Management Briefing Seminars

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Management Briefing Seminars

Toyota Will Look to Georgetown to Train Mississippi Workers
Aug 20, 2008 9:36 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
The site of Camry Hybrid production in the U.S. will be the “mother plant” for the auto maker’s newest assembly facility, which will build the Prius in 2010.

Struggling Suppliers Require Patience From Private-Equity Owners
Aug 18, 2008 1:35 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Ford’s Tony Brown asks private-equity owners of struggling suppliers to be patient, while urging all auto makers to continue efforts to source from minority- and women-owned suppliers.

Race for Chevy Volt Battery Contract Nearing Finish Line
Aug 18, 2008 1:01 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Derek Stark
No matter which one wins the bid, the auto maker wants to make sure products from both suppliers end up in its technology portfolio.

MBS Draws Big Crowd on Friday
Aug 15, 2008 2:43 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
MBS veterans say they can’t ever recall standing-room only attendance during the confab’s final half-day.

Toyota North America Earning More Fuel-Cell Responsibility
Aug 15, 2008 2:13 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Toyota has been working on fuel-cell vehicles since 2001 in North America, says Justin Ward, advanced powertrain program manager-advanced technology vehicles, for the Toyota Technical Center.

Private Equity Vital to Auto Suppliers
Aug 15, 2008 2:07 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
An estimated 35% of the U.S. supplier base is involved in some way with private equity, and that may go to 50% in the future, says Scott Merlis of Ducker Advisory.

Ford Names Seven More Suppliers to ABF Network
Aug 15, 2008 1:06 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
The program spells out business practices designed to increase future collaboration, including phased-in, up-front payment of engineering and development costs.

U.S. Needs Advanced Battery Manufacturing Strategy
Aug 14, 2008 6:40 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
USCAR is underwriting lithium-ion research in collaboration with the Department of Energy, but a strategy to make the batteries and related systems in the U.S. has yet to jell.

Brain Drain Threatens Auto Industry
Aug 14, 2008 6:19 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Retirements, alone, are expected to cull 20% to 30% of auto maker senior executive ranks within the next five years and 40% to 50% of executives within the next decade.

Chrysler Continues to Attract Talent
Aug 14, 2008 6:08 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
The influx of resumes is at the highest level in five years, the auto maker’s human resources manager says.

Consumer Practicality, Mass Hybridization Hallmarks of 2020 Market, IBM Study Predicts
Aug 14, 2008 5:53 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Concerns about environmental sustainability are quelling passion for the automobile.

Reporter’s Notebook: Hair, Helicopters and Squirrels. Is this the MBS?
Aug 14, 2008 5:48 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward’s Staff
Ward’s writers pass along the buzz at this week’s 2008 Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.

Industry Strives to Strike Balance Between Shared and Intellectual Property
Aug 14, 2008 5:28 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
The American Iron and Steel Institute says its developments normally are available to the industry for general use. “We give it to everyone in the industry, not just our members.”

IAC Moves Up Value Stream to Control Costs
Aug 14, 2008 5:01 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
IAC’s earth-elements initiative entails a process known as plastics compounding, where the engineering characteristics of less-expensive polymer resins are enhanced by adding mineral fillers and other special additives.

GM Tweaks Production-Model Chevy Volt to Improve Aerodynamics
Aug 14, 2008 4:07 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Derek Stark
From concept to production vehicle, the auto maker says it eliminated 120 counts of drag, thereby increasing the vehicle’s driving range by six to seven miles.

Bosch Prepared for Electricity-Powered Future
Aug 14, 2008 3:21 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
Bosch’s North American CEO predicts growing demand for diesels in U.S. short term and says oil companies have assured him new refineries in development will increase fuel availability.

Carter Confirms Prius Detroit Debut
Aug 14, 2008 3:03 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Toyota still studying expanding Prius line through variants or transferring the name to other existing hybrid models.

Toyota Shifting Tundra to San Antonio Early
Aug 14, 2008 2:19 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
All Tundra production will move to the auto maker’s Texas truck plant in November, allowing Toyota to get a head start on building the Highlander CUV in Indiana.

Small Car Shift Has Winners – and Losers
Aug 14, 2008 1:36 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
Suppliers with North American manufacturing operations tell Ward’s they see the small-car trend continuing, regardless of fuel prices.

Reporter’s Notebook: Repo King of Kansas City
Aug 14, 2008 9:08 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward’s Staff
Ward’s writers pass along the buzz at this week’s 2008 Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.

