Features

April 25, 2005 – Distributor Report

ASIAN SUPPLIERS HOLD ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (FAMI), a collection of various motorcycle associations throughout countries in Asia, met for three days in Taiwan last month to discuss the present status and future of the two-wheeler industry.
Singapore-based FAMI was launched in January 1999 to represent the motorcycle industries of India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Jointly founded by the industry associations in these countries, FAMI is devoted to addressing common issues to support the sound development of Asia’s two-wheeler business.
Member associations include the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI), the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), the Motorcycle Distributors Association of Malaysia (MASAAM), the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association of the Philippines (MDPPA), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association (SMCTA), the Thai Automotive Industry Association (TAIA), and the Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Association (TTVMA).
Meeting every six months, FAMI’s Management Committee acts as the administrative body for the organization and is comprised of representatives of the member associations. The Board’s General Meeting is the highest deliberative body in the FAMI organization and is convened once annually.
The recent meeting in Hualien, Taiwan, included reports from FAMI’s Technical Committee and Research & Planning Committee.
The Technical Committee, chaired by K. Ochi of JAMA, discussed noise and brake tests conducted at the Automotive Research and Testing Center in Taiwan. Enabling exchanges of the latest information from various sources, each member country then reported on its own safety, noise and emissions issues.
At the Research & Planning Committee meeting, discussion turned to the latest market trends and regulatory matters. JAMA furnished updates on the situation in Japan — specifically, the lifting of Japan’s long-standing ban on two-up riding on highways, the introduction of automatic transmission restricted motorcycle drivers licenses, and problems related to motorcycle parking.
The Research & Planning Committee also decided to study the best way to promote its future activities and resolved to compile a medium- to long-term action plan by the next FAMI Management Committee meeting, to be held in Thailand in September.

TR UPGRADES WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Tucker Rocky Distributing has upgraded its warehouse management software (WMS) by installing software that will run on a lower cost Windows platform and reduce the company’s hardware and software maintenance costs.
TR’s updated system runs on a Windows version of Provia Software’s ViaWare WMS. Provia Software, Grand Rapids, Mich., is a leading provider of order-to-delivery supply chain execution software.
“Being able to utilize the added functionality in the new version of ViaWare WMS, including the advanced task management, order planning, labeling and security will give us the ability to better serve our dealer network,” said Dan Kent, Tucker Rocky’s Operations Technical Manager. “We will also be able to better utilize our space and manpower, therefore saving time and money, as well as helping to keep our dealers satisfied through greater order accuracy and timeliness.”
Tucker Rocky and its Biker’s Choice unit distribute more than 65,000 items for the powersports industry, as well as accessories and apparel utilized by the consumers of those products. To gain better control of its inventory and resources, Tucker Rocky is now using ViaWare WMS in seven distribution centers: Visalia, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Denver; Bolingbrook, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Jessup, Md.; and Albany, N.Y.
“The distribution industry presents some of the most complex scenarios imaginable due to the wide range of needs and requirements that each individual dealer has,” said Paul Crist, Provia’s vice president of global sales and marketing. “The flexibility built into ViaWare WMS allows the software to mold to a company’s specific needs. Additionally, with Provia’s Knowledge Transfer Methodology, Tucker Rocky was able to manage the software upgrade on its own, and has staff members capable of training new employees on the upgraded system. The result for Tucker Rocky is a solution providing the lowest total cost of ownership.”
Provia’s supply chain execution products include RFID-enabled warehousing, transportation, order and yard management products integrated with web-based tools to create a real-time, end to end supply chain execution solution.
Provia Software’s clients include Menlo
Worldwide, Spencer Gifts, VersaCold, Gillette, Total Logistic Control,Taylor Made-adidas Golf, and Lanier Worldwide.
In other news from Tucker Rocky, the company recently announced a national sponsorship of TrailPass, the first large-scale effort to integrate and improve private riding areas in the United States. The sponsorship involves national funding as well as product support from Tucker Rocky’s house brands, including QuadBoss, MSR, Answer Racing, Pro-Taper and Ducks Unlimited.
“We have always supported the fight for riders’ rights on public lands”, says Bill Carter, vice president of marketing at Tucker Rocky, “and now TrailPass has the first broad scale effort to coordinate and improve private riding areas. Being associated with their trails, events, and their associated riding clubs is a great grassroots network for our brands, and we’ve also kicked in some valuable benefits for TrailPass members with some special rebate offers, too.”
“We were looking for a national sponsor that would see this opportunity as long-term, high quality and hands on, which is just what we found in our relationship with Tucker Rocky,” said TrailPass President Chris Connelly. “The folks at Tucker Rocky from the regional reps to senior management, have already demonstrated their commitment to making this a successful venture for both sides.”
For more information about the TrailPass program, visit www.trailpass.com.

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