Collaboration: We All Know What the Word Means, But Are We Doing it?
While he admits the word is a bit overused in our industry, Scott Luckett, chair of the 2004 Aftermarket eForum conference, told the crowd of more than 350 attendees at this year’s eforum that “More than anything else, this conference is about collaboration.”
Delphi Opens New Facilities in Korea and Tokyo
Delphi Corp. officially opened its second technical center in Korea this week.
eBay Sells Increasingly More Used Cars
Automotive experts laughed when eBay began selling used cars online, but by 9 a.m. every day, eBay sells more cars than a dealership sells in a year. The Detroit Free Press reported Monday eBay sells a sports utility vehicle every nine minutes, while a Ford Mustang sells every 40 minutes.
AASA, University of the Aftermarket Develop Supply Chain Management Program
The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) has joined with the University of the Aftermarket to develop and promote a new supply chain management certification program. Aftermarket executives now can earn automotive aftermarket professional (AAP) or master AAP certification through the University of the Aftermarket. The supply chain management program is designed for aftermarket professionals involved in sales forecasting, purchasing, procurement, transportation, logistics, warehousing, production and materials control.
Herman Trend Alert: The Shift has Begun
We have been forecasting the shift from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market in labor. Our message has been very clear that the past few years were only a pause in the demand for top talent and that the employment market would tighten up again. The shift to a seller’s market has begun.
Auto Industry Conference to Help Participants Navigate the Future of the Industry
A perfect storm is brewing for global automakers and suppliers, but those who lead, manage and influence the industry have the knowledge and capabilities for navigating the troubled waters ahead. They’ll share their insights in early August in the Traverse City, Mich. area at the Management Briefing Seminars — the automotive industry’s premier conference event.
Volvo Trucks to Increase Production at Dublin, Va., Plant
Volvo Trucks North America will again ramp up production in August at its Dublin truck plant, and could hire as many as 300 new workers.
DST Asks: How Do You View the Industry and Your Career?
Every automobile in every dealer’s showroom in America displays an EPA fuel economy ratings sticker. The ratings are estimates developed by the automakers after testing a limited number of pre-production vehicles. The EPA then verifies the results on roughly 10 to 15 percent of the vehicles produced for that year. The tests, repeated the same way each time in a controlled environment, are the same for all autos and are supposed to simulate city and highway driving conditions. They can’t – and don’t – reflect the conditions under which every vehicle is driven; nor do they reflect the maintenance condition, type of fuel used, or – perhaps most importantly-the variety of driving styles that we all see everyday on the streets. What do mileage ratings and driving styles have to do with your aftermarket career? Plenty.
AAIA Factbook: U.S. Motor Vehicle Aftermarket Increased 3 Percent in 2003
The size of the U.S. motor vehicle aftermarket grew by 3 percent in 2003 to $244.6 billion, according to AAIA’s recently published 2004/2005 Aftermarket Factbook. The recovering U.S. economy increased the pace of consolidation in the aftermarket after three years of declines in acquisitions, according to the Factbook. A total of 48 reported mergers and acquisitions occurred among aftermarket businesses in 2003, an increase of 9 percent from 2002.
Aftermarket eForum Early-Bird Registration Deadline Extended
The Early Bird registration deadline for the Aftermarket eForum, which will take place on Monday, Aug. 2, through Wednesday, Aug. 4 in Chicago has been extended to Wednesday, June 30. The eForum agenda includes presentations on data warehousing, product data synchronization; e-commerce for small business; modern shop technology; paperless warehouse operation, forecasting and inventory planning, plus much more.