Commentary

Modules: Not Ready for Prime Time Few suppliers have acquired the skills to manage modular projects It seems that virtually every supplier is concerned about the impact the Internet will have on how they conduct business with the OEMs. At the same time, only the top Tier 1 suppliers are giving serious consideration to another change that will also have a significant impact on how suppliers will interact

By JOHN W. HENKE • Feb. 1, 2001

... But the UAW’s not buying

UAW President Stephen P. Yokich, who used to head the unions' GM Dept., says he can work with Mr. Smith, but he has harsh words for J.T. Battenberg III, Delphi's president. The UAW struck two key Delphi brake plants in Dayton, OH, during March for 17 days, effectively closing down GM. The strike reportedly cost GM $900 million in lost production, but suppliers in late June say they've already made

Dec. 21, 2000

Explore the Trendline➔

Automotive Manufacturing

Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.

By WardsAuto staff

Dow dives into polypropylene

Dow Plastics, one of the auto industry's largest plastics suppliers, announces it intends to become a major global supplier of polypropylene (PP). Its strategy includes global supply agreements with Montell Polyolefins, licensing agreements and new plant construction. Analysts say the move makes sense because PP is one of the fastest growing segments of the plastics industry. It also helps round out

Dec. 21, 2000

Steel customer satisfaction

Jacobson & Associates, a Rochester, NY, steel industry consulting company, has just released an independent study of how steel customers view their suppliers. The 763-page report contains detailed performance results for the 50 largest steel suppliers in the U.S. and Canada. Ratings are based on more than 1,300 steel purchaser interviews, and include 11 product categories and all major steel markets,

Dec. 21, 2000

‘It’s very scary out there...’

While the Lears buy the Maslands, the Varitys team with the Lucases and the Bosches bulk up on AlliedSignal's brake business, the world understandably can look somewhat frightening to those second- and third-tier suppliers making such mundane products as screws and nuts and gaskets.After all, there are only so many ways to mold a gasket or forge a nut."It's very scary out there," says Joseph E. Young,

By Gardner, Greg • Dec. 21, 2000

Eaton eyes $10 billion by 2000

CLEVELAND -- Already ranked among the world's largest automotive suppliers, Eaton Corp. is pursuing a global growth strategy aimed at boosting annual revenues from last year's record $6.8 billion to $10 billion by 2000.Stephen R. Hardis, who took over as chairman and chief executive officer in January after serving as vice chairman and chief financial officer since 1986, says the targeted growth will

By David C. Smith • Dec. 21, 2000

Suppliers are the target: UAW drive to focus on outside parts workers

When Stephen P. Yokich opened United Auto Workers contract talks in June, he said his goal was to improve pay and conditions--not just for Big Three workers themselves, but also for workers in outside parts factories.In fact, in private meetings with auto executives, he lists the treatment of parts workers as one of the union's three top bargaining priorities for 1996, right up there with secure jobs

By Lippert, John • Dec. 21, 2000

Mexico beckons: NAFTA, recession give foreign suppliers the edge

NAFTA is working, and perhaps nobody knows that better than automotive suppliers doing business in Mexico.How well it's working is highlighted by the severe recession that hit Mexico in 1995 and nearly devastated its auto industry. Without the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), it's difficult to imagine how the industry would have survived. On the other hand, the recession accelerated the

By Ferris, Deebe • Dec. 21, 2000

Magnetic Pulse Welding Nears Launch

Dana Corp.'s magnetic pulse welding process, which could cut significant weight from vehicle frames, will be ready for production in 18 months.Magnetic pulse welding makes it possible to join dissimilar metals such as steel and aluminum by way of a super-tight molecular bond. The process requires no heat or welding wire and minimizes scrap.Dana highlighted the technology at the recent opening of its

By Tom Murphy • Dec. 1, 2000

Covisint Question Tough to Answer

It was the question everyone wanted answered. And no one could answer it. In fact, it caused a bit of tension on the dais on the final day of the Traverse City conference.Just how much money will a Tier 1 supplier save once Covisint is fully operational? Host David Cole posed the question to perhaps the only people in the industry capable of estimating the savings anticipated for the Internet exchange

By Tom Murphy • Sept. 1, 2000

Visteon slims down before spin-off

In a move that sets up its spinoff, Visteon Corp. commits to a joint venture with Pilkington plc, the London-based glassmaker. The No.1 supplier of automotive safety glass, Pilkington will assume majority ownership and manage operations, controlling 81% of Visteon's glass business. For Pilkington, the move expands its share in the U.S. market. For Visteon, the joint venture is seen as trimming the

By WARD'S AUTO WORLD STAFF • July 1, 2000

Tier 1 suppliers join Covisint

Supplier reaction to Covisint remains mixed because suppliers aren't receiving an equity stake in the e-commerce company formed by the Big Three, Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Still, heavy hitters Delphi Automotive Systems, Lear Corp., Johnson Controls Automotive, Federal-Mogul Corp., Magna International Inc., Meritor Automotive and Yazaki North America Inc. have all signed on. Covisint hopes

By WARD'S AUTO WORLD STAFF • July 1, 2000

Master of the Supply Chain

He's been well-known in Detroit for years as the most innovative and respected purchasing chief the industry has ever known. But now, thanks to the messy acquisition of Chrysler Corp. by Daimler-Benz - and the most talked-about business book of the year, Thomas T. Stallkamp is reaching a new level of notoriety.Rising briefly to the position of president of the new DaimlerChrysler AG, Mr. Stallkamp

By Drew Winter and David E. Zoia • July 1, 2000

HERE’S HOW TO CONTROL DAYS’ SUPPLY

As a "pseudo-economist," I watch the economic indicators, listen to Mr. Greenspan, Bloomberg, etc. and try to figure out how all of this information overload relates to the automobile business.My latest concern is the meeting of the Federal Reserve Board where an increase of one-half percent in the Federal Funds Rate was announced.If my information and concern is correct, the Prime Rate will be 9.5%.

