"Our challenge is to deliver solutions on time and it is to identify solutions to problems that are no longer North American-centric."
Yet, while working on solutions to problems, the AIAG has to be careful that it doesn't violate the anti-trust laws of the United States to prevent collusion.
 |
| With all the big manufacturers sharing ideas and giving their input into industry decisions through the AIAG, U.S. anti-trust laws must be carefully considered. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
"We have signs all over the wall talking about that what we do is pre-competitive," Cummins said. "We are very antitrust focused. There are things we don't discuss, such as pricing and relationships with other companies."
"We define a topic or a subject or an issue that needs to be addressed and we stick to it. If we solve it for one, we solve it for all. It has nothing to do with pricing or quality or warranties."
 |
| Auto-Tech 2003 is one of the mid-sized automotive conferences held annually in Detroit's Cobo Center. To give a size comparison, the North American International Auto Show takes up Cobo's four main halls, Cobo Arena, and Cobo's lower level for more than 700,000 square feet, while Auto-Tech confined in the less than the 150,000 square-foot space of the Macomb Hall. Auto-Tech attracts a specialized, technical audience. (Photo: Joe Cabadas, Canadian Auto Press) |
In many cases, the organization delivers its solution to the auto industry at no cost. Instead, it earns its money off of its training and membership fees. And, to avoid legal quagmires, AIAG turns to advice from the prestigious law firm of Dykema Gossett PLLC that has offices in Detroit and eight other major cities.
Auto-Tech 2003 coverage:
Auto-Tech 2003 was the AIAG's the annual fall conference and exhibition to showcase the development of automotive business process and standards, while providing a forum to discuss critical behind-the-scenes issues such as how to best use information technology to shrink product development time (bringing new vehicles out from concept to the public faster), the best practices for crisis management, controlling inventory, and supply-chain strategies (how the vehicle manufacturers' relationships with their suppliers can be improved to profit consumers, the automakers, and suppliers).