Chinese Auto Parts Suppliers for Entry Into N.A. Auto Market
SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), a leading not-for-profit automotive industry trade association, today announced that Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization, will provide AIAG Gap Assessment Services to automotive parts and accessories manufacturers in China to facilitate North American market access for these suppliers.
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Under the collaborative agreement, UL will perform gap analysis as well as training in problem solving and heat treatment process control. The AIAG Gap Assessment Services is a new program that will assist AIAG members, including General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler Corp. and Ford Motor Co., in resolving issues with sourcing automotive parts and accessories in China. The program also helps potential suppliers identify gaps in meeting the Detroit automakers’ sourcing requirements.
The agreement leverages AIAG’s technical and management expertise and UL’s professional service capability in evaluating products, components, materials and systems to help automotive parts suppliers in China export their higher quality products more quickly.
Dr. Chen Yilong, general director of Asia-Pacific Affairs & chief representative in China, AIAG, said, "Asia, particularly China, represents a key economic growth sector for the automotive parts sourcing industry. Some suppliers have found it challenging to export their products to North America because of the gap in meeting stringent sourcing requirements, where efficient and cost-effective manufacturing and delivery are more crucial than ever. Those suppliers that can demonstrate compliance will make a footprint in the global automotive industry."
Mr. John H. Schmidt, senior vice president, chief development manager of UL, said: "We look forward to deploying UL’s specialized professional training and automotive industry service resources to make this program as valuable as possible to parts suppliers. UL will closely adhere to AIAG’s criteria for technical and service level quality, while AIAG will oversee the program to ensure that the needs and preferences of all participants are acknowledged and implemented."
A gap assessment (or gap analysis) is a business evaluation tool enabling a company to compare its actual performance with its potential performance. This provides the company with insight into areas that offer opportunity for improvement. The gap assessment process involves determining, documenting and analyzing the variance between business requirements and current capabilities.
For business inquiries, please contact Ms. Chen or Ms. Zhu at
86-21-5292 8665.
About AIAG
Founded in 1982, AIAG is a globally recognized organization where OEMs and suppliers unite to address and resolve issues affecting the worldwide automotive supply chain. AIAG’s goals are to reduce cost and complexity through collaboration; improve product quality, health, safety and the environment; and optimize speed to market throughout the supply chain. Headquartered in the metro Detroit area, its more than 1,500 member companies include North American, European and Asia-Pacific OEMs and suppliers to the automotive industry. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.aiag.org .
About UL
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for over a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 21 billion UL Marks appearing on 71,000 manufacturers’ products each year. UL’s worldwide family of companies and network of service providers includes 66 laboratory, testing, and certification facilities serving customers in 104 countries. UL is also one of the authoritative ISO/TS 16949 services providers. For more information, visit: http://www.UL.com .