Industry Facing Tough Rules in Congress, Regardless of Presidential Election
Aug 13, 2008 6:23 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
Both presidential candidates promise legislation to address climate change, and 16 states want to regulate carbon-dioxide emissions from cars.

Adviser Tells Private Investors in Auto Industry to Hang Tough
Aug 13, 2008 6:14 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
Justin Mirro of Moelis & Co. in New York last year helped a consortium acquire Aston Martin from Ford for $950 million.

LaSorda: New Grand Cherokee Platform Will Have Global Reach
Aug 13, 2008 6:01 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Chery Automobile’s Chrysler-designed car could be available in foreign markets by next year. Meanwhile, Chrysler is keen on Russia, says Vice Chairman and President Tom LaSorda.

Ford Braced for Headwinds, Ready for Take Off, Fields Says
Aug 13, 2008 5:46 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Derek Stark
The auto maker expects platform sharing with Europe to drive double-digit percentage improvements in C-car profitability in North America.

Toyota Expects Division Sales to Slide 6% This Year
Aug 13, 2008 5:07 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Carter also says Toyota is studying all alternative powertrain systems, including plug-in hybrids, and he expects there to be Prius plug-in hybrids numbering “in the hundreds” available in the U.S. in 2010.

New Ford Connectivity Group to Focus on Millennials
Aug 13, 2008 4:33 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Derek Stark
By 2010, Millennials, 14 to 29 years old, will represent 28% of the driving population, Mark Fields says.

Dana Sees Greatest Opportunity Overseas, Seeks Expansion Into Russia
Aug 13, 2008 3:27 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
Important gains lie in the “mundane and very unsexy” business of systematic process improvements, CEO Gary Convis says.

Honda Sets April 22 Launch for Global Hybrid
Aug 13, 2008 3:06 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
The ’09 B-segment 5-door is Honda’s second dedicated hybrid-electric vehicle following the now-defunct Insight.

TI Sees World as One Big Market
Aug 13, 2008 12:20 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
Although headquartered in the U.S., there’s no management ceiling that will keep executives from around the world out of corporate jobs, CEO Bill Kozyra says.

Incentives Possible for F-150 Launch, Ford Confirms
Aug 13, 2008 11:36 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Ford is assuming the pickup share of total industry light-vehicle sales will “remain very, very conservative” through the end of 2009, Mark Fields says.

Materials War Heats Up in Race to Shed Vehicle Weight
Aug 13, 2008 11:16 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Producers of lightweight alternatives see new opportunities to displace incumbent materials.

Chrysler Rebuilding Home for Grand Cherokee
Aug 13, 2008 10:23 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Chrysler’s $1.8 billion investment will cover the cost of an expansion, a new body shop and installation of a green technology that generates energy from paint sludge.

GM Wants Robust, Timely Consumer Credits for Plug-ins
Aug 12, 2008 6:48 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
The auto maker also would like Washington to establish clear, attainable regulations and one set of federal requirements in addition to tax credits to reward U.S. investments.

AIAM’s Stanton Decries ‘Confusing Array of Regulations’
Aug 12, 2008 5:57 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
The president of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers calls for a national energy policy to address regulations aimed at fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions.

Get Ready for Even Higher CAFE Standards, Honda Warns
Aug 12, 2008 5:51 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Honda’s John German predicts a 50-mpg fleet fuel-economy requirement will be on the books by 2030.

Auto Industry Must Join Push for National Climate-Change Policy
Aug 12, 2008 5:48 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
Industry insiders say auto makers must fully participate in the formation of new climate-change laws or risk becoming a target of lawmakers and regulators.

Connecting Car With Consumer Electronics Profitable, Critical
Aug 12, 2008 5:14 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
Ford’s decision to introduce the Sync system on the Focus first was highly strategic, taking a page out the playbook Henry Ford used with the Model T.

Welcome to the Flat World
Aug 12, 2008 4:41 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
Getrag has powertrain operations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Mexico and is constructing a new $500 million facility in Tifton, IN, to manufacture dual-clutch transmissions.

Manufacturing Shift Back to U.S.?
Aug 12, 2008 3:58 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
Auto analyst Kimberly Davis Rodriguez says in the early stages of going global, low labor rates are the chief attraction. Soon, reality sets in as fixed costs enter the equation.

Hybrids Next Frontier of Customization
Aug 12, 2008 3:52 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Toyota research shows that as buyers downsize away from more expensive trucks and SUVs they have extra money to spend on accessorizing smaller cars.

