A Winning Pair - Engine Builder Magazine

A Winning Pair

The Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA) and the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA) will both be holding their annual expositions at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas prior to the AAPEX and SEMA Shows.

Combining the two shows – APRA’s The BIG R Show and  ATRA’s Powertrain Expo – into one all-encompassing exhibit seemed to be a natural thing to do in today’s economy, said an APRA spokesperson. For this reason, the 2009 International BIG R Show will offer an emphasis on diesel engine remanufacturing with a section of the show floor dedicated to that specific market. The HD Engine Section of The BIG R Show is sponsored by Engine Builder magazine.   

The two shows will be held in conjunction Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 at the recently remodeled Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas just prior to the opening of the AAPEX and SEMA Shows and will offer emphasis on the diesel engine remanufacturing market.

“The International BIG R Show is a natural place for the diesel engine community to meet for technical meetings and networking among all constituents of the remanufacturing marketplace,” said APRA?President Bill Gager. “The equipment suppliers to the diesel market and the distributors serving that market will also be able to share their needs and marketing expertise with the other product lines in the HDRG (Heavy?Duty Remanufacturing Group, a division of APRA). The heavy duty transmission, axle and steering market use machining and cleaning equipment one might find in a diesel shop and vice-versa.”

The inclusion of the diesel engine market constituents into the BIG R Show was first suggested by several engine parts suppliers a couple of years ago. The needs of the remanufacturing industry to combine show facilities into one all-encompassing exhibit seemed to be a natural thing to do in today’s economy. Other avenues have largely gone untended and the HDRG Board felt it was time to step up and provide the resources necessary to provide a solution to the needs of the diesel engine market.

The recent agreement with ATRA provided impetus to proceed with the all-encompassing show. The larger remanufacturing community can be best served by combining the remanufacturing segments in this one location in Las Vegas just before an industry wide event such as Industry Week. ATRA, APRA and HDRG share many needs and this solution seems tailor-made to answer those needs.

An organizing committee consisting of HDRG and several diesel engine rebuilders/distributors and component manufacturers has been formed to facilitate the inclusion of the diesel engine market into The International BIG R Show.     

A “Welcome to Las Vegas” Industry Reception will be open to everyone on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m.  – 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the seminars outlined below, the exhibit hall will be open on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. , and on Monday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Show To Feature Training Workshops from RIT

The Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Center for Remanufacturing, Resource Recovery will present four training workshops during the  International Big R Show.

Automotive parts remanufacturing is becoming more competitive every year. Progressive remanufacturers are always looking for new ways to save money through process improvements. Surface cleaning is a remanufacturing process where companies can typically find improvement opportunities due to the ever increasing number of new chemistries and technologies available. Once identified, how does a company determine which options are most cost effective for their operation?

On Saturday, Oct. 31 from 1:30 p.m.- 2:45 p.m. RIT will present “Calculating the True Cost of Cleaning.” This presentation will discuss the costs associated with cleaning and the methods used to calculate the true benefits to the organization.

Another topic which impacts every remanufacturing operation is workstation design. On Sunday, Nov. 1 from 2:15 p.m.  – 3:30 p.m. RIT will present its “Workstation Design for Lean Initiatives” seminar. Companies can benefit from applying industrial engineering techniques for increased productivity at any station where work is performed.

This seminar will focus on proper workstation design while giving examples of common problems and ways to overcome them. Insight on why fixture use or misuse can impact productivity, quality and worker safety will also be discussed. Seminar participants will gain an understanding of what should be considered and implemented for optimal workstation layout.

Following, at 3:45 p.m.  – 5 p.m. , the discussion will turn to “Improving Quality – Straight to the Bottom Line.” Warranty returns. In-process scrap. Rework. Are these necessary evils? In many cases, these financial burdens can be reduced through a root cause analysis and subsequent corrective action.

This seminar will focus on the processes used to analyze and troubleshoot the causes of failure to meet requirements in any shop. If you haven’t seriously explored quality improvement as a lucrative opportunity, then this seminar is for you.

Then on Monday, Nov. 2, from 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 am, RIT will discuss “Opportunities for Remanufacturing.”

Remanufacturers often focus on their existing capabilities and customers when looking for new opportunities to advance their organization. This focus can yield excellent results, but all too often opportunities can slip by unnoticed. This presentation will cover a variety of topics, related to the automotive remanufacturing industry, which will challenge the attendees to refocus on emerging opportunities.

Topics such as the momentum building around environmental sustainability will be discussed as it relates to material reuse, increased governmental awareness of remanufacturing, the turmoil in the automotive industry, and current emphasis on “green economy” jobs. The cost to attend each of these workshops is $40.

