New Tooling Forum Established

The Original Equipment Suppliers Association--which provides forums for members to address issues of common concern through 14 peer group councils--has formed a tooling group to provide a forum for toolmakers (tool and die fabricators as well as fixtures and gauges) to discuss industry issues, share best practice information, work together to solve issues that affect the entire value chain.

Membership is open to companies that manufacture molds, tools, dies and/or fixtures in North America for the automotive industry, and are independently owned.  Both OESA members and non-members may participate.  The forum is supported by Harbour Results, Inc. which will work with forum members and OESA staff to organize agendas, strategies, etc.  In addition, APMA, CAR, PMA and MEDC are supporting partners.

The forum will operate a series of quarterly meetings, form ad hoc committees or work groups as needed, and report out to the wider OESA membership as appropriate. The forum will operate for a period of 18 months, and at the end of that period would have the option to renew the forum or disband if members felt that they no longer needed the forum to address issues.

Topics for initial focus include workforce development, payment terms and mechanisms,  OEM presentations, diversification, where the industry will be in 2015, benchmarking and best practices, cost estimating, supplier audits, supply chain risk, material availability, capacity constraints, managing capacities, product cadence; delays in programs; and, setting budgets.

The inaugural meeting will take place in early fall.  For more information contact Margaret Baxter at 248.952.6401 ext. 223 or mbaxter@oesa.org.