The RMI's Independent Garage Association (IGA) has launched the Trust My Garage scheme, a consumer reassurance scheme for independent garages.
Stuart James, IGA Director, commented: "The Trust My Garage scheme offers consumers who use Independent garages financial reassurance in the event of a dispute or if the garage goes out of business. This reassurance is backed by the IGA.
Those wishing for a greater mastery over the tyre business may benefit from a new bespoke training course Bridgestone UK is starting to roll out. The tyre maker says it intends to create industry-renowned ‘tyre geniuses’ with expertise across all aspects of the tyre sector through its training, which it calls the Genius Training Development programme. According to Bridgestone, the Genius Training Development programme is the first of its kind to provide a clearly defined development structure and is the most comprehensive of its type within the industry. The programme was launched on 31 January, with 30 people from a broad spectrum of tyre companies taking part in the inaugural training sessions.
Yokohama Rubber has announced four senior management changes. The first of these to take effect is Hirohisa Hazama’s relinquishing of his position as general manager of Yokohama’s Tire R&D department. This change took effect 1 January 2012. Hazama will continue in his existing roles as corporate officer and general manager of the Tire Global Technical division. Yokohama has not named a successor for the Tire R&D role.
Pirelli has announced that it has shortlisted eight of its 83 Performance Centres (PPCs) across the UK for the PPC of the year accolade.
In order to earn the coveted PPC accreditation, each of the dealerships undergoes a thorough auditing process, repeated twice a year to maintain the high standards, and are graded according to their score, from silver through to platinum.
Russia’s Tatneft reports that two tyre factories operated by its Tatneft-Neftekhim management company, OAO "Nizhnekamskshina" and OOO "Nizhnekamsk truck tires", have been certified according to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO/TS 16949:2009. In announcing the plants’ ISO certification, Tatneft states this accomplishment is “evidence of the successful completion of [a] special audit conducted after the reorganization of the tyre factories.”
Bridgestone UK’s training department has announced the addition of a fourth element to its Retail Business Development training programme. Dealer Selecta Tyre has been the first to engage with the new module, believing Bridgestone to “[understand] the tyre retail business better than any other external management training company we have been involved with in the past,” according to sales director Nick Henshall: “Selecta Tyre is growing as a business and as such we recognise that our retail managers are of vital importance to us continuing to achieve our future company strategies and goals.
A request for continued listing on the Nasdaq submitted by nano-precipitated calcium carbonate manufacturer ShengdaTech, Inc. has been turned down. According to the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel determination, the Nasdaq trading of shares in the China-based company was suspended as of the opening of business on June 10, pending the formal delisting of the company's securities from the exchange. As a result the ShengdaTech’s common stock commenced trading on the over-the-counter market at the opening of trading on June 10, 2011. ShengdaTech says it intends to appeal the Panel's determination to the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council.
Nano-precipitated calcium carbonate manufacturer ShengdaTech, Inc. reports its business operations will continue to be conducted as usual during its appeal against the delisting determination issued by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC’s Listing Qualifications Department. The appeal, ShengdaTech reports, has temporarily stayed the delisting pending a hearing on the matter on May 26. ShengdaTech acknowledges there is no assurance its appeal for continued listing will be granted and even goes as far as admitting that, should it be granted, it can not assure it will “be able to execute upon such request in a timely manner or to the satisfaction of Nasdaq.” Should the Nasdaq confirm the delisting determination, ShengdaTech’s securities will be subject to imminent delisting from Nasdaq and will be quoted for trading in over-the-counter securities markets.
Vacu-Lug Tyres has been awarded ISO14001:2004 status for its Environmental Management System, underlining the green benefits of dealing with the retread tyre manufacturer.
The award follows a rigorous external audit, during which the inspectors were said to have been especially impressed with the actions the company has taken to reduce energy its use by 20 per cent and recycle 100 per cent of its non-tyre-related waste.
Michelin’s missing one-of-a-kind stained glass windows may have end up in Oz. The focus of Michelin's window hunt has moved to Australia following tip-offs that the glassware featuring the Michelin man Bibendum could have been shipped down under. The antipodean link has emerged out of information submitted to Michelin through its stained glass amnesty, issued over four months ago. Michelin set up a confidential hotline and amnesty web page to allow people to leave their clues anonymously in the search for the original stained glass windows that once adorned the Michelin House building in London.
The team set up by Michelin to track down three original stained glass windows missing from London's iconic Michelin House building are reportedly “closing in” on the missing windows. In order to find the iconic relics of Michelin’s history the company set up a confidential hotline and webpage offering a “window amnesty” in exchange for information as to the stained-glass creation’s whereabouts. Now in the latest instalment in this tale of intrigue, Michelin is reporting that the phone lines have “proved busy with calls and tip-offs from across the UK.”
The tyre giant issued the amnesty two weeks ago in an attempt to get back the three missing original stained glass windows that once adorned the sumptuous Art Deco inspired Michelin House building on the Fulham Road, London. Michelin reports that the hotline and web pages have been “hot with rumour and speculation, with over 300 visits a day to the website since the amnesty was announced and a host of phone tip-offs that are helping to close the net on the missing windows.” Information including sightings has so far centred on the windows being last seen in the 1980s at Michelin storage facilities, a possible link to them being whisked out of the country to Australia and an anonymous call claiming they were sold onto a memorabilia collector based in the South East.
Pirelli has commenced the second phase of its 2010 Pirelli Performance Centre (PPC) technical auditing process in the UK and Ireland, with the highest scoring depots set to be nominated for the prestigious title of Pirelli Performance Centre of the Year 2010. Pirelli developed the performance centre accreditation scheme to provide a network of dealers with the highest technical standards and commitment to customer service in order to instil confidence into Pirelli’s end users.
Techking reports that the company passed a DNV (DET NORSKE VERITAS) audit for ISO9001 certificate in July 2010, after a 6 month examination and auditing procedure. "The pass of the ISO program at Techking is a credit to the dedicated employees who strive to meet customer needs through providing innovative solutions. All the efforts like this can make us outstanding from the competition," said Rongsheng Sheng, president of Techking.
Christine Karbowiak, who currently serves in the role of executive vice president, Community and Corporate Relations and member of the Board of Directors at Bridgestone Americas (BSAM), has been appointed to the newly created position of BSAM chief administrative officer, effective April 1, 2010. In addition to her current Community and Corporate Relations’ responsibilities, which includes government, media and community relations as well as internal communications and overall brand oversight for the companies under the BSAM umbrella, Karbowiak will also be responsible for roles related to Environmental Affairs, Internal Audit, Safety and Industrial Hygiene, and Corporate Security.
Tire Review reports that the Tire Industry Association is offering members the opportunity to save on utility costs by partnering with APPI to find ways to bring down energy costs. APPI will analyse, negotiate, contract, and manage the critical components of utility services including electricity and natural gas, water, recycling, waste removal, freight, check processing, credit card processing and telecommunications, TIA said.
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