Other Clinics and Seminars

Saturday, Oct. 31

APRA Electrical Survive & Thrive Clinic

8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.  (Cost: $115)

The day will begin with Bruce Purkey of Purkey’s Fleet Service, Inc. who will explain the latest developments in the heavy duty electrical field. He will talk about what rebuilders can and cannot do with the newer systems and will go into some of the most recent features of onboard data transmission that can record or send malfunction messages to the trucks’ terminals or maintenance facilities.

William Avancini, Sales Executive of Zen North America Corporation will then take the podium and explain the idea behind the design principles of Zen’s clutch pulleys and starter drives. He will also explain the production, testing, and qualifying methods of these components.

Next on the agenda will be Mohammad Samii. During his 2-part session, Mohammad will explain the latest changes and systems. He will also discuss PCM activation of alternators and data bus operated warning lights along with case studies showing repair and diagnostic process with pinpoint voltage profiles and scope captures will also be discussed.

The second part of his session will be pictorial showing some step-by-step rebuilding techniques of popular late model starters and alternators. This part also includes step-by-step pictorial slip ring replacement on most common alternators such as CS-130D, DR44G, Ford’s 3, 4, 6-G, and Bosch internal fan rotors that every small rebuilder can accomplish with tools they already own.

Following lunch Gene Kaiser, Regitar’s QC and Technical Services Manager will present the company’s latest effort to make compatible regulators. He will focus on Ford applications, which have been a source of trouble for rebuilders, creating conditions that indicate the alternator works fine, but the warning light remains on. Regitar’s other new regulators and products will also be shown and discussed.

Dennis Jacinto, president of Lester Catalog Company, will bring the audience up-to-date on the latest development of their catalog and the Web-based KwikFinder® program, which is the most popular cataloging system for electrical rebuilders.

The day will finish with the ever popular panel roundtable discussion and Q & A session. The panel will be moderated by Dennis Jacinto and Dan Smith. This is the interactive part of the program where the floor is opened for audience questions regarding technical, marketing or any related issues concerning the rebuilding industry. Participants are encouraged to bring their questions and seek answers.

Sunday, Nov. 1

Opening General Session:

Dynamic Marketing Confessions of a Street Fighter

8:15 a.m. – 9:50 p.m.

Marc Slutsky of Street Fighter Marketing, in Columbus, OH will keynote APRA’s Opening Session on how to market, promote and increase sales without spending a lot of money. His presentation is very timely considering today’s economic challenges.

The focus of his presentation will be on gaining the edge over your competition by out-thinking them instead of out-spending them. His street fighter tactics are a proven way to capture attention and help companies close more sales for more money. Slutsky has been with Street Fighter Marketing for 25 years and has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, INC Magazine, USA Today and Success Magazine as well as numerous radio and TV programs.

His company’s client list includes AT&T, American Express, Honda, Marriott and Chevron along with the U.S. Military, State of Arkansas and the City of Dallas. He is the co-author of five books including “How to Get Clients” and “Smart Marketing” and has a package of audio and video training programs to increase sales.

Improving Employee Work Habits

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

While not an issue for some people, poor work habits are a major cause of disciplinary action. Left unaddressed, poor work habits can lead team members to assume that the behavior is acceptable, and that can become a critical management issue.

Discussing such concerns as absenteeism, language issues, and dress and grooming habits can be a difficult but necessary part of leading a team. And just like other aspects of team leadership, correcting work habits that need improvement requires careful attention and skill. This program will provide the tools necessary to recognize and to address poor work habits – even those of a team member who may be successful in his or her job.

By focusing on the negative behavior and gaining the individual’s acceptance and commitment to change, the manager effectively addresses the issue before it develops into a disciplinary problem for everyone on the team.

Diversifying Your Business

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Clemens Ortgies of BU Drive USA and Germany will cover his company’s history of converting diesel engines into gas engines that use biogas, natural gas, liquefied gas, landfill gas, or sewage gas. Converting scrap engines to gas engines for decentralized power heating stations is not only a highly economic source of energy supply, it is a green approach that helps save our planet’s resources.

The European market for decentralized systems with a capacity up to 400 KW of power is booming, particularly for Combined Heat and Power plants using renewable resources. There is a monopoly on gas engine production with delivery times exceeding a year, so the technology from BU Drive is an opportunity to diversify your business.

Also, on the program will be a discussion by Karsten Lange of their remanufactured turbochargers and the opportunities it presents for engine remanufacturers.

