In our business, from week to week, we really have little idea what will be in the next issue. That’s just the nature of a news-driven publication like ours. Regardless of how often other publications — especially those based online — use the term “Breaking News” to get your attention, all news is just that, [...]
I’m sure I’ll take some grief from many of you out there — particularly in today’s Tea Party climate — but I’m one of those people who rarely resents paying taxes. I work hard for my money and am relatively prudent about holding on to as much of it as possible. For the most part [...]
In the June 30 issue of our sister newsletter, Service Executive, we reported on the J.D. Power & Associates U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), a study that has taken place now for 24 years. Each year, tens of thousands of new-vehicle owners respond to the surveys to provide feedback on quality during the first 90 [...]
We are currently in the midst of a schizophrenic time in our industry. Like most businesses, overall credit is tight and manufacturing is running as lean as possible. Inventories are being managed as closely as possible and staffing levels are being kept at the barest minimums. At the same time, throughout the aftermarket, business is [...]
Credentialing is the process of establishing the qualifications of professionals, organizational members or organizations, and assessing their background and legitimacy. The process is generally an objective evaluation of a subject’s current licensure, training or experience, competence, and ability to provide particular services or perform particular procedures. Personnel credentialing is typically undertaken at commencement of employment [...]
Back on May 1, 2003, when President George W. Bush landed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln in a Lockheed S-3 Viking with “Navy One” painted on the side, clearly visible in the background was a banner stating “Mission Accomplished.” Bush critics pointed to the seemingly premature declaration as evidence of the arrogance and [...]
Off the news of Uni-Select’s acquisition of the contracts and relationships of Automotive Information Management Inc., reported earlier this year, we discussed some of the implications of the deal.
Living in western Pennsylvania when I purchased my first car back in the late 1970s — a used Volkswagen Beetle — I took a little grief from my father and others in the neighborhood for purchasing a foreign car. And, about 15 years later, when I bought my first new car — a Nissan Sentra [...]
One of the blessings of this industry is the active involvement of those who make a living from it. We have strong, well-managed trade associations that do good work with the active participation of volunteer leaders and members who get things done.
For some reason, it suddenly struck me in the middle of the AASA Vision Conference held this week in Chicago. The event, exclusively for members of AASA, also is the group’s annual membership meeting and a forum for the exploration of many of the issues facing today’s aftermarket suppliers. The one-day event featured a salesforce [...]