By Tony Noland • June 1, 2000

Suppliers Say 42-Volts Starts Next Year

Yes, it's been discussed, and for some time everyone's agreed that future personal vehicles will be laden with electronic components and features that suck power far in excess of today's 12-volt vehicle electrical systems.But it seems like it's been discussed for a long, long time. Now Siemens AG and Mannesmann VDO AG, to name just two of the suppliers planning a heavy presence in the new age of vehicle

By Bob Brooks and Bill Visnic • May 1, 2000

No matter where you are, BASF is there with Quality Performance Plastics,Technical Service and Reliable Supply

BASF Plastic Materials is committed to meeting the automotive industry's global needs for reliable supply of quality performance plastics and state-of-the-art technical service. We are building our global resins manufacturing capacities, expanding our technical resources and developing innovative solutions for the needs of the automotive industry.GLOBAL CAPACITIES If your needs call for styrenic copolymers,

By WARD'S AUTO WORLD STAFF • May 1, 2000

Goodbye Woody, Hello Joe

May 1 wasn't just another day in the life of Southwood (Woody) J. Morcott. For the first time in 37 years he no longer reported to Dana Corp., where he started his business career as an assistant director of corporate relations in 1963, rising quickly through the ranks to president and CEO and COO in 1989 and chairman as well in 1990.Last year he relinquished the CEO post to President Joseph M. Magliochetti,

By David C. Smith • May 1, 2000

Drive Tek JV Pushes Drivetrain Outsourcing

Dana Corp. and GKN Automotive have formed a joint-venture company to provide complete drivetrain "service" for OEMs. The new venture, Drive Tek Ltd. of Auburn Hills, MI, wants to be a full-service supplier and "partner" to OEMs.Company executives say Drive Tek will design and/or provide driveline systems integration for all manner of passenger vehicles, selecting best-in-class suppliers for components

By Bill Visnic • April 1, 2000

Thrifty wants to sign up more dealers

What does a car rental company do with its older vehicles when it turns over the fleets?Thrifty Inc. has come up with a novel approach. The company is franchising its name under Thrifty Car Sales, and signing up dealers. Their supply of used cars would partially come from Thrifty Car Rental fleet turnovers.Thrifty dealers would get 15-20% of their inventory from Thrifty Car Rental, which buys about

By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2000

Tech & Trends: Robo-Clamp: Dana’s Hydroforming Answer

When Magna International Inc. landed a major contract to produce frames for the GMT800 full-size pickups and sport/utility vehicles (SUVs) from General Motors Corp., it was a crushing blow for Dana Corp., which had supplied frames for the previous-generation CK pickups for 10 years.Dana lost the contract, as did Tower Automotive on the SUVs, partly because Magna had a valuable weapon in its technology

By Tom Murphy • Jan. 1, 2000

Pipeline: A Well-Kept Secret

Joseph Borruso is a man with a mission. Actually, a few missions.A few months ago, the Brooklyn, NY, native left Robert Bosch Corp., a massive global supplier with a name recognized around the world, to work for a company that is virtually unknown in North America.Hella KG Hueck & Co. of Lippstadt, Germany, known in Europe for its expertise in automotive lighting, is celebrating its 100th anniversary

By Tom Murphy • Dec. 1, 1999

Smart Tires--Look for new sidewall torsion sensors in an ‘02 model

Continental AG plans to consummate the marriage of tires and technology early next decade with the debut of its "intelligent tire," the first technology to determine the longitudinal and lateral forces acting on a tire - and translate that information into meaningful vehicle-dynamics enhancement.The Frankfurt, Germany-based company says its sidewall torsion (SWT) sensor, the primary component of the

By Brian Corbett • Nov. 1, 1999

Human resource for hire

What if you could offer your employees large corporation-style benefits, protect yourself from lawsuits, receive guidance in all government compliance issues - and not have to hire even one more employee to run your human resources and legal departments?In an age when a growing number of business functions are being outsourced to independent service suppliers, it should come as no surprise that administration

By Fred Bonnie • Aug. 1, 1999

‘It’s Not All Bad News’--But it’s not all encouraging, says Magna chief

HAMILTON, Ont. - Canadian supplier executives may have wanted a pep talk of sorts from Don Walker, president and chief executive of Magna International Inc., the nation's largest partsmaker.It could have been, well, a speech about how great it is to be part of the thriving North American auto industry and how things are so good that both suppliers and automakers from the U.S. have been tapping Canada

By Tom Murphy • June 1, 1999

Building The Gentle Air BagSuppliers refine technology to avoid minor injuries

Once upon a time motorists praised air bags for saving their lives in a crash. Now they expect air bags to save their lives, and if they suffer a minor burn or scrape during deployment, they sue. Although lawsuits involving relatively minor injuries from air bags are becoming common, a recent $64 million class-action judgment against DaimlerChrysler Corp. for an incident that caused minor burns on

By Drew Winter • April 1, 1999