Exporting Assistance from Uncle Sam

12:30 p.m.  – 1:15 p.m.

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce will inform potential U.S. exporters on the role of the Federal Government in providing export assistance to U.S. companies. The seminar will cover the domestic and foreign arm of the Commercial Service, export counseling, market research, services such as Gold Key, International Partner Search and the role of other Federal Agencies.

Family Medical Leave Act and Review of Final Published Rules

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

In November 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued revised regulations interpreting the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended. The revised regulations became effective Jan.16, 2009. These were the first revisions to the regulations since they were initially issued in April  1995. In addition to reorganizing, modifying, and clarifying existing regulations, the DOL issued new regulations addressing the military family leave enacted by Congress in January, 2008. This program will consist of an overview of the FMLA and the new published regulations. Practical tools for regulatory compliance will be provided.

Taking Advantage of a Difficult Economy

1:30 p.m.  – 2:15 p.m.

Will Burnett and Jon Gormin from Owner Resource Group of Austin, TX will provide an overview of the current economic environment and will walk through a few case studies that show how owners have taken advantage of the economic climate to add real value to their companies. Business owners and senior management will learn what strategies for growth are available in today’s challenging economy and how those strategies can be financed in today’s environment.

Monday, Nov. 2

OEM-Supplier Relationship in the New Economy

7:30 a.m. -9 am

Pat Muldoon, Product Development Engineering Senior Manager for Chrysler’s Mopar Parts Division, and Patrick Carpenter, Director of OEM Sales & Marketing for Springfield Remanufacturing Corp. (SRC), will team up to address how the new economy affects OEM’s and suppliers by looking back to yesterday and then taking a look ahead to tomorrow. They will also talk about proper ways to communicate each other’s issues and the value of proper core processing in today’s GREEN environment.

HD Engine Failure Analysis Seminar

9:05 a.m. – 10:05 am

Failure analysis as a marketing and customer satisfaction tool for heavy duty engine remanufacturers is an important topic. Every engine rebuild begins with an engine performance problem. For remanufacturers, determining the cause of the failure can go a long way toward solidifying customer relationships and preventing future performance issues.

Steve Matthiesen with SuperFlow Technologies will discuss “Heavy Duty Engine Analysis & Failure Prevention Using HD Engine Dynamometers and Data Acquisition Systems.”

Several other industry experts will discuss how and why engine failures occur and how to prevent them. All are industry veterans who have analyzed engine related problems and will be able to give attendees real life examples of failures and their causes and solutions.

Becoming a Superior Coach

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Managers are responsible for so much these days – hiring staff, meeting budget targets, and achieving department goals. It would be easy to simply ignore individual job task coaching. Shouldn’t managers spend their time driving team performance and not developing individual performers? This program will provide the tools necessary to successfully coach individuals to perform a job, a task, or a skill. In order to achieve results, coaching must go beyond just showing how to do something. Coaching involves observing, analyzing, demonstrating, and giving feedback. It’s a process of developing relationships with team members – relationships that ultimately can build the trust and respect that are the foundation of successful organizations.

The Future of Parts: New and Remanufactured, Online

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Famous Rhodes, Director of Parts & Accessories, eBay Motors, will be speaking about the opportunity of selling used and remanufactured automotive parts on the internet. The content will review the rise of online shopping for parts customers and the growing available inventory. Highlights will include eBay Motors recent announcement with Hollander and will cover category and online consumer behavior research conducted by eBay Motors.

APRA Electronics & Mechatronics Clinic

2 p.m.  – 4 p.m. (Cost: $65)

E&M Division co-chairman, Joe Kripli, has arranged for an informative afternoon starting with a short seminar from Mohammad Samii, Contributing Technical Writer for APRA’s Global Connection newspaper.

Dr. Stefan Freiberger and Matthias Albrecht of Bayreuth University in Germany will focus on how the communication between car and steering pump is investigated and stored. They will also discuss how the system can be tested during the remanufacturing process.

Also on the agenda is Mark Malaspina, Vice President of Business Development for ATC Drivetrain, who will present “How New Technology Has Changed Remanufacturing.” The Clinic will end with a question and answer session.

For more information about the Big R Show, visit www.bigrshow.com.bu?drive usa and germany have a history of converting diesel engines into gas engines that use biogas, natural gas, liquefied gas, landfill gas, or sewage gas. clemens ortgies will discuss the economics of the practice.The Big R?Show exhibit hall will be open on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. , and on Monday, Nov. 2 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.<br />“/></p>
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