Category Management Committee

The Category Management Program is a collaborative industry initiative to bring together all players in the supply chain to share information in order to operate our businesses more efficiently and profitably.

View highlights from the most recent committee meetings

NEW! ELR Guidebook for Application (Hard) Parts
ELR Guidebook and CD-ROM
Resources for Enhanced Line Review Services (.pdf)
Committee Members and Liaison

Committee Programs

Annual ELR Product Hierarchy Review

Over the past few years, AAIA's Category Management Committee has worked with the NPD Group and industry companies to establish product category definitions for exchanging point of sale (POS) data from industry retailers and traditional operators. As you know, POS data is necessary to realize optimal benefit from the Category Management/ELR (Enhanced Line Review) process.

To make sure that these product definitions represent the most current industry thinking, the Industry suggestions and ideas on needed changes to the existing hierarchies are solicited. Those interested will have a chance to review the categories that are applicable to their business.

Aftermarket POS Data Exchange
The Data Workgroup, working with NPD, has delivered a point-of-sale (POS) data exchange system tailored specifically to the aftermarket. Ten major auto parts retailers and wholesalers share data and are currently reporting weekly sales for most categories in the store. Reports are available from NPD on in-front-of-the counter categories. Work is now underway to identify category definitions for hard parts consistent with the AAIA parts standards.

ELR Business Model
The Enhanced Line Review (ELR) Workgroup working with The Partnering Group has developed an Enhanced Line Review business process, which is based on the familiar line review while incorporating basic category management principles.

ELR Guidebook & CD ROM
The Enhanced Line Review - a Guide to Managing Categories in the Aftermarket has been published along with an interactive training CD ROM. The Guidebook package focuses on how to implement an Enhanced Line Review specifically for in-front-of-the counter categories. To purchase this product, download the order form or call the AAIA Order Desk at 301-654-6664. A Guidebook for Application Parts ELR is also available.

ELR Training Seminars
To train the industry on implementing the Enhanced Line Review, several seminars have been conducted this year. With trainers from The Partnering Group, sessions have been held in Memphis, Phoenix, Detroit and Roanoke, Va. Seminars are being planned for other regions of the country. For information about future seminars, contact Robert Morris at robert.morris@aftermarket.org.

Hard Parts ELR and Inventory Efficiency
The Hard Parts Workgroup has developed an Enhanced Line Review process for hard parts using the brake category as a prototype. Expanded hard parts category definitions for use in ELR are currently being developed and designed to be consistent with AAIA parts standards. Work is progressing as well on a model to increase inventory efficiency within the supply chain.

Committees meet three times a year for association planning purposes. Opportunities exist to become involved in the leadership of the association through serving as volunteers on committees. Each year committee rosters are reviewed and candidates are nominated. Individuals interested in serving on an AAIA committee must send a letter of interest and a bio to AAIA Chair, c/o Dedra Lancaster at dedra.selby@aftermarket.org.

Committee Chair

Michael Klein, IDQ Holdings
Irving, Tex.

Committee Vice Chair

Jay McCorry, Morse Automotive Corporation
Chicago, Ill.

Committee Members

William Alexander, Parts Depot, Inc.
Chicago, Ill.

David Barbeau, Delphi Corporation
Troy, Mich.

Michael Boyer, Champion Laboratories
Albion, Ill.

Mike Briggs, NAPA Headquarters
Atlanta, Ga.

Galen Bullock, Pep Boys
Philadelphia, Penn.

Michael Cardone III, Cardone Industries
Lincolnwood, Ill.

Ray Datt, AIA Canada
Ottawa, Ontario

Christy Fornwalt, Federal-Mogul Corporation
Southfield, Mich.

Stephany Goodnight, AutoZone
Memphis, Tenn.

Mark Heird, Rust-Oleum
Severna Park, Md.

Phil Henderson, Remy International, Inc.
Anderson, Ind.

Rick Karlewski, AC Delco
Grand Blanc, Mich.

Paul Kortman, Wix Filters
Gastonia, N.C.

Larry Lavigne, 3M
St. Paul, Minn.

Steve Marks, Alliance
San Antonio, Texas

Jay McCorry, Morse Automotive Corporation
Chicago, Ill.

Ed Rammel, Dayco
Tulsa, Ok.

John Seal, Advance Auto Parts
Roanoke, Va.

John Strem, Standard Motor Products
Long Island City, N.Y.

Mike Swearengin, O'Reilly Auto Parts
Springfield, Mo.

Past President

Jon Rubich, Insights2Action
Woodlands, TX

Committee Liaison

Robert Morris, AAIA
E-mail: robert.morris@aftermarket.org

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