From Counterman.com: Just Ask!
As the saying goes, “There are no stupid questions.” It’s time parts pros start asking questions when faced with warranty situations. No matter how ridiculous the inquiry may seem, it could save a lot of hassle.
Interview with Jim Micali, Chairman and CEO, Michelin North America
Possibly the quietest, one of the most accomplished and certainly one of the most respected heads of a major tire company, Jim Micali has also had one of the longest careers, having first joined what is now Michelin North America (MNA) some 30 years ago as a staff attorney. Micali worked his way up through a number of assignments, including two stints in France, before becoming chairman and president in 1996. This past December, Micali sat down with our sister publication, Tire Review magazine, to discuss legacy and raw material costs and their impact on North American tire manufacturing and competition, and how MNA is tackling these key issues.
Executive Interview with Dennis Welvaert, President, North American Aftermarket Division, Dayco Products, LLC, A Division of Mark IV Industries
While in Las Vegas, aftermarketNews.com sat down with Dayco’s Dennis Welvaert to discuss the current state of aftermarket brands and the increasing competition from OE parts and service.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Talks about Protecting Against Software Piracy
Thanks to increased legislative and media attention, the issue of counterfeiting has been pushed to the forefront of the American business’ consciousness. Blamed for the loss of billions of dollars every year, product counterfeiting is estimated to cause about $12 billion in lost sales annually for American automotive suppliers. Within the aftermarket, counterfeiting isn’t limited only to trademark violations or manufacture of knock-off parts. It also includes the illegal copying or ‘pirating’ of software, a primary business for a number of companies in the aftermarket. For this week’s “Ask the Industry,” we spoke with several companies that develop software solutions for the automotive aftermarket to find out how they protect against software piracy.
Bush Signs the ‘Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act’
President George Bush yesterday signed into law the “Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act,” attended by representatives of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and other industry groups. The bill was introduced by Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) at the beginning of the 109th Congress with the support of MEMA and other industry associations that helped craft the bill and worked for its passage. It passed in the House on March 7 and the Senate on Feb. 15.
NASTF Considers Formal Organizational Structure
Last week, the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), and a number of parties associated with the group, met for a conference call to discuss the possibility of moving forward with one of two different proposals for creating a more formalized, permanent structure for the task force.
AAIA Establishes New Segment for Independents
In response to appeals from its members calling for a national platform to represent the exclusive interests of independent vehicle service and repair businesses, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) has created the new Independent Service Providers segment to operate within the association.
ASA and NADA Push for National Restrictions on Sale of Auto Paint
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) are joining together to push for a national rule to enforce point of sale restrictions on refinish paint products. The joint action comes in the form of a letter to Environmental Protection Specialist Kim Teal, who is responsible for the design of new EPA regulations that are due to be implemented just a few years from now. Teal’s mission is to reduce harmful emissions from the entire automotive refinish industry and is now formulating the draft rules which will decide how those reductions are to be made. Kim Teal will make a presentation at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Executive Interview: From Education to Enforcement: MEMA’s Brand Protection Council and its Role in the Fight Against Counterfeiting
It’s hardly been two years since MEMA first sent out feelers to its members, looking for any interest in forming a council to look more closely at issues relating to counterfeiting and intellectual property rights violations.Several members of the council took time to talk with aftermarketNews.com about their own experiences protecting their companies’ brands against IPR violations and counterfeiting.
Congress Passes STOP Anti-Counterfeiting Act
The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed H.R. 32, the “Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act.” The bill was introduced by Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) at the beginning of the 109th Congress with the support of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its members who helped craft the legislation and garner support for the resolution. Attention now turns to the Senate Judiciary Committee to act.