Speakers Added to Management Briefing Seminars Lineup
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 1 -- Four additional speakers will add interesting insights to a variety of issues associated with the future of the international automotive industry at the Management Briefing Seminars, Aug. 7, 2006 - 11, in Traverse City, Mich., the annual automotive industry summer event.
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The federal government's perspective on wireless vehicle communications and the outlook of a national leader in navigation will be part of the agenda for the "Wireless Vehicle Communications Systems" session, Tuesday, Aug. 8.
Michael Freitas, managing director, ITS Joint Program Office, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Harry Voccola, senior vice president, Government & Industry Relations, NAVTEQ, will join the session's distinguished panel.
"The addition of these knowledgeable experts to this session will help to present a broader view of the primary theme of the workshop," said Steve Underwood, chair of the session and a research scientist with the Center for Automotive Research, host of the event. "They will add the federal government and automotive supplier perspectives to the picture of the vast partnership that is emerging and necessary for making wireless communication a centerpiece of advanced automotive and traffic management systems that increase safety, mobility and effective management of public and private costs."
Al Frink, assistant secretary, Manufacturing and Services International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the chief advocate for the U.S. manufacturing and service sectors, will address a session focused on international manufacturing challenges and opportunities Tuesday, Aug. 8. "The addition of Al Frink reflects the growing awareness and importance of automotive manufacturing, particularly during these times of significant change and increasing global relationships," said Jay Baron, CAR president/CEO and chair of the manufacturing session.
Daniel Vivian, director of engineering design for Hyundai - Kia Motors N.A., will address the session entitled "Rapid Product Realization through World Class Information Technology," also on Tuesday, Aug. 8. "Daniel Vivian will provide the OEM perspective on information technology as a key component of product realization in the global economy. Attendees will be interested to learn about how Hyundai uses information systems to support product design and manufacturing in today's flat world," said Richard Gerth, CAR research scientist and chair of the session.
These sessions and more will take place during this year's seminars, sponsored by the Center for Automotive Research, an Ann Arbor-based non-profit research organization.
A number of high level automotive manufacturer executives, including Rick Wagoner of General Motors, Mark Fields of Ford, Gary Convis of Toyota, Eric Ridnour of DaimlerChrysler, Jim Morton of Nissan, John Mendel of Honda and John Krafcik of Hyundai, will also participate in this year's event.
The purpose of CAR is to conduct research on significant issues related to the future direction of the global automotive industry, as well as organize and present forums of value to the automotive community.
Complete speaker agendas are available at http://www.cargroup.org/. To register for any of the 2006 Management Briefing Seminars, visit the website or call CAR at (734) 662-1287 or (866) 374-6227.
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