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One of the most critical interfaces in reducing warranty expense is between the supplier and the vehicle manufacturer. Eric Gray and Kerry Corpolongo, independent warranty analysts who, together have 40 years of industry experience on warranty reduction for suppliers and OEMs, will address how suppliers can employ early warning data from assembly plants to minimize the scope of warranty events and incorporate field data into next generation product to increase the application of lessons learned. Both are essential efforts in the warranty reduction process.

OESA presents “Reducing Warranty Expense by Managing the Interfaces,” a one-day conference Nov. 29, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich. focusing on improving the working relationships and processes influencing the industry’s warranty performance to reduce warranty cost. The early bird rate has been extended to Nov. 18, 2005. The agenda and registration form are attached.

Kevin Mixer, research director, automotive and heavy equipment manufacturing, AMR Research will deliver the keynote address making a business case for reducing warranty management complexity within individual commercial relationships and throughout the industry.

John Guy, chairman of CLEPA’s Warranty Working Group, and former senior commercial warranty manager with TRW Automotive in Europe, and David Cwycyshyn, customer quality manager, Continental Teves, N.A., will provide insight into European warranty trends and discuss CLEPA and OESA efforts to develop guiding principles suppliers may use negotiating warranty agreements with customers and suppliers.

Dave Sakata, vice president, technology sealing products, Freudenberg-NOK, will present case studies focused on utilizing fault-tree analysis tools to minimize production warranty risk in the extended supply chain. Ralph Pompea, operational manager, SPX/Valley Forge, will present a case study on improving relationships between dealers, suppliers and OEMs. OESA also presents exhibit opportunities where solution providers may present information, meet attendees and discuss current offerings.

The Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich. has a block of rooms for OESA Conference attendees on November 28 at a reduced rate of $149 per night for a single and $174 per night for a double. The rate will be available until Nov. 18, 2005. For reservations, contact the hotel at 313.593.1234 and mention the OESA Warranty Conference.

Registration Fees (including Supplier Guide to Practical Warranty Reduction):
OESA Members on or before Nov. 18, 2005 -- $295
OESA Members after Nov. 18, 2005 -- $350
OESA Non-Members on or before Nov. 18, 2005 -- $375
OESA Non-Members after Nov. 18, 2005 -- $450

Agenda

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.	Registration, Breakfast and Exhibits
8:30 - 8:40 a.m.	Welcome Neil De Koker, President, OESA
8:40 - 9:40 a.m.	The Business Case for Reducing Warranty Management Complexity Kevin Mixer, Research Director, AMR Research
9:40 - 10 a.m.	Networking Break
10 - 11 a.m.	OESA Practical Guide to Warranty Reduction -- Panel Aaron Bickford, Director of Warranty, ArvinMeritor, Inc., Panel Moderator Dave Desai, Senior Manager, DENSO International America, Inc. Tim O'Leary, Director, Quality, DURA Automotive Systems, Inc. Dave Sakata, Vice President, Technology Sealing Products, Freudenberg-NOK Jim Vanderweel, Director of Quality, Intier Automotive Seating Mike Price, Warranty Engineer, Mahle Inc.
11 - 11:45 a.m.	Supplier-to-Supplier: Improving Warranty performance Up and Down the Chain Dave Sakata, Vice President, Technology Sealing Products, Freudenberg-NOK
11:45 - 1:15 p.m.	Networking Lunch Accelerated Testing and Validation Tools for Reducing Warranty Expense  Alex J. Porter, Engineering Development Manager, Intertek ETL Entela
1:15 - 2 p.m.	OESA/CLEPA Joint Principles of Warranty Reduction -- Panel Discussion John Guy, Chairman, CLEPA Warranty Working Group, and former Senior Commercial Warranty Manager, TRW Automotive in Europe David Cwycyshyn, Customer Quality Manager, Continental Teves, N.A.
2 - 2:45 p.m.	Working with the OEM to Manage the Dealer Process and Influence Warranty Allocation Ralph Pompea, Operational Manager, SPX/Valley Forge
2:45 - 3:05 p.m.	Networking Break
3:05 - 3:50 p.m.	Addressing Warranty Expense: Leveraging Early Warranty Data to Lessons Learned Eric Gray, MSF, and Kerry Corpolongo, Independent Warranty Analysts
3:50 - 4 p.m.	Closing Dave Andrea, Vice President Business Development, OESA