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Original Equipment Suppliers Ass Holds Fall Industry Outlook Conference

20 November 2000

Original Equipment Suppliers Association Holds 2000 Fall Industry Outlook Conference

    DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 20 Today the Original Equipment
Suppliers Association (OESA) is conducting its second industry outlook
conference to more than 300 automotive supplier industry executives.
    The Association, formed in August 1998, provides a forum for automotive
original equipment suppliers to address issues of common interest, serves as a
reliable source of industry information and analysis, promote the interests of
the industry and serves as a voice for the industry when appropriate.  "Since
its formation, 247 companies have joined OESA," said Neil De Koker, managing
director of the association.  "These companies represent more than $270
billion in global automotive supplier sales," he added.
    The conference theme, "Embracing and Implementing Change at e-Speed," is
designed to address the dramatic and rapid changes taking place in the
industry.  Larry Yost, chairman and CEO of ArvinMeritor and Steve Abelman,
president and CEO of Oxford Automotive, will discuss their strategies for
success through mergers and acquisitions and strategic alliances.  They will
focus on how these approaches allowed them to provide products and services to
OEMs that they could not provide by themselves.
    Fred Bauer, chairman and CEO of Gentex Corporation is in the enviable
position of maintaining a high price/earnings ratio for their stock, far above
the rest of the industry.  Bauer will stress the importance of innovation and
adding value in products as a key factor to success.  "Of course, the only way
to manage Wall Street expectations is to earn the money, meet the targets, and
don't mislead people," Bauer stated.
    Toshiaki (Tag) Taguchi, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing North
America, Inc. will describe the changing landscape in the global automotive
industry.
    Don Runkle, executive vice president of Delphi Automotive Systems,
discusses new challenges and opportunities facing mega suppliers, and the role
these suppliers will play in the continuously-changing automotive arena.
    A panel of experts will discuss the progress in e-Business including
supply chain management, electronic procurement and collaborative product
development.  Meredith Nickol, vice president, business value development at
Robert Bosch Corporation, will present an update on OESA's e-Business Council,
a group of 50 e-Business executives collaborating to share information and
experiences on implementing e-Business practices in the industry.  The panel
concluded e-Business provides significant opportunities to improve the
business operations.  Other presentations by Dana Corporation and Johnson
Controls include more specific examples of success and progress in e-Business.
However, this is an evolutionary process and not revolutionary as predicted
only a year ago.
    "This conference provides an outstanding opportunity to share knowledge in
a rapidly changing environment.  In addition, opportunities to network with
industry peers are a great way to expand knowledge and understanding of issues
and solutions affecting the industry," stated Joe Day, chairman and CEO of
Freudenberg-NOK and the chairman of the board of OESA.