THE WEEK IN REVIEW (August 14-18, 2006) 
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ASSOCIATION & LEGISLATIVE NEWS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Updates Made to NASTF OEM Service Information Website
NASTF recently added updated information to its OEM Service Websites page. According to NASTF, three notable changes have occurred within the listings: Acura and Honda have significantly reduced their annual subscription rates; Audi and Volkswagen have adopted 72-hour, monthly, and annual subscription rates in conjunction with their recently launched updated OEM service websites; and Kia’s access is now free of charge.
AAIA Releases 2006 AWDA Financial Analysis
Maximum Marketing Services Continues Sponsorship of the Car Care Council Women’s Board
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COLLISION REPAIR NEWS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Keystone Automotive Names New Director of Quality Assurance
Keystone Automotive Industries has announced the addition of a new director of quality assurance to its staff. Steve Barker will join the rest of Keystone’s quality assurance team at the company’s Manufacturing and Quality Assurance headquarters located in Grand Rapids, MI. Reporting to Vice President Carl Hartman, Barker has been charged with the responsibility of enhancing the level of quality, fit and finish, with the goal of providing perfect parts to customers, every time.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEWS:
Olympus Chooses Activant’s Cover-to-Cover eCatalog Technology to Help Drive Growth
Washington, D.C.-based automotive parts distributor Olympus Imported Parts is the latest to adopt Activant’s Cover-to-Cover graphical eCatalog technology, according to the company. Olympus, which operates four warehouses serving more than 2,500 automotive service accounts across Northern Virginia, has been a longtime user of the Activant Ultimate business operating system and PartExpert eCatalog. According to Olympus Vice President Bill Guinard, the company invested in Cover-to-Cover to help its 32 counter professionals optimize customer satisfaction through fast, error-free service.
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Herman Trend Alert: Consumer Driven Health Care — A Confusing Opportunity
The issue of rising healthcare costs is second only to employee retention in the list of challenges facing employers today. Thus, it is no surprise that employers are looking for all kinds of ways to make employees responsible for a larger share of healthcare costs. Enter: Consumer Driven Health Care.
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PARTS & ACCESSORY NEWS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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SKF Launches Two New Technical e-Newsletters
SKF now offers technical e-newsletters as part of its Pole Position program for automotive technicians and its Heavy Duty Pit Crew program for fleet technicians. The new e-newsletters provide automotive and fleet technicians with the industry’s latest technical tips, failure analysis data and product information.
World Source One Now Offers Free 24-Month Roadside Assistance
MPA Announces Increased Credit Facility
Judge Delays Delphi Hearing on Labor Pacts; Parties Given Another Month for Talks
Johnson Controls, European Firm Continue Study of Lithium-ion Energy for Autos
Bosal Introduces New Free Lifetime Warranty Program
Visteon Closes on European and U.S. Financing
Tenneco Expands Monroe Quick-Strut Line
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PERSONNEL NEWS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
DENSO Sales California Names New VP
DENSO Sales California (DSCA) has named Kazu Yanagawa vice president of DSCA’s Materials Control Group effective Aug. 1. Yanagawa oversees the Materials Operation, Inventory Control, Procurement, Logistics and Kaizen (continuous improvement) departments.
Freudenberg-NOK Names Batchik Vice President of Quality
Penray Names Jeff Webb Regional Sales Manager
Delphi Names New Chief Accounting Officer
TIRE & WHEEL NEWS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Weld Wheel Files for Bankruptcy
According to a news report from the Kansas City Star, Weld Wheel Industries, a Kansas City maker of high-performance automotive wheels, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The report said the 21-year-old, family-owned business lost $1.1 million in the first six months of this year on net sales of $21.8 million. The bankruptcy petition did not provide details on Weld Wheel’s debts, but said that the company has total assets of $31.6 million.
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TRUCK FLEET NEWS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Clevite Engine Parts Introduces New Heavy Duty e-Learning Program
Clevite Engine Parts recently added a heavy-duty curriculum to its e-learning system. The e-learning system is available 24 hours a day and accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. After completing a short registration, users are assigned a password and given a selection of courses from which to choose.
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AMN CLASSIFIEDS
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