OEM Purchasing VPs to Discuss Industry Collaboration at Auto-Tech 2004

DETROIT, June 21 -- Top purchasing executives from DaimlerChrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Corp. will headline a panel discussion on global purchasing practices at the 17th annual Auto-Tech conference at the Cobo Conference Center on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

Auto-Tech is an automotive industry trade conference organized by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG).

Thomas W. Sidlik, executive vice president-global procurement & supply, DaimlerChrysler Corp.; Tony (Thomas K.) Brown, vice president-global purchasing, Ford Motor Co.; and Bo I. Andersson, vice president-worldwide purchasing, production control and logistics, General Motors Corp., will participate in the 8:00 a.m. panel discussion, which will include questions and an audience answer session.

"AIAG is the only place where OEMs and suppliers from around the globe sit at the same table and address issues and resolve problems that affect the entire global automotive supply chain," said Andrew J. Cummins, AIAG's executive director. "This panel discussion exemplifies the importance automakers put on collaborative activities within the industry to promote common best practices, and we are proud to provide this caliber of event for our members."

In its 17th year, Auto-Tech brings together automotive OEMs and suppliers to share technology standards and processes that reduce cost and complexity in business and manufacturing processes. The theme of Auto-Tech 2004 is "Driving Performance Together," and exhibitors on the 52,000-square-foot exhibit floor will include leading automotive manufacturers and technology and automotive suppliers. More than 150 exhibitors and nearly 4,000 auto industry executives are expected to participate in Auto-Tech 2004.

Founded in 1982, AIAG is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. Its more than 1,600 member companies include North American, European and Asia-Pacific OEMs and suppliers to the automotive industry with combined annual sales of more than $850 billion. A not-for-profit association, AIAG's primary goals are to reduce cost and complexity within the automotive supply chain and to improve speed-to-market, product quality, employee health-and-safety and the environment. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.aiag.org/ .