The 2010 report highlights several trends and opportunities alert companies may wish to consider as the U.S. economy continues its recovery:

• Domestic sales are forecast to rebound more sharply than international sales this year. However, companies that build and grow sales in global markets will maintain a strategic advantage over competitors that sell only in the United States.
• Despite continued growth of green product offerings, over half of respondents report they do not know if those products are generating a profit. This underscores the importance for companies to apply metrics that measure performance on a product basis.
• Executives report high levels of concern about how several legislative issues could affect business operations. Even though many of these bills have yet to be enacted, the prospect of such changes is having an immediate and direct effect on economic recovery.
• Hiring for U.S.-based positions is up substantially over 2009 levels. That means companies must carefully walk the line between expense-driven compensation actions and the need to identify, hire and retain high performers. This will be particularly true if an overall recovery magnifies existing skill shortages.

After several years of deteriorating business conditions, survey respondents in 2010 express tempered optimism. This is particularly true in their upbeat assessments of company business prospects, their plans to add business capacity and forecasts for near-term job growth.

To view the complete Survey report, click here.

The 2010 AASA Top 100 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers List is now available. Produced annually by Babcox Publications and sponsored by Ernst & Young, this multi-page, full-color publication features information on the largest suppliers to the automotive aftermarket, and ranks suppliers by annual North American aftermarket sales.

Now available in two formats:

• A PDF can be downloaded by clicking the "View" button at right.
• The list is also available online in as a searchable online database.

To download a free copy of the Special Report, "Product Patent Markings and Patent Trolls," click here.

These are the questions that marketing executives are now considering on a daily basis. Social networking has changed the playing field for today's executives and has changed the way that these executives exchange information, advertise, and provide their customers with service.

In this Special Report, "Social Networking 101: Legal Obstacles Defined," legal risks and hurdles to social networking, such as loss of intellectual property rights, defamation or libel claims, endorsement or sponsorship issues, employment problems and privacy issues, are discussed.

To download a PDF copy of the Special Report, click here.

“Morgan Stanley Aftermarket Metrics Report from AASA” is a new offering available to AASA members as an exclusive benefit.

These quarterly reports provide AASA members updates on key indicators on more than 25 public companies across the automotive aftermarket supply chain including: retailers/distributors, parts suppliers, tire manufacturers, automotive repair chains, major auto dealers, and auto parts salvage.

If you have any questions about the “Morgan Stanley Aftermarket Metrics Report from AASA,” contact Jack Cameron, jcameron@mema.org; Dan Pike of the MEMA Financial Services Group Inc. (MFSG), dpike@memafsg.com; or Michael Montani of Morgan Stanley, michael.montani@morganstanley.com.

It is available to AASA members free of charge at the AASA Members-Only Web site by clicking here. Note: A username and password is required. For password assistance, contact aasalogin@mema.org.

Non-members can order an electronic version of the AASA Special Report for $750. To order, download the publication order form and fax to 919-549-4824. Orders will be sent via e-mail, so please provide a valid e-mail address on the order form.

Note: Online ordering is not available for non-members.

Outsourcing is about strategic management. It’s about evaluating business operations and resources and determining the job functions and projects that can be shifted to external suppliers. It’s about building strategy involving the reallocation of resources and refocusing operations on what is most important.

In addition to its research and analysis of outsourcing, “Business Process Outsourcing” also includes a case study of the outsourcing plan adopted by AASA member company ArvinMeritor.

This two-part paper provides information that will help you assess reverse logistics opportunities within your organization.

• Part I: Identifies known challenges within the physical, financial, and information automotive aftermarket reverse supply chain flows.
• Part II: Provides benchmarking information that includes results from a survey conducted by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) in 2009 and case study success stories from industries with mature reverse logistics programs.

This Special Report is the result of that research, and its goal is to help members to learn the lessons of outsourcing as experienced by their peers and to help facilitate a discussion of both the best practices and the common pitfalls of going outside member companies’ IT organizations to meet today’s business requirements.

A growing trend has developed among various automotive aftermarket channel partners in recent year: the proliferation of lower-cost, often lower-performing aftermarket parts in an attempt to offer more competitive pricing and/or improve profit margins. In its second of two Special Reports which highlight these problems, the AASA Marketing Executives Council (MEC) has issued “Independent Aftermarket Image: Quality Does Matter.” This Report raises an industry-wide call to action to stem this tide before irreparable damage is done to the reputation of the entire automotive aftermarket.

