. suppliers.
Hankook Premiers New Corporate Identity Program
Hankook Tire Co. unveiled a new corporate identity program during a recent presentation at its headquarters in Seoul, Korea. The new look is the latest in a series of strategic moves to build the company’s global image as a leading manufacturer and marketer of tires.
Lord Corp. Opens New Michigan Facility
Lord Corp. — which makes specialty adhesives, polyurethane coatings as well as electronic, vibration and noise control solutions for the automotive market — has expanded its Detroit area facility in an effort to better serve the automotive market. Located on 4.8 acres in Wixom, Mich., the newly constructed 19,020-square-foot facility houses the company’s automotive sales office and includes a 7,736-square-foot high-technology formulation and testing laboratory, automotive aftermarket training classroom, and a garage for hands-on automotive application training.
Final Deadline for AASA Top Suppliers List — Friday, March 5
The final deadline to submit information for the 2004 Top Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers List is quickly approaching. Information for this free listing must be submitted by Friday, March 5. Published by Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the aftermarket segment of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), and produced by Babcox Publications, this multi-page, full-color publication will be distributed with the May issue of Counterman magazine, which reaches more than 50,000 automotive aftermarket parts distribution professionals every month.
AMN Perspectives by Thomas Group: Experience at Work
In our last article we raised the issue of conflicting department strategies without really addressing it. Let’s do that now. As an example, what happens when finance drives for lower inventory levels to minimize working capital costs, sales and marketing promises customers more inventory to improve service, and production plans long manufacturing runs with low flexibility to maximize favorable variances? The results will not be pretty.
WIX Filters and Joe Gibbs Racing Create New Cabin Filtration System
WIX Filters has teamed up with the engineers and staff at Joe Gibbs Racing to create a new cabin air filtration system designed to protects drivers’ respiratory systems from particulate matter, like dust, soot and rubber; noxious fumes, gas and oil vapors, and most importantly, carbon monoxide. WIX Filters currently holds the U.S. patent application for the filtration system on file with the U.S. Patent Office. WIX has entered an agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing to manufacture and sell these U.S. Patent Pending air filtration system units to other race teams, making this technology and protection available to the entire racing community.
Cooper Tire Puts on its Game Face
The official tire of six NCAA conferences, Cooper Tire & Rubber is taking an experimental approach to building regional brand awareness through a series of pre-game and on-court interactive promotions at upcoming NCAA basketball games. “We’re aiming to activate our corporate partnerships by pushing our involvement past simple signage, and enhancing our consumer’s sports experience,” said Pat Brown, vice president of advertising and communications at Cooper Tire.
U.S. Faces Decline in Engineers As Student Programs Grow Overseas
The United States faces a shortage of engineers in coming years, and that could diminish the nation’s status as a leader in technology development and innovation, executives and educators say. The looming shortage comes as nations, including China and India, are seeing a boom in the number of students in engineering programs. Assuming the trend continues, it could result in the U.S. continuing to lose technology jobs to overseas competition.
Executive Interview with Jim Taylor, CEO of Thomas Group
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Jim Taylor, CEO of the Thomas Group. Taylor joined the Thomas Group in 2001 as vice president and CFO. From 1997 to 2001, Taylor served as president of the Chancellor Group, a Dallas, Texas, management consulting firm, where he assisted companies in restructuring, raising funds and completing initial public offerings. Join us as Taylor tells us more about the Thomas Group culture and how it works for its clients.
Two Major Tiremakers Join U.S. EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership
Two major tiremakers — Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) and Michelin North America — have joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership, a national partnership to help reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions from ground freight transportation.