AUTOMOTIVE WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

ACEC Certifies Bar Code Guideline
For The Aftermarket

Research Triangle Park, N.C., June 17, 2002 – At a recent meeting in Chicago, the Aftermarket Council on Electronic Commerce (ACEC) unanimously voted to certify the revised automotive aftermarket Bar Code Guideline, which was developed by AWDA (Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association) for use in all segments of the automotive aftermarket industry. AWDA’s Logistics & Technology Committee (L&T Committee) developed the new guideline in response to requests to update the existing specifications.

The L&T Committee is composed of warehouse distributors, manufacturers and technology/systems providers, and its purpose is to facilitate the development of technology and standards and educate members on the changing technology environment.

Bar coding provides significant benefits and advantages for optimum supply chain management. It automates key business processes, delivering improved speed and accuracy and provides timely information while reducing costs and errors. By following the industry guideline, users will be assured they are properly marking and identifying products throughout the automotive aftermarket supply chain. This will prevent suppliers or customers from having to manage multiple bar code systems.

By submitting the Guideline for certification by the ACEC, the L&T Committee has established a set of standards that all segments of the aftermarket can use a basis for implementing or changing bar code systems.

"AWDA’s Logisitics & Technology Committee is proud to take the lead on this on behalf of the industry," said Kent Daly, Chairman of the Committee and vice president of operations for Sage Parts Plus. "Without industry standards like the Bar Code Guideline, suppliers, customers, various supply chains and even the technology solutions providers will use different nomenclature and numbering schemes. This creates confusion and inefficiencies in our industry."

The new Bar Code Guideline is available for downloading and printing from the ACEC Web site, www.aceconline.org. Individuals are encouraged to review the Guideline and forward comments and questions to Chris Gardner, AWDA Staff Liaison, at 919/406-8830 or cgardner@misg.com.

"I would like to recognize the efforts of the Uniform Code Council, which consulted with the L&T Committee to write the Guideline and tailor it to the specific requirements of the aftermarket," said Daly. "We would not have published the Bar Code Guideline in a timely manner without the help of this organization."

Founded in 1947, AWDA is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers of parts, accessories, tools and other supplies for the automotive aftermarket. Currently, the membership of AWDA consists of more than 150 warehouse distributors, approximately 150 manufacturers, in addition to affiliate, marketing associations, manufacturer representatives and media members. The distributors are engaged in the distribution of passenger car and light truck parts from the manufacturer, on to the jobber and finally to dealers and service stations.

The Aftermarket Council on Electronic Commerce is a volunteer organization and is composed of representatives of automotive aftermarket trade associations. Its twofold mission is to: 1) Ensure that E-commerce standards developed for the aftermarket meet the needs of the industry as a whole and 2) Eliminate redundant, overlapping and conflicting standards and development efforts.

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Web Sites

www.awda.org

www.aceconline.org

www.uc-council.org