In short, everyone throughout the aftermarket distribution channel must Know Your Parts.

The AASA MEC “Independent Aftermarket Image” report calls for the automotive aftermarket industry to stand united and encourage:

• Full Service Suppliers to help Channel Partners Know Your Parts by promoting brand and essential services;
• Channel Partners to help Repair Professionals Know Your Parts by promoting brand name products from trusted suppliers and supporting suppliers’ programs instead of direct importing;
• Repair Professionals to help Vehicle Owners Know Your Parts by asking questions about parts offered by their suppliers and by installing only premium quality aftermarket parts;
• Vehicle Owners to Know Your Parts by asking what parts are being installed and researching the brand before authorizing repairs.

AASA is pleased to introduce a new electronic format for its “2009-2010 Automotive Aftermarket Status Report.” The new format allows AASA to include two other important research products: “World Motor Vehicle Market Report” and “Trends in the Replacement Rates of Automotive Components.” Now, all three of these valuable research publications are available to members in one convenient package:

“2009-2010 AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report,” the in-depth market analysis of the automotive aftermarket sector, includes:

• Markets in Brazil, Canada, China, India and Mexico
• The latest figures on unperformed maintenance
• The automotive aftermarket channel forecasting model
• Global vehicle summary
• North American aftermarket

“World Motor Vehicle Market Report,” one of the industry’s oldest and most respected global statistical analyses and the recognized resource of international automotive and heavy duty market information, features:

• Vehicle production and assembly
• Vehicle census summary
• U.S. Motor Vehicle parts trade worldwide
• World trade in new vehicles
• World motor vehicle markets

“Trends in the Replacement Rates of Automotive Components,” the handy table showing the percentage of private vehicles receiving specified maintenance, can be used to calculate product durability, market size estimates and service job variables.

The CDs sell for $125 each for member companies; $500 for nonmembers.

Order by clicking here.

The AASA Marketing Executives Council was formed in 2003 to be a collaborative effort in improving the image of the North American supplier base. Since its inception, its members have studied a growing trend among various channel partners offering lower-cost, often lower-performing aftermarket parts in an attempt to offer more competitive pricing and/or improve profit margins. Problems have surfaced with this practice at all levels within the supply chain.

The Council commissioned an independent third party to conduct a series of focus groups to determine the buying influences of repair professionals in 2009. Focus group meetings were held in Raleigh, N.C., Chicago, Ill. and Los Angeles, Calif. More than 60 participants were recruited from independent repair shops and included shop owners, technicians and/or service advisors.

The AASA MEC Special Report, “Independent Repair Industry: Focus Group Findings on Buying Influences of Repair Professionals,” details the findings from these focus groups. This 21-page report includes an Executive Summary of the findings, detailed reports and charts of the focus group discussions and the conclusion which analyzes the long-term implications of the focus group findings for the entire North American aftermarket channel.

Advertising your product – whether online or in print – is an integral part of any marketing program. But it carries some important legal ramifications which need to be considered before investing vital marketing funds.

“Advertising Pitfalls and Rules: Legally Speaking” from the AASA Marketing Executives Council (MEC) gives an overview of these important advertising pitfalls and rules:

• Who is Regulating?
• Red Flag Statements
• Advertising “OE” Quality
• Challenging Your Competitors

For more information about the AASA MEC, contact Jack Cameron at 919-406-8856 or jcameron@mema.org.

Updates in the fourth edition of the BPC Special Report include:

• Details about the PRO-IP Act of 2008
• New global counterfeiting statistics from the International Chamber of Commerce
• Expansion of trade show activities
• Guidelines to protect intellectual property

For more information about the MEMA Brand Protection Council (BPC), contact Jack Cameron at 919-406-8856 or jcameron@mema.org.

AASA has issued a “Special Report,” analyzing the serious unintended consequences of proposed vehicle scrappage legislation. Voluntary accelerated vehicle retirement programs would provide an incentive for some consumers but also would prematurely retire some vehicles from the national fleet prior to the end of their useful life. A nationwide program to establish a uniform vehicle inspection program should accompany any program to scrap vehicles to determine which automobiles should be retired and which vehicles can be repaired to operate in the condition originally intended by the vehicle manufacturer. This approach will allow consumers to purchase, replace, or repair a vehicle while insuring safer, cleaner and more fuel efficient operations on the nation’s roads.

