Register by January 15th to Save on First Southern Automotive Quality Summit

AIAG and the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association is urging interested attendees to its first-ever Southern Automotive Quality Summit to register by January 15, 2016 to avoid the higher late-registration fee that goes into effect after that date.

The two organizations are excited to welcome attendees to their first joint conference, which will be held on January 28, 2016 at the Birmingham/Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama. The conference sessions are focused on how to develop a strong and diverse automotive supply base in the Southeast.

Designed to showcase the southern automotive industry’s commitment to world-class quality, this one-day event will highlight the industry’s current best practices and showcase emerging engineering and quality processes, methods, and tools that have the capability to increase the durability, reliability and safety of new parts, systems and vehicles. Session topics include ISO 9001:2015, ISO/TS 16949, and VDA 6.3.

1. Scot Sharland, AIAG’s executive director, says the need for the conference was sparked in part by “a significant migration” of auto industry players to the Southeastern United States. The goal of this event is to identify ways to accelerate the development of the sub-tier supply base in the region so the industry has better access to advanced manufacturing capabilities and services from local sources, he says.

The AAMA/AIAG Southern Automotive Quality Summit includes sessions on:

• Southern Automotive Quality: Expectations & Challenges
— Mercedes
• Southern Automotive Quality: Expectations & Challenges
— Michael Gaines, purchasing and division Manager, Honda
• MEPs: Supporting the Southern Automotive Industry
— Doug Jensen, president & CEO, Alabama Technology Network
• Quality Standards Update
— ISO 9001 (2015): Lorri Hunt, lead U.S. delegate TC 176; ISO/TS 16949: Cherie Reiche, program manager, auditor development process, IAOB, and Fred Czubak, ISO/TS 16949 program manager, FCA US, LLC
• VDA Quality Standards Update — Thomas Junggeburth, vice president, German Automotive Business Corporation
• OEM Quality Leadership Featured Speaker
 — Larry Curry, senior manager of parts development, Hyundai
• Supplier Quality Leadership Featured Speaker
— David Kneisler, vice president, global quality, Dana Holding Corporation

The day also offers two breaks for networking with attendees and speakers, as well as an evening reception.

Event sponsors and exhibitors include Denso, FCA, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Magna, Bosch, OMNEX, IAOB, iPoint, GSQA, Warren Averett, Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association, Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association, CEBOS, EASE, Team Quality Services, PQ Systems, I Gear, AIM Computer Solutions, QS, FormelD, Vashaw Scientific, and Extra Help.

Registration: $250
— Late registration is $300 after January 15, 2016

Carla Kalogeridis is AIAG’s e-news editor.