SAE to Honor Delphi’s Battenberg
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Foundation will honor Delphi Chairman, President and CEO J.T. Battenberg III with the Manufacturing Leadership Award at a dinner at Ford Field on Wednesday, May 12. The theme of the 2004 banquet is “Manufacturing Leadership for the Future: Celebrating the Year of the Supplier.” More than 20 automotive supplier companies will be recognized for innovative achievements across multiple categories.
Making Better Business Decisions
Last time we talked about how a cross-functional management framework, driving business improvement at the process level, can dramatically accelerate the pace of performance-enhancing change. This week we’ll talk about how that same cross-functional management framework can improve the quality of business decisions on a day-to-day basis.
DST Users’ Group Announces Spring Conference Agenda
The Directors of the DST Users’ Group have announced the agenda for its upcoming three-day Group Conference, to be held May 12-14, at the Laguna Hills, Calif., Holiday Inn, located near DST’s corporate headquarters. The conference will focus on common goals of DSTWare users, networking, training, product direction and best practices, as well as break-out discussion groups. Topics will include warehouse management, bar coding, replenishment, querying, creative extracting and reporting ideas, cataloging, sales management, and Internet-based parts ordering.
Executive Interview with Kathleen Schmatz, President and CEO of AAIA
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Kathleen Schmatz, President and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Schmatz became president and CEO of AAIA on Jan. 1, 2004. She had served as executive vice president of the association since January 2002. In addition to filling us in on her first few months at her new post, Schmatz shared with aftermarketNews.com updates on AAIA’s merger with AWDA, Right to Repair legislation and the Be Car Care Award Campaign.
Ontario to Pay to Attract Auto Plants
With automakers bypassing Ontario and choosing instead to build plants in the U.S. and Mexico, the Ontario government plans to spend $500 million Canadian (about $372 million US) over the next five years to entice automakers to invest in the province.
AutoZone Completes Acquisition of Eastern Parts Store Chain
Yesterday, AutoZone announced it had completed the purchase of selected assets of the Eastern U.S. auto parts chain, ABC Discount Auto Parts. ABC had been a long-time member of the RPM Group. The acquisition of ABC furthers AutoZone plans to develop market areas through asset acquisitions where the company currently is under-penetrated. ABC Discount Auto Parts operated 17 stores and one distribution center in Southern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The company, previously owned by Lou and Carla Fishman, was headquartered in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Mark Armstrong to Retire From Cooper Tire & Rubber
Cooper Tire & Rubber Vice President Mark Armstrong has announced his retirement after 26 years with the company. Armstrong started out as a territory manager for Cooper in the Eastern Region. He subsequently served in numerous positions in sales and marketing until his most recent promotion to executive vice president of the Tire Group, responsible for sales and marketing for global tire operations.
Automotive Suppliers Support Frink as Manufacturing Secretary
MEMA and its members have voiced their support for the nomination of Al Frink as the first Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services. Frink, 61, co-founded the California-based carpet maker Fabrica International in 1974.
MEMA Names New Executive Director of Association Management Division
Brent Hazelett has been promoted to executive director of Management Services Group (MSG), the association management division of MEMA. He has served as the executive director of the Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC) since May 1998, and will continue to serve in that capacity as well.
ArvinMeritor’s Bill Overmyer Named Advance Auto Parts’ Sales Rep of the Year
Bill Overmyer, national accounts sales manager for ArvinMeritor’s Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) group, has earned Advance Auto Parts’ Advance Factory Direct Representative Award. The award recognizes the achievements of a veteran sales professional who best supports Advance Auto Parts’ marketing, training, customer service and merchandising initiatives. Overmyer was presented with the award at the auto parts chain’s recent annual Leadership Conference.