2005 Automotive News Pace Award Finalists Named
More than 30 automotive suppliers have been named finalists in the 11th annual Automotive News PACE Award competition. Open to suppliers that contribute products, processes, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks, the PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award is presented by Automotive News, Capgemini and Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.). Judges selected 23 finalists and 10 honorable mention awardees based on extensive written responses to the 2005 PACE Award application. Finalists will now host site visits by industry, academic and business leaders to select the winners, which will be announced in April during the Society of Automotive Engineers conference in Detroit. Judges will evaluate each company’s innovation as well as its management team.
IndustryWeek Names 2004’s 10 Best Manufacturing Facilities in North America
IndustryWeek magazine has announced the winners of its 15th annual IW Best Plants Award Program, which salutes outstanding manufacturing facilities on the leading edge of efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction and create stimulating and rewarding work environments. Among this year’s winners were several plants owned by aftermarket companies including: Collins & Aikman Plastics, Williamston Operations (Williamston, MI); Dana Corp., Perfect Circle Products, Franklin Steel Products Plant (Franklin, KY); and TRW Automotive Fowlerville Plant (Fowlerville, MI).
Universal Automotive Appoints Lisa Kusluski as Director of Supply Chain
Universal Automotive Industries has appointed Lisa Kusluski to the newly created position of director of supply chain. In this role, Kusluski will oversee the company’s purchasing department, among other responsibilities. She will report directly to Phil Zettel, vice president of supply chain and operations.
Bendix-Dana Joint Venture Completes Management Team Selection
Completing its leadership team selection, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC, a new joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Corp., announced the appointment of Bill Mossing as assistant general manager. Mossing will join Kishor Pendse, president of the new business.
BorgWarner Announces Two Executive Appointments
BorgWarner announced two new executive appointments this week. John McGill has been promoted to the newly created position of vice president, global supply chain and champion of emerging market utilization. Cynthia Niekamp will step into McGill’s previous role as president and general manager of BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems, Drivetrain Group, and vice president of BorgWarner Inc.
Lloyd ‘Buzz’ Waterhouse Resigns From Reynolds and Reynolds
Lloyd “Buzz” Waterhouse has resigned from his position as chairman, president and CEO of Reynolds and Reynolds Co. Waterhouse stated that the timing was right for him to move on and spend more time with his family. Current director Philip Odeen will become chairman and acting CEO. Odeen is former chairman of TRW, Inc. and serves as lead director on Reynolds’ board. Odeen said the company will immediately begin its search for a new, permanent CEO.
Bendix-Dana Joint Venture Officially Begins Business
As scheduled, Bendix and Dana’s joint venture — Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC — officially began business yesterday following corporate approvals from both partners. The joint venture, headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, will operate technology centers in Elyria and Kalamazoo, Mich., to produce a full portfolio of advanced wheel-end braking systems components.
Delphi Names Robert Morgan to Lean Business Processes
Delphi Corp. has named Robert Morgan as executive-in-charge of lean business processes, effective July 1. He will report to Donald Runkle, Delphi’s vice chairman and chief technology officer.
MEMA Elects New Chairman and Officers; Delphi’s Alan Dawes to Serve as 2004-2005 MEMA Chairman
Alan Dawes, vice chairman and CFO of Delphi Corp., has been elected 2004-2005 chairman of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Board of Directors. Outgoing MEMA Chairman Scott Meyer, who stepped down as president of Ken-Tool, was named MEMA president until a permanent president and CEO is found. As a result, Ronald Cutler, TRW Automotive, will continue to serve on the board as past chairman.
Universal Automotive Appoints Two New Managers
Universal Automotive Industries has appointed Larry Newman and Arnold Slutsky to managerial positions at the company’s Autospecialty division. Newman joins Autospecialty’s Undercar Products Group as sales team program group manager. Slutsky has been named purchasing manager at Autospecialty’s Supply Chain division, based in Alsip, Ill.