2010 EVENTS
AASA Vision Conference – March 16-17, Chicago
MTC Spring Meeting – March 18, Chicago
MTC Fall Conference – Oct. 10-12, Marco Island, Fla.
AAPEX – Nov. 2-4, Las Vegas
COUNCIL REVAMP UPDATE
As announced during the Fall Conference and the November issue of AutoBytes , The
MIS Council will become the MEMA Technology Council (MTC) in January. The name change reflects the broader direction the organization will take in covering areas outside the tradition IS function, i.e. business processes, data and process integration, and any area of a manufacturer’s operations that utilizes technology.
MTC Areas of Focus:

Business processes

Supply chain management

Business intelligence

Compliance

Standards

Data management
The MTC Web site redesign is underway and will be completed in early January. A special announcement and a news release will be published as soon as the new Web site is finished.
NEW SPRING MEETING
The MTC will hold a Spring Meeting on March 18 in Chicago the day after the AASA member-only Vision Conference. The meeting will be for manufacturers only. The tentative agenda includes:
OptiCat – Demonstration and roundtable discussion on functionality, roll-out, etc.
Members of AASA’s Marketing Executive Council will join us.
Low-cost EDI – Members will discuss the challenges and costs of aging EDI technology in the aftermarket and potential alternatives.
Special Ordering – Members will discuss the myriad of requirements and options for implementing special ordering, including IPO.
E-commerce Mapping – No, this will not be a primer on how to map one EDI format to another. Rather, a discussion will be held on the various e-commerce initiatives by third
1 MEMA Technology Council December 2009 AutoBytes

party providers that leverage customer requirements to sign up suppliers. The goal is to develop a map/path to generate a picture of the e-commerce landscape in the aftermarket to help MTC members make more informed decisions.
Registration forms, specific start and end times, exact cost and other information will be available in January. Be sure to put this on your calendar today!
ASSOCIATION NEWS & AUTOBYTES
AASA recently brought two new councils under its umbrella. The Overseas Automotive
Council (OAC) and the Brake Manufacturers Council (BMC) joined AASA in 2010. As a result, the AASA Communications Department is streamlining its output of e-newsletters to simplify processes and provide members with focused (and not overwhelming) information. AutoBytes will continue to provide information to MTC members on a regular basis, but it will be delivered in an attached PDF format as this issue is.
2010 FALL CONFERENCE DATES
Make sure you have budgeted for and have reserved dates on your calendar for the
2010 Fall Conference, which will be held October 10-12 in Marco Island, Florida. Your board and association staff are already working on the program and have already confirmed speakers for the following topics:

Future vehicle technologies and how they will impact the aftermarket

How to establish a data management services department within a manufacturer’s operations

Current state of the repair professional, repair shop and use of e-commerce technology
Bonus: Any company that pays its 2010 Council dues of $750 (which covers the registration fee to the Fall Conference for one person) during the first quarter can pay
$425 in advance (must also be paid in the first quarter) for each additional person to attend the Fall Conference. This registration fee for additional people after March 31 will be $500. A preliminary registration form will be made available in January.
COUNCIL DUES
The MTC is heading into 2010 with several activities underway, including the new Spring
Meeting, a new Web site, expanding the use of the Matrix, planning the Fall Conference, etc. The board needs your participation in the following areas:

Dues – The primary contact from your company should have recently received the invoice for the 2010 Council dues. Prompt payment will enable association staff to focus on the activities.

Spring Meeting – This meeting is a forum for suppliers to discuss industry issues among themselves. Put March 18 on your calendar and ensure at least one person from your company attends.

Matrix – If you haven’t updated the Matrix or subscribed to it, do so this week.

Online Member Profile – Start using it. It is a free service for all MTC members.

Fall Conference – Oct. 10-12. Supplier participation is needed more than ever.
Following the 2009 Fall Conference, every channel partner who participated commented that they get so much from the event because they are able to meet with their supplier technology counterparts in an informal setting. Make plans today to attend!
2 MEMA Technology Council December 2009 AutoBytes

ONLINE MEMBER PROFILE FREE TO MEMBERS
We receive calls every month from members who would like to know more about the direction other suppliers are taking relative to e-commerce networks or would like to know how to improve call center tracking software. Other Council members may already have experienced what you are preparing to experience. The Online Member Profile is the place to identify who can help.
The Profile enables members to identify peers in the industry with similar software, hardware and network applications. The Online Member Profile is the Council’s virtual
“Birds of a Feather” and includes member contact information to simplify the process of finding help quickly.
Please visit the application to do some searching and to identify whether your company has submitted your application information. If you haven’t already done so, visit www.miscouncil.org/membership/profile.html
and click on the downloadable pdf form to complete and fax in to the MIS Council staff.
Contact the association staff if you do not remember your association login information.
REGULAR MEMBERS
Advics North America
Affinia Group
Akebono
Beck/Arnley
Cloyes Gear & Products
Dorman Products
East Penn
Exide Technologies
Federal-Mogul
Gates Rubber
Honeywell
Horton Holding
KYB America
LUK (Schaeffler)
Mahle Clevite
Mark IV Dayco
NGK Spark Plugs
Parker Hannifin Corporation
Peterson Mfg.
Robert Bosch
SKF
Snap-on Tools
Standard Motor Products
Tendeco Sales
Tenneco
Timken
USA Industries
Vista-Pro Automotive
3 MEMA Technology Council December 2009 AutoBytes

AFFILIATE MEMBERS
Activant
ANX eBusiness
Corcentric
Edgenet
GCommerce
Pricedex
R.L. Polk
FAST FACTS AND IT STATS
Cloud Computing
Plans for Cloud Computing:

48% - We have no plans to use services

25% - We’re considering using services

18% - We’re receiving services today from a cloud provider

9% - We’re planning to use services within the next 12 months
Concerns over Cloud Computing:

57% - Security defects in the technology itself

53% - Unauthorized access to or leak of our proprietary information

47% - Unauthorized access to or leak of our customers’ information

32% - Application or system performance

30% - Business viability of provider; risk company will fail

22% - Business continuity or disaster recovery readiness of provider

19% - Features and general maturity of technology

17% - Vendor lock-in

3% - Other
Source: InformationWeek survey of 547 business technology professionals
Strategies for Tough Times
Planned strategies during current economic conditions:

38% - Delay distribution projects

35% - Lay off workers

27% - Install new software

16% - Close warehouses

15% - Install new material handling equipment

15% - Outsource more functions

13% - Reduce carrier base

13% - Bring outsourced functions back in house
Applications to be purchased for those planning new software installations:

14% - Warehouse management

8% - Transportation management

7% - Labor management

5% - Supply chain management

5% - Inventory planning

5% - Planning and forecasting
4 MEMA Technology Council December 2009 AutoBytes

Source: DC Velocity reader survey
5 MEMA Technology Council December 2009 AutoBytes