Suppliers: Page 41
-
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Days’ Supply Dilemma
Let's face it, there are lots of ways you can mess up your parts business. One is by establishing a days' supply for inventory based strictly on an industry guide or some other arbitrary level. I've spoken to many parts managers who operate fine with low days' supply. Yet, they complain about pressure from the auto maker to get their supply of parts up to the manufacturer's guidelines. I've also had
By GARY J. NAPLES • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Visteon Seeks Court Permission to Pay Critical Suppliers
Ford’s largest parts maker says it owes its critical suppliers $33.9 million, including $15.4 million in interim relief, and that failure to pay could “stop operations or halt production lines altogether.”
By Tom Murphy • May 28, 2009 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Toyota
TrendlineAutomotive Manufacturing
Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.
By WardsAuto staff -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
All-Wheel-Drive Suppliers Get Grip on Changing Market
In the U.S., all-wheel-drive systems traditionally have been more widely available on imports than domestic models.
By Byron Pope • April 27, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Some European Auto Makers, Suppliers See Opportunity in Economic Crisis
“We get more help from dealers and have better relations with suppliers than we would if the industry (were) in normal times,” says niche car maker cofounder Cesar Theodore.
By William Diem • March 10, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Makers, Suppliers Gear Up to Make Small Cars Safer
The risk of dying in a crash in one of the smallest 4-door cars is about twice as high as in the largest 4-door car.
By Drew Winter • Feb. 27, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mexico’s Auto Industry Weathers Tumultuous 2008
Despite the global economic slowdown, auto maker and supplier investment in the region came fast and furious last year.
By Byron Pope • Feb. 10, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Denso May Suffer First Loss in U.S.
When the going gets tough, the Japanese turn to kaizen. The principle of continuous improvement has been rooting out inefficiency in Japanese plants for years, but the philosophy gains importance as supplier Denso Corp. faces the prospect of losing money in the challenged U.S. market for the first time on an annual basis. Denso's fiscal year ends March 31, and the supplier has downgraded its earnings
By Tom Murphy • Feb. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
NASA Vendor Sky High on Li-ion Batteries for Autos
Yardney Technical joins a crowded field, as suppliers, some of which have banded together, race to design Li-ion batteries that will satisfy the rigors of an automotive application.
By Eric Mayne • Jan. 9, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Bosch VMS: Networking for Maximum Driver Support
The supplier’s Vehicle Motion and Safety initiative supports the driver and improves dynamic performance by networking active safety, comfort and agility systems.
By Mike Sutton • Nov. 3, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Eagle Ottawa Seeks Hold on Market
It Hardly Would Seem Necessary for a 140-year-old company to introduce itself to the world, but given its new strategy, that's the irony of leather supplier Eagle Ottawa LLC. A typically modest company despite its industry-best 20% market share and a presence on more than 100 vehicle programs worldwide, Eagle Ottawa steps center stage recently with Interauto 2008 to trumpet a more vertically integrated
By James M. Amend • Nov. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Composite Can Replace Steel, Suppliers Say
Earlier versions of the IXIS composite were used in GM and Hyundai concept cars.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 22, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dana Sees Greatest Opportunity Overseas, Seeks Expansion Into Russia
Important gains lie in the “mundane and very unsexy” business of systematic process improvements, CEO Gary Convis says.
By James M. Amend • Aug. 13, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Don’t Look to India, China for Bailout, Suppliers Warned
More than 50% of those interviewed say “strict labor laws” that favor workers is a key obstacle in their decisions to keep their distance from North American suppliers.
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 5, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Continental AG’s New Display System Does Double Duty
Continental AG is introducing an in-car system that lets a driver look at one image and a front-seat passenger look at another on the same screen, at the same time and without either person seeing what the other is viewing. That way, the driver can see driving-related information, such as a navigation map, on the full screen while the passenger enjoys a DVD movie or other video entertainment that
By Steve Finlay • Aug. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Small-Car Demand Explodes
The dramatic market shift in past months away from large SUVs and trucks to small cars has caught many auto makers and suppliers off guard. It's raising concerns over whether there is enough capacity in place near-term to meet demand. In fact, one industry insider requesting anonymity, speculated that June sales could come in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of just 13.0 million units as a result
By Byron Pope and Diane Elnick • July 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ross Counts on IAC to ‘Make the Cut’
“Most of our suppliers would no longer exist unless we let them raise prices. I believe other Tier 1s are in a similar position,” says Wilbur Ross, who formed International Automotive Components in 2005.
By Tom Murphy • June 6, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Drivers Facing Information Overload, Suppliers Warn
Safety is compromised because modern motorists feel compelled to tap into every available in-vehicle stimulus while driving, a JCI executive says.
By Steve Finlay • June 5, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Used Cars to the Rescue in Oklahoma
John Zapp, a dealership general manager in Oklahoma City, says pushing pre-owned vehicles has raised his profit per unit to seven times more than that on new cars. When the need to escalate used-car sales arose, Zapp reconfigured his inventory by unloading slow sellers more quickly and cutting the supply from 200 to 100 days on the more attractive models. Volume is what matters, says Zapp whose Group
By Mac Gordon • May 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
UAW Ratifies Contract at Magna Plant
Locals 624 and 2149, which represent 2,500 workers, approved the new pact at the New Process Gear plant in Syracuse, NY, by a wide margin.
By Ward's Staff • Feb. 22, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Valeo Opens New North American HQ
Valeo SA has moved its North American headquarters from Auburn Hills, MI, to nearby Troy and plans a grand opening for spring, Valeo Chairman and CEO Thierry Morin tells journalists during the North American International Auto Show. Making the move were some 200 employees working in research and development, marketing, finance, human resources and sales. The old building in Auburn Hills was not appropriate
By Tom Murphy • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BorgWarner Refining DCT Technology
With dual-clutch transmissions gaining traction as viable means to improve vehicle efficiency, emissions, drivability and performance, DCT-pioneer BorgWarner Inc. is forging ahead with plans for next-generation systems targeting new markets and a wider array of applications. At full launch of all future contracts, production of the supplier's DualTronic DCT systems is expected to jump 500% from current
By Mike Sutton • Jan. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
3M Brandishes Automotive Light Saber
Darth Vader had the light saber; 3M Automotive has the Precision Lighting Element (PLE). Both devices produce a soft but bright shaft of white light, but 3M's product wasn't dreamed up in a Hollywood studio and it doesn't buzz like a beehive, either. The St. Paul, MN, supplier of all things adhesive is diversifying its portfolio, and the PLE is part of a corporate initiative to push innovation deeper
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 1, 2007 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Leoni to Add Valeo Wire-Harness Unit to Growing Portfolio
The German company will be the biggest supplier of wiring in Europe, with more than 24% of the market. Worldwide, it will hold a 9% share.
By William Diem • Nov. 7, 2007 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Continental, Microsoft Target Automotive Telematics
Sync is just the first offering resulting from the collaboration between the two global companies.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 4, 2007 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Frame By Frame
As the market for fullsize pickups and SUVs goes, so goes the fortunes of suppliers manufacturing the crucial metallic skeleton that contributes so much to the ride, handling and hauling capability of these large utilitarian vehicles. Manufacturing and shipping these massive structures is neither easy nor cheap, but doing it profitably is an even greater challenge. For proof, note that two of the
By Tom Murphy • Sept. 1, 2007
Previous
