British Columbia Safety Council to Sell SmarTire Products
The British Columbia Safety Council (BCSC), an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing injuries and accidents, has agreed to act as a reseller of SmartTire Systems’ advanced tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). The BCSC will sell and promote the entire family of SmarTire products for buses, RVs, commercial vehicles and automobiles as part of its various fleet and corporate driver training courses.
Executive Interview with Tom Ward, President, Snap-on Diagnostics
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Tom Ward, president of Snap-on Diagnostics, a global business focused on improving technician and workshop productivity around the world. Join us as Ward gives us an inside look at Snap-on Diagnostics, including information on some recently launched products. Ward also talks about the trends and challenges in automotive diagnostics and repair and how the division works to address these issues.
Herman Trend Alert: Education Will Be the Competitive Edge
More Americans are complaining that their jobs are going to foreign nationals. Indignantly, they point to American companies giving preference to citizens of other countries — the work to be performed in the U.S. or in some other country. The accusations charge that the employers are choosing the foreign alternative to save money, that the foreigners will work more cheaply than Americans. Our research has uncovered a much different situation.
NASCAR Targets Younger Fans Through Cartoons
With its influence and popularity growing stronger everyday, NASCAR is now looking to create a new audience of younger fans. NASCAR has teamed up with the Cartoon Network to develop the ‘NASCARtoon Racing’ brand, a customized on-air and online campaign sponsored by Kellogg’s. The new brand is designed to engage young fans through the familiarity of their favorite Cartoon Network characters.
BorgWarner Breaks Ground for New World Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.
BorgWarner has broken ground for its new world headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. In September 2003, the powertrain supplier announced that it would relocate its corporate headquarters from Chicago to metro Detroit in order to maintain closer connections with the company’s global customers and suppliers, as well as maximize opportunities for collaboration with the BorgWarner Powertrain Technical Center, which is also located in Auburn Hills.
Tech Camp Sparks Career Ideas
Gustave Sexauer won’t be old enough to take his driver’s license test for a few more years, but he already owns a truck and has been working on it with his father. Sexauer got to work with college automotive instructors during the 2004 Tech Camp held recently at Western Wisconsin Technology College (WWTC) in La Crosse, Wis. Students took turns helping to change oil, inflate tires and solder. Sexauer, who will be a seventh-grader this fall, had one reason for attending the event. “I want to be a mechanic when I grow up,” he said.
DST Asks: How Do you Make Strategic Business Decisions
There are almost as many sources of reference for making strategic business decisions as there are choices for planning and securing your future. Our respondents to last week’s question were in agreement that it takes collaborative efforts to design and implement a corporate roadmap, including internal management, consultants, observing and copying competitors’ strategies, industry journals and publications and technology supplier partnerships.
Rising Auto Recalls Eat Profits
General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and two other U.S. carmakers have in six months exceeded the vehicle recalls for last year, reducing profit. GM recalled 7.92 million cars and light trucks as of July 2, and said repair costs had helped cut first-quarter profit in North America by 18 percent. Toyota recalled 367,000 Highlander sport-utility vehicles, surpassing last year’s total by 74 percent. DaimlerChryslerAG’s Chrysler and Honda Motor Co. also are ahead of 2003.
MACS Distributes 40,000 Educational Brochures on Professional Mobile A/C Service and Repair
Since introducing its new Professional A/C Service and Repair educational brochure last year, the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide (MACS) said it has distributed 40,000 copies of the brochure. The result of a collaboration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and MACS, the brochure has been distributed through MACS member shops, association and corporate partners and through individual inquiries generated by media reports.
DST Asks: How Do You Plan to Stay Competitive?
Daniel H. Burnham, the 19th century architect and city planner who designed the first skyscraper and conceived the master plans for Chicago and other great cities was quoted as once saying, “Make no little plans, for they have no magic to stir men’s blood. Make big plans, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die.” Trying to follow Mr. Burnham’s advice to make big plans can easily be precluded by the focus needed for just handling day-to-day activities, as described in another saying that goes something like, “When you’re up to your neck in alligators, it’s hard to remember that your original objective was to drain the swamp.”