Page 50 - MetalForming April 2013
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Auto-Parts Suppliers
Jeff Clark, president and CEO of Waukesha Metal Products, Sus- sex, WI, concurs. “From a value perspective, attending the APSC meeting offers a unique opportunity to interact and exchange information with others from the industry,” he says. Clark and several of his company’s managers have attended the meeting regularly since 2001, and notes that “over the past several years, the APSC meeting has become our pri- mary source for forecast data. And, we have gained important insights into other concerns, such as warranty items and contracts. Learning what others are seeing in the industry allows us to plan ahead and take timely actions, rather than sitting back and reacting to changing market conditions.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had an original idea,” adds Zawac- ki, “merely modifications of what other people are doing. And that’s the real value of attending the APSC meeting and other PMA events—networking and learning from others. For example, a few years ago we were struggling to collect receiv- ables from one of the OEMs. When I discussed this with another supplier at the APSC meeting, I learned of a contact at the OEM with whom I had not yet worked. I made contact with this person immediately following the meeting and we worked through the problem shortly thereafter.”
Agenda—a Winning Formula
This year’s 20th Anniversary Automtoive Parts Supplier Council meeting convenes at the Sheraton Detroit Novi in Novi, MI. The meeting kicks off Tuesday, April 30, at 12:00 p.m. with the Women in Automotive Luncheon, which includes a panel discussion moderated by Laurie Harbour, Harbour Results. On the agenda: The critical issues affecting women in the automotive-market sector.
At 2:30 p.m., attention turns to the topics of Supply Contracts amid Rising Volumes and Prosperity. Speaker Dan Sharkey, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco PLLC, will discuss how com- panies can proactively protect their businesses against volume volatility, capacity constraints and raw-material shortages.
Following a brief break, the Supplier Best Practices Panel convenes, under the direction of moderator Craig Fitzgerald. The lively panel discussion with three prominent PMA auto- motive supplying members will address best practices, sup- plier relations and other related topics. The evening’s cock- tail reception follows, hosted by Plex Systems.
Here’s the agenda for Wednesday, May 1.
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MetalForming/April 2013
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7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
Continental breakfast in exhibit hall
Tier One Automotive Forecast
Dave Andrea, OESA
North American Automotive Industry Outlook
Michael Robinet, IHS Automotive
Robinet will deliver an auto-industry forecast for 2013 and beyond. Topics include forecasts on global sales, production and capacity; future vehicle program intelligence; platform/system consolidation and flexibility trends; OEM/component manufacturer strate- gies; and vehicle sourcing/logistics trends.
