Behr America Expands Production at Dayton, Ohio, Facility
Behr America has completed the first phase of a multi-million-dollar expansion plan in Dayton, Ohio, which has the company taking full ownership of Behr Dayton Thermal Products. Previously, Behr Dayton Thermal Products was co-owned by Behr America and DaimlerChrysler Corp., a joint venture that lasted two years. Behr America, a subsidiary of German company Behr GmbH & Co. KG, supplies engine-cooling and air-conditioning systems to the automotive industry.
Executive Interview with Eric Sills, Director of Headquarter Operations, Standard Motor Products
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Eric Sills, director of headquarter operations at Standard Motor Products. It’s been just about one year since Standard acquired Dana’s Engine Management division. Join us as Sills brings us up to speed on the integration, and shares some of Standard’s goals and plans for the coming years.
Lear Plans to Close Auburn Hills, Mich., Plant
Multibillion-dollar auto interiors supplier Lear Corp. said Thursday that it plans to close its Auburn Hills, Mich., plant by mid-June, a move that will put the factory’s 305 hourly employees out of work. The Auburn Hills plant makes seats for the Buick LeSabre and Buick Park Avenue sedans, which are built at General Motors Corp.’s Orion Township plant.
DST Unveils FleetCross Cross Reference Integration
DST Inc., a technology provider to the parts and service supply chain, has integrated its DSTWare inventory management system with the FleetCross cross-referencing tool. The integration between FleetCross and DSTWare will provide a single system that goes from the beginning of the repair process all the way through to the point of inventory control and purchasing.
Ninth Annual GAAS Kicked Off in Chicago
While the theme of this year’s Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) — Leaner, Faster, Better — may connote the automated efficiency of a well-run machine, the true focus of the day’s numerous presentations was on the talented pool of people who make up that machine and how to make better use of them. “The core of any great business is the people,” said GAAS founder and chairman Mort Schwartz, who welcomed approximately 400 aftermarket executives to the event.
O’Reilly Automotive Selects Evant Enterprise Information Management
Evant, a provider of multi-channel planning and advanced replenishment solutions, announced today that O’Reilly Automotive Inc. is in the process of deploying Evant Enterprise Information Management (EIM) to serve as the platform for its enterprise data registry and data synchronization initiatives with key suppliers.
“DST Asks: Do You Get Everything You Need from Your Current Computer System?
We’re going to go out on limb and make the assumption that the goal of your business is to make a profit by acquiring customers, selling and servicing them, and retaining them for generating future revenue. If this is not the goal of your business, there’s no need to read further in this week’s column – although if that’s the case, we would love to hear what actually is the goal of your business.
DST Asks: What Topics Would You Like to Read About?
Right now, today, perhaps no other industry is as poised and ready to transform itself as the automotive aftermarket parts and service industry to leverage technology usage to dramatically enhance productivity and boost bottom-line performance. That’s why we took the opportunity, after publishing three months worth of weekly columns, to ask our readers what they would like us to discuss in the next three months. The responses were interesting and thought provoking. Here’s a general recap of what we’ve covered so far and, based upon your feedback, topics for the near future.
DST Asks: Have You Explored the Benefits of Formless Printing Technology?
Many firms throughout the supply chain have discovered the benefits and enormous payback of investing in formless printing technology (formless printing eliminates the requirement for costly preprinted forms, such as invoices). Have you explored the potential ROI benefits that formless printing could provide your business within months of implementation? Have you further explored the potential benefits of direct electronic communication of formed documents via e-mail or e-fax?
DST Asks: Do You Sell from Inventory Locations that are Not Your Own or Are You Making Plans To?
The old maxim “You can’t sell from an empty shelf” has become outdated. Why? Because technology can ensure that shelves are never bare, at least from the customer’s standpoint, with the advent of the Virtual Inventory Network (VIN) — a term coined by DST to encompass B2B, B2C, and Peer-to-Peer e-commerce. A VIN, also sometimes referred to as a Virtual Sales Network, can provide leverage and cohesiveness of shared inventory across multiple trading partners both up and down and across the supply chain.