The 2009 HDMA Global Commercial Vehicle Report includes:

• Emerging global commercial vehicle market sections on India, Brazil, Russia and China and others.
• North American Commercial Vehicle Industry, including Transportation, Truck Sales, Vehicle Population and Commercial Trailers
• HDMA’s biennial Heavy Duty Truck Maintenance in the USA survey/study of Truck Owner practices and preferences
• The 2009 HDMA HD Distributor Survey on the Aftermarket
• A Global Data Section, including Global Goods Transport, Global Transport Systems, World Vehicle Sales and the World Vehicle Population
• Other expanded sections include environment and energy related data
• Global vehicle and highway transportation reports
• Global truck exports data.
• Heavy Duty Universe Estimates
• Economic Overview

HDMA members who did not attend Heavy Duty Dialogue’09 receive two CD copies of the 2009 HDMA Global Commercial Vehicle Report.. Additional copies can be ordered on-line or by order form or the member price of $99.95.

Members click here to order on line or click here to download pdf order form.

Non-members of HDMA can purchase the 2009 HDMA Global Commercial Vehicle Report by fax for $695.00 with an order form click here to download pdf order form.

Business owners should find this manual useful in gaining a better understanding of their intellectual property (IP) assets and to develop business practices and procedures that will help protect such assets from falling victim to counterfeiting and piracy.

To download a PDF copy of “Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement Manual,” click here.

To view the updated document online, go to www.nhtsa.gov/links/importsafety.  

Ordering Instructions

AASA members can purchase the Status Report CD-ROM for $125. To order online click here.

Non-members can purchase CD-ROM copies for $500. To order download the publication order form and fax to 919-549-4824.

Note: Online ordering is not available for non-members.

Manufacturers may not be taking advantage of six and even seven-figure tax credits, deductions and incentives simply because they’re unaware that they may qualify. This Special Report includes information for companies on the Research & Development Tax Credit, Sales and Use Tax, Export Incentives, Domestic Production Activities Deduction, Enterprise Zone Credits and Federal Hiring Credits.

To download a PDF copy of the Special Report, click here.

This guide is designed for use by law enforcement agencies, government agencies involved with the entry of goods and products through the U.S. ports, and anyone with an interest in the U.S. motor vehicle parts marketplace.

To download a PDF copy of the Special Report, click here.

Arent Fox, AASA legal counsel, advises all members to become familiar with the FTC’s "Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims" prior to making environmental or "green" claims in marketing materials.

To download the FTC's guidelines, click here.

The Special Report addresses risks suppliers and distributors face from counterfeiting and intellectual property rights violations when marketing their products online.

A free copy can be downloaded by clicking here. A print quality electronic file (PDF) is available by request from AASA, publications@mema.org.

The 2008-2009 Status Report marks the debut of the aftermarket channel forecasting model, which was developed by AASA and other leading aftermarket associations.

The new model provides a single point of reference to anchor the various estimates of the aftermarket’s size and outlines the complex structure of the channels of distribution

The Status Report also includes sections on emerging markets in China and India, as well as the latest figures on unperformed maintenance. Other sections include:

• Global vehicle summary
• North American aftermarket
• Traffic safety statistics
• Vehicle sales, registrations and usage
• Aftermarket demand variables
• Aftermarket size and sub-sectors
• International parts trade

This all-inclusive publication also contains the directory of AASA members and the products and services they provide.

Ordering Instructions

AASA members can purchase the Status Report for $125. To order online click here.

Non-members can purchase copies for $500. To order download the publication order form and fax to 919-549-4824.

Note: Online ordering is not available for non-members.

Prepared by professors William Hauser and Robert T. Lund, the 111 page report focuses on the business of remanufacturing, the industry dedicated to restoring life to a wide range of durable products, from lubricating oils to locomotives. The report draws on the authors’ decades of study of the industry, and from their database of thousands of remanufacturers and case studies of successful companies in the industry.

“Remanufacturing: Operating Practices and Strategies” is intended for members of the industry and their suppliers and customers, for students of the industry, and for public policymakers who are interested in promoting the activities of the industry. Very little has been published about this industry, despite its contributions to the economy in terms of employment, energy and materials conservation, and as an income source for many small to medium-sized firms.