BorgWarner Anticipating Rising Turbo Demand, Challenges in Manufacturing
Aug 12, 2008 3:37 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
By providing extra punch to smaller displacement engines, turbochargers allow auto makers to provide passenger vehicles with greater fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance.

Reporter’s Notebook: Clueless in Washington
Aug 12, 2008 3:26 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward’s Staff
Ward’s writers pass along the buzz at this week’s 2008 Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.

Wright Calls for U.S. Focus on Advanced Powertrain Development, Infrastructure
Aug 12, 2008 1:43 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
The USABC and USCAR consortiums “need to be completely revamped,” JC-Saft CEO Mary Ann Wright says.

Google Tells Auto Makers Innovation Lies in Wisdom of Crowd
Aug 12, 2008 11:24 AM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
GM produced a batch of Web videos, and instead of making an opinion-based decision, it examined the Web logs to learn what people were viewing, for how long and when they were exiting.

Even for India’s Tata, Outsourcing Not Making Cents
Aug 12, 2008 10:54 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
There are some components that just cannot be produced in a country such as India and shipped to Western markets such as the U.S. – no matter how low the labor costs, a Tata executive says.

ArvinMeritor Spin-Off Aims for Innovation
Aug 12, 2008 10:37 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
The change that’s coming about in personal transportation requires technical solutions entrepreneurial in nature, Martens says.

Cole: Big Three Outlook ‘Tense’
Aug 12, 2008 10:02 AM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
The early push for alternative fuels languished, and CAR’s David Cole blames Congress for that.

Five Chrysler Plants Subject of 4-Day Work Week Discussion
Aug 11, 2008 6:07 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward’s Staff
Instead of performing maintenance on Saturdays, when skilled trades personnel would qualify for time-and-a-half pay, those duties would be performed on a Friday at straight time.

Noble Goes Global
Aug 11, 2008 5:53 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
Noble’s rapid international expansion reflects growing pressures to produce lighter, safer vehicles, as well as rising commodity prices and growth in emerging markets, its CEO says.

Toyota Considering Building Highlander Hybrid in U.S.
Aug 11, 2008 5:10 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Senior Vice President Steve St. Angelo is adamant the industry needs a method to build unibody and body-on-frame vehicles on the same line.

Leuliette to Take Own Advice, Expand Dura’s Global Reach
Aug 11, 2008 4:48 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
A fourth of North American suppliers are on the edge of failure, and “too many are still in denial or just beginning to grasp the idea that the world has changed,” Dura’s new CEO says.

Reporter’s Notebook: Whistling While They Work
Aug 11, 2008 4:11 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward’s Staff
Ward’s writers pass along the buzz at this week’s 2008 Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.

Nissan Looks to Tackle Logistics Costs
Aug 11, 2008 4:07 PM, WardsAuto.com, By David C. Smith
The initiative comes under the auto maker’s global 5-year Nissan GT 2012 plan, as it rolls out 60 new models and five major new technologies.

Transplants Say Ergonomic Assembly-Plant Equipment Pays for Itself
Aug 11, 2008 3:53 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
Honda/OSU partnership reveals which ergonomic solutions work best.

Chrysler Stresses Smart Manufacturing Over Modules
Aug 11, 2008 3:40 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Chrysler’s top manufacturing executive bristles at the idea that much of the auto maker’s efficiency gains came from the use of more modularized components.

Ford Expects ’10 Models to Achieve Best-Ever Quality
Aug 11, 2008 2:45 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
Ford executive Bennie Fowler says Ford’s recent quality improvements and its confidence going forward emanate from a disciplined and standardized product-development process.

Toyota Boshoku Offers Lesson of Survival
Aug 11, 2008 1:47 PM, WardsAuto.com, By William Diem
Because of shorter lead times being demanded, manufacturing continues to thrive in Japan, even though it is close to China, where labor costs are 10% as much, Furuta points out.

ATX More Than Doubling Subscriber Base
Aug 11, 2008 11:11 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Tom Murphy
The Texas company that helped pioneer telematics will grow from 1 million to 2.5 million subscribers by 2011 and will add two new auto maker customers.

Toyota Extending Camry Solara Convertible for Two Years
Aug 11, 2008 10:59 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
Toyota will shift some Camry sedan output to make room for continued production of the Solara drop-top at its Kentucky plant.

Ford Moving Up Supplier Relations Ladder
Aug 11, 2008 9:49 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Tom Murphy
A new study by Planning Perspectives finds the working relationship with suppliers deteriorating for Toyota, Honda, Nissan, GM and Chrysler. Only Ford posts a gain.