INDUSTRY ISSUESNASTF Formalization Moves Forward DETROIT (April 4, 2006) - The National Automobile Service Task Force (NASTF) continues to transition to a full-time, formalized entity. At an open meeting held this week during the 2006 SAE World Congress, the voluntary organization reported on progress made in several areas towards that goal. Consensual decisions and actions made by the NASTF Planning Group, formed as a consequence of a motion passed without dissent at the November 2005 NASTF meeting in Las Vegas, were reported. The Planning Group meetings were facilitated by a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) representative, and the process enabled the divergent stakeholders to reach consensus decisions on a number of relevant concerns and steps in building a formalized NASTF. These included:* The formation of vision and mission statements.* Determination of decision-making and dispute resolution processes and standards.
* Identification of administrative and operational functions required.* Initial funding for the first year of operation* Selection of a board of directors.* Consideration of several management and administration proposals received from several organizations. A governing board of directors was announced at the meeting. The board will oversee NASTF and work towards finalizing the bylaws and other legal requirements to become a formal and full-time not-for-profit organization. At a board meeting held earlier in the day, three officers were elected: Chairman Charlie Gorman from the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI); Vice-Chairman Charlie Elder from the Automotive Service Association (ASA); and Secretary-Treasurer Steven Douglas from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM). Other industry constituents participating in the Planning Group were appointed as directors. When asked about the status of the three organizations that have not attended a NASTF Planning Group meeting since March 1st - the Mechanics Education Association (MEA), the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) - a NASTF spokesperson indicated that the new board was in the process of contacting each of the organizations to determine if it wished to remain as an active NASTF member organization or not, given their absences. The spokesperson said each of the associations was welcome to continue, but that clarification from each of them was necessary to avoid incorrectly presuming their status and interest. A proposal from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was selected to provide management and administrative functions for a formalized NASTF. Three groups had submitted proposals for consideration: ASE , ETI and SAE. ASE's Mary Hutchinson will serve as the first NASTF manager. To remove itself from a perceived or real conflict of interest, prior to the next NASTF meeting, ASE will give up its board seat. The position will be filled with an alternate ad hoc representative chosen from the industry at large, who will be capable of providing a voice for those ASE had represented. When asked why the ASE proposal was selected out of the three, John Cabaniss of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers responded. "All three proposals received could do the job. Each organization is well-respected, actively involved with NASTF constituents, and are capable of doing the job. "At the end of the day, however, ASE was chosen as the closest match for NASTF's needs," Cabaniss continued. "In addition to the cost advantage in its proposal, ASE has a 30-year relationship with the wide range of NASTF constituents, a history of responding to the needs of industry stakeholders, and a direct link to automotive service and repair shops and by extension to consumers."
