AUTO-TECH 98 Will Take a Journey Into the Next Millennium

17 June 1998
AUTO-TECH 98 Will Take a Journey Into the Next Millennium
    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 17 -- At the Automotive Industry
Action Group's (AIAG) eleventh annual AUTO-TECH 98 Conference and Exposition
Sept. 1-3, 1998 at Detroit's Cobo Center, attendees will share innovative
ideas and solutions to the challenges that face the auto industry with the
arrival of a new millennium.
    Exclusively geared toward improving the relationship between automakers
and suppliers through the adoption of new technologies, industry standards and
best practices, AUTO-TECH provides a host of top-rated, informational sessions
combined with an extensive exhibit floor.  Educational sessions at AUTO-TECH
will cover such issues as the Year 2000 problem, QS-9000, CAD/CAM data
exchange, bar code labeling, electronic data interchange (EDI), materials
management and the Automotive Network eXchange(R) initiative.
    "In today's ever-evolving auto industry, suppliers continue to look for
ways to make their companies more competitive," said Dick Simmons, AIAG
executive director on loan from Ford Motor Co.  "AUTO-TECH 98 will offer them
the opportunity to learn valuable information and functional solutions to
improve their businesses and processes."
    The exposition will include more than 220 booths featuring some of the
latest productivity-boosting technologies and approaches related to automatic
identification, CAD/CAM, material logistics, quality systems, the Internet,
EDI, packaging and international trade.

    Additional AUTO-TECH 98 highlights include:

    * An executive briefing luncheon by Bernard F. Mathaisel, executive
director and chief information officer for Ford Motor Co., addressing the
growing importance of information technology to the auto industry on
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1998;

    * The AIAG Outstanding Achievement Awards Dinner being held Tuesday,
Sept. 1, 1998 with speaker Joseph M. Magliochetti, president and chief
operating officer of Dana Corp.;

    * A keynote luncheon featuring Apollo 13 Astronaut James A. Lovell,
Jr., on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998; and

    * Briefings from AIAG project teams on cooperative industry efforts
that could help save the auto industry billions of dollars annually.

    For AUTO-TECH 98 registration and conference information contact the AIAG
at 248-358-3570.  Parties interested in exhibiting at AUTO-TECH should call
the AIAG at 248-358-9764.
    Founded in 1982, the AIAG is a not-for-profit trade association of nearly
1,400 automotive and truck manufacturers and their suppliers.  Originally
recognized for its efforts to standardize electronic data interchange and bar
code standards to assist Tier One suppliers, the AIAG's mission has expanded
to cover all levels of the automotive supply chain as well as to include
numerous programs and initiatives aimed at improving its members' productivity
and quality.
    More information about the AIAG and AUTO-TECH 98 can be found at its
website at http://www.aiag.org.