The report expands the horizons of the industry by identifying 112 different product areas, such as motor vehicle parts, electric motors, industrial valves, medical equipment, and even guided missiles, in which remanufacturing is being done. It looks at the means that firms use to obtain their “raw material” – the worn-out, discarded, or traded-in products that can be restored to like-new condition. It examines the different strategies that are used to grow the firm and to remain profitable in a changing, increasingly global economy.

Ordering Instructions

AASA members can purchase the report for $80. To order online click here.

Non-members can purchase copies for $95. To order download the publication order form and fax to 919-549-4824.

Note: Online ordering is not available for non-members.

This report, "Recent Scams Prey Upon Your Corporate Goodwill," details how companies can safeguard against fraud and describes what to do if your company is hit by corporate identity scammers.

The 2008 AASA Top 100 List is a multi-page, full-color publication featuring information on the largest suppliers to the automotive aftermarket and ranking suppliers by annual North American aftermarket sales.

This year’s edition also includes an exclusive analysis by Ernst & Young, “As the Aftermarket Expands, Custom Practices Become More Critical.” This annual report is published by AASA, produced by Babcox Publications and sponsored by Ernst & Young.

To download the PDF version of the AASA Top 100, click here.

Printed copies can be ordered by e-mailing publications@mema.org.

States often provide incentives for the building, maintenance and expansion of manufacturing facilities within their boundaries through their State Development Offices.

Through AASA and the MEMA Washington office, this list of state development offices throughout the country is available to members. Members are encouraged to contact these officials and learn about programs and assistance available to manufacturers – and to invite the officials to visit in-state facilities.

In some instances, other agencies within a state’s government may be responsible for these manufacturing incentive programs. The development office should be able to provide more information. Additional details also are available at the state development Web sites included on the list.

This edition of Importing into the United States by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol contains material pursuant to the Trade Act of 2002 and the Customs Modernization Act (Title VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act), commonly referred to as the Mod Act.

The Customs Modernization Act (Title VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act [P.L. 103 182, 107 Stat. 2057]) became effective December 8, 1993. Its provisions have fundamentally altered the relationship between importers and CBP by shifting to the importer, the legal responsibility for declaring the value, classification, and rate of duty applicable to entered merchandise.

Visit the CBP Web site (www.cbp.gov) for the latest information on specific laws, regulations or procedures that may affect your import transactions.

To download the PDF of "Importing into the United States", click here.

Recognizing that many complicated factors may be involved in origin issues (raw materials are from one country while the product is assembled in another), an importer may wish to obtain a binding ruling from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. For more information please see determining the correct Country of Origin to use under the Customs Regulations, 19 CFR Part 177.

Please be aware that in addition to this information, certain products are subject to additional labeling requirements. For example, clothing must have labels indicating fabric content and washing instructions. Other products with special labeling requirements include tobacco (the Surgeon General’s Warning Statement), food and pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.

Visit the CBP Web site (www.cbp.gov) for the latest information on specific laws, regulations or procedures that may affect your import transactions.

This Special Report was developed for the members of the MEMA Information Services Council, which is an organization of information technology, information service and e-commerce executives from automotive aftermarket and heavy duty parts suppliers.

A free copy can be downloaded by clicking the "View" link at right.

This Special Report is designed to be used by AASA members to educate their customers on the costs and risks associated with direct importing.

A free copy can be downloaded by clicking the “View” link below. A print quality electronic file (PDF) is available by request from Wayne Fulford of AASA, publications@mema.org.

To order Heavy Duty Truck Maintenance in the USA, please click here.

OESA presents "Reducing Warranty Expense by Managing the Interfaces" made available following a one-day conference with five individual presentations and two panel discussions. The conference focused on improving warranty expense through better management of the supplier-to-supplier, supplier-to-vehicle manufacturer, and supplier-to-dealer interfaces. The conference proceedings include session presentations, the "Suppliers Practical Guide to Warranty Reduction" and the "OESA/CLEPA Preferred Practices for Warranty Analysis and Management."

The OESA Warranty Management Council produced the "Suppliers Practical Guide to Warranty Reduction" to provide suppliers with a comprehensive process to reduce warranty expense and improve customer satisfaction. In addition, working with the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, CLEPA, the council has produced a set of preferred practices for warranty analysis and management.

"Reducing Warranty Expense by Managing the Interfaces" includes both hard copy and CD formats.

OESA members can purchase the publication for $100 and $175 for non-members.