Collaboration — an idea often discussed at leading aftermarket industry events — could be the key to the automotive industry’s future success, according to a new report titled, “The U.S. Auto Supply Chain at a Crossroads.” The study, conducted by researchers at Case Western Reserve is part of the Driving Change consortium, led by the Labor Market Information Offices of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Researchers conducting the study said the automotive industry could follow one of two possible paths going forward: "Throughout our research, we find evidence of two possible futures for America’s automotive industry," said Susan Helper, Weatherhead School of Management Carlton Professor of Economics. ”One future is characterized by collaborative relationships between firms at all tiers of the supply chain, wherein firms share cost savings from identifying and eradicating inefficiencies that they might not have been able to address on their own." In contrast, adversarial relationships within the supply chain could impede the industry’s progress, Helper said. The study concludes by arguing that the high-road scenario has significant social benefits, and proposes public policies that would help firms realize this potential. To read more on the study, click here.
Within the supply chain this week, the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division announced that it is poised to take over Taiwan’s Unipoint Group, as well as its affiliated companies and the Unipoint and NSA brands. Unipoint produces starters, alternators, temperature control parts and wiper blades for the aftermarket. The Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division has acquired the Unipoint Group with the intention of strengthening its position as the leading supplier of starters and alternators, and also views it as an investment in the temperature control product segment. In addition, it adds another Asian production base to the wiper blade business unit. The two companies signed an agreement confirming the deal on Aug. 9. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Two significant announcements came out of the distribution segment this week as well. First, Automotive Parts Headquarters has signed on with WHI to replace its existing POS solution with PartsWatch, WHI’s On Demand Store Management System. APH will implement PartsWatch at each of its 73 corporate store locations and is recommending the same for its independent jobbers. PartsWatch Distribution Management is a turnkey solution for parts businesses looking to upgrade their system. According to WHI, the system comes complete with GUI point of sale, e-catalog, e-commerce, purchasing, inventory management, order fulfillment, pricing, automated backups, support and more.
Meanwhile, the Automotive Distribution Network announced the addition of two new Parts Plus members this week. The Network is continuing its national expansion with the recent additions of San Fernando, Calf.-based Automotive Parts Wholesale Inc. (APW) and Pittsburgh-based Industrial Engine & Supply Inc. APW joined Parts Plus to bolster its efforts as the company continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its presence in the two-step market, said Tony Nasrallah, president. For Industrial Engine & Supply, the transition to Parts Plus is an extension of the company’s philosophy of being much more than a source of supply, according to Stan Stapinski, president.
Last in our recap of the week’s top content from aftermarketNews, we feature Henry Hippert, executive sales director for Eastern Catalytic, in our AMN Executive Interview series. Eastern Manufacturing is one the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of catalytic converters to both carmakers and the aftermarket, worldwide, selling in more than 58 countries. In this exclusive AMN Executive Interview, Hippert talks about the changes taking place in the catalytic converter market, Eastern’s new product lineup, and where this product category is headed in the future.
