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Technical Product Manager
Aftermarket
Technology Corporation
Downers Grove, Illinois
Sectors: Automotive
Status: Research Completed
(View
PDF Profile)
Overview
PROFormance Powertrain Products of Springfield, Missouri, is
seeking a new Technical Product Manager. PROFormance is the
independent aftermarket brand name of engines & transmissions
for Aaron’s Automotive, an operating unit of Aftermarket
Technology Corporation (ATC). PROFormance’s product line
includes all makes of remanufactured engines and select
automatic transmissions. Their products are sold throughout the
U.S. and are distributed by 4 regional distribution centers
located around the country.
The parent company (ATC) and it’s operating unit (Aaron’s)
currently enjoy an excellent reputation within the OE community,
yet because of the present opportunity to penetrate the $1
billion independent aftermarket for remanufactured
transmissions, PROFormance has created the position of Technical
Product Manager. The new Technical Product Manager will manage
the aftermarket transmission product portfolio for the company
by ensuring that the right product mix is offered at the right
price and is manufactured and distributed at the right time.
The Company
Aaron’s Automotive originally started in business as an
automatic transmission shop in 1959. Bob Wehr the founder soon
expanded the company to 19 retail stores, scattered throughout
the Midwest. Aaron’s developed a comprehensive transmission
remanufacturing process whereby transmissions were completely
remanufactured to be as good as new. In 1983, Aaron’s also began
to remanufacture engines. Today the company primarily
remanufactures transmissions for Chrysler, but also supplies
engines to the independent aftermarket. In 2001 the brand name
PROFormance Powertrain Products was created to penetrate and
capture a large share in the $1 Billion independent aftermarket
for transmissions as well as to continue gaining share in the
independent aftermarket for remanufactured engines.
In 1994 Aftermarket Technology Corporation, a publicly traded
company, (Symbol: ATAC) purchased Aaron’s Automotive as part of
a strategic initiative to establish a Drivetrain Remanufacturing
Segment of their business. This segment primarily sells
remanufactured transmissions directly to DaimlerChrylser, Ford,
General Motors and several foreign owned OEM’s. The products are
primarily used as replacement parts by their domestic dealers
during the warranty and post-warranty periods following the sale
of a vehicle. In addition, the Drivetrain Remanufacturing
segment sells select remanufactured and newly assembled engines
to certain European OEM’s including Ford’s and General Motors’s
European operations and Jaguar. Today the segment revenues total
over $266 Million and consist of the following companies:
o Aaron’s Automotive Products Inc. (Springfield, MO)
o Autocraft Industries (Oklahoma City, OK)
o Component Remanufacturing Specialists, Inc. (Gastonia, NC)
o Component Remanufacturing Specialists, Inc. (Mahwah, NJ)
o Autocraft Industries UK (Grantham, Lincolnshire, England)
Today Aaron’s Automotive Products employs approximately 900
people within two non-union facilities. (a 268,300 square foot
Westgate Road facility and a 240,000 square foot Airport
Commerce Avenue facility) In addition to their remanufacturing
facilities, the company maintains several core storage
facilities in excess of 250,000 sq.ft. In 1997 the company
received QS9000 certification, which it maintains today.
Currently 85% of the transmissions that the company sells
through the PROFormance brand name are sold to member shops
within the AAMCO dealers association. A total of 650 member
shops fall under this agreement. The remaining 15% are sold to
warranty/insurance companies, fleets and distributors. Because
of the Powertrain Groups extensive remanufacturing experience,
the strength of their management team and the company wide focus
on continuous improvement, the company plans on dominating the
Powertrain Aftermarket. The Technical Product Manager will play
a visibly key role throughout the implementation of these plans.
PROFormance Powertrain Products anticipates on being the first
to market with a nationwide aftermarket transmission program,
which includes the following approaches:
• Warranty/Insurance (AON, JM&A, Guardian, Warranty Gold, Ethos)
• Traditional WD (Merrill, NAPA, Carquest, Uni-Select, Auto
Wares, Hahn Auto, UCI)
• Retail WD (Murray’s, Autozone, PEP Boys, CSK, O’Reilly’s,
Advance)
• Fleet (Post Office, Taxi & Limo, Municipal, Utilities)
• Specialty Repair (Cottman, Firestone, Motorwork, Midas)
• General Repair
The position of Technical Manager will report directly to Roger
Borer - Director of Sales & Marketing for PROFormance Powertrain.
Roger was hired in the fall of 2002 and was formerly the Vice
President of Sales for ITM engine components, a supplier of
imported engine parts. Roger Borer reports to John Mitchem –
Vice President of Aftermarket Operations for PROFormance
Powertrain. John was hired in the fall of 2001 and was formerly
the General Manager of a $200 million business unit of Honeywell
(Bendix Brake Systems). Paul Komaromy is the President of
Drivetrain Remanufacturing for ATC and Mike DuBose is the
Chairman and CEO of ATC.
Technical Product Manager
This position is responsible for managing the aftermarket
transmission product portfolio to ensure that PROFormance’s
product offering accurately reflects market demand, is properly
priced and supports the company’s business objectives. In
addition the manager will implement a customer support process
to effectively respond to product installation and vehicle
application issues. The Technical Product Manager will also
champion the process of sales, inventory and operations planning
(SIOP) for aftermarket transmissions.
Until now, the Drivetrain Remanufacturing segment of ATC has
focused primarily on growing and improving the “OE” sector of
their business. However, with the significant opportunity that
exists within the independent aftermarket for transmissions, it
is important that the right candidate for this position have
knowledge of transmission families, vehicle applications and
aftermarket consolidations. This knowledge and “know how” is key
to achieving the companies both short term and long term
business objectives.
The right candidate will have previously worked within a cross
functional team and will have interfaced with accounting
departments, sales departments and other internal personnel in
the development of market strategy, brand strategy and
pricing/margin analysis. The candidate must be proven in the
analysis of competitive data (price, product, sales volume),
demographics and feature benefit summaries, in order for the
company to offer comparative products that are competitively
priced. Additionally, the Technical Product Manager will
participate with Technical Support in the development and
implementation of product demonstrations, training programs,
printed materials and other projects.
Another area the Technical Product Manager will frequently
interface with others in is managing the Aftermarket
Transmission SIOP process and related meetings. This will
include sales forecasting for use in production planning,
manufacturing operations and inventory control. They will
participate with accounting and production personnel to initiate
“make” vs. “buy” decisions. Additionally, they will conduct “out
of stock” and “do not build” analysis on collected order data,
then participate in maintaining forward deployed inventory and
fill rate.
This person will participate in trade show, end-use
presentations so some travel can be expected.
Prior cataloging experience is required, as over the next 6-12
months this person will be charged with developing, assembling
and maintaining the company’s aftermarket transmission catalog.
This will require an ongoing review of part numbers, additions,
deletions and consolidations.
Developing an internal process to ensure that customer inquires
concerning application and technical issues are addressed on a
timely basis will go a long way towards “adding value” to the
PROFormance brand name.
Professional Qualifications
EDUCATION:
Knowledge at a level normally acquired through completion of a
Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering or Marketing in
order to acquire the technical background necessary to perform
assigned tasks. ASE certification is highly desirable.
EXPERIENCE:
Minimum 5 - 10 years in the automotive aftermarket with emphasis
on technical knowledge of transmission families, applications
and consolidations. Experience in transmission rebuilding or
remanufacturing would be considered very complimentary.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Expert knowledge of transmission families, applications, and
aftermarket consolidations
• Knowledge of product engineering, quality and inventory
control principles
• Solid analytical and presentation skills
• Knowledge of lean, six sigma, continuous improvement or other
process-based total quality tools
• High energy level, comfortable performing multi-faceted
projects in conjunction with normal activities
• Strong level of interpersonal skills necessary in order to
interact effectively with internal and external customers
• Demonstrates self-initiative. Capable of functioning with
minimal direction
• High degree of computer literacy – Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Willingness to travel to various ATC and customer facilities
The Locale
It is probable that the candidate has enjoyed living in a locale
similar to Springfield, Missouri. Maybe the person grew up in or
lived in Missouri or an adjoining state. Regardless, they must
value the quality of life of “Main Street, America” as a place
to live.
With its proximity to Branson and location among the Ozark
Mountains, Springfield (pop. 564,429) – Missouri’s third-largest
city – has always served as a gateway city and tourist
destination. 5 million visitors come to the region annually.
Springfield is a paradise to those who enjoy fishing, hiking,
boating and golfing. The city has also long served as the
cultural center of the Ozarks, supporting it’s own ballet and
opera companies as well as community theatre, an art museum and
a symphony.
Two nationally recognized hospitals that have been rated within
the Top 100 by “Modern Healthcare” magazine call Springfield
their home. A cost of living index that is nearly 10% below the
national average. A pleasant climate. These are some additional
reasons why someone should consider Springfield as there next
home.
Springfield has been quoted as:
• 9th best place to live and work - “Employment Review” May 2001
• Ranked 63rd in job growth, earned income and future growth –
“Forbes” May 2001
• Listed as a five-star community for quality of life –
“Expansion Management” May 2001
• Home of a blue-ribbon school system – “Expansion Management”
2000
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