The Fall 2013 General Meeting of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 and one of the important topics on the afternoon agenda is counterfeit tools. Bob Stewart, manager of Aftermarket Service Support for General Motors was recently charged with coordinating the GM response to this threat and has agreed to share his knowledge with the independent aftermarket in a session titled “Who’s Cheating Whom?”
“It’s an issue that was raised with NASTF by a technician earlier this year,” explained Skip Potter, executive director of NASTF. “Since NASTF is the primary connection in the industry between independent technicians and the OEMs, our General Meeting in Las Vegas is a great opportunity for us to bring them the OEM perspective on this topic.”
“We suspect,” Potter continued, “that the problem of counterfeit tools is a greater threat in independent shops than it is in franchise dealerships so NASTF hopes to use this presentation to close that gap.”
“There are significant risks in the use of counterfeit tools,” notes Stewart. “I have interesting findings to share with those attending this NASTF meeting.”
Additionally, Stewart expects to share some identifying characteristics of counterfeit tools that will help technicians avoid costly mistakes.
In addition to Stewart’s session, the Fall 2013 General Meeting agenda includes a special presentation by the NASTF Collision Committee, featuring Jason Bartanen of I-CAR with co-chairs Bob Chabot and Tim Morgan. NASTF Committees have been hard at work in 2013 with big plans for 2014. Join their conversations in the segment “Ask The Committee Co-Chairs,” covering the Vehicle Security Committee with Mark Saxonburg and Claude Hensley; Education Committee with Karen Miller and Rob Morrell; Service Information Committee with Steve Douglas; Equipment & Tool Committee with Donny Seyfer and Greg Potter; and the Communications Committee with John Cabaniss.
Technicians, shop owners, OEM representatives and other automotive industry attendees have additional opportunities to join the NASTF conversation during the Fall 2013 General Meeting when NASTF Chairman Charlie Gorman opens the meeting, and then when Potter closes the meeting with the segment “Ask The Executive Director.”
The NASTF Fall General Meeting will be held 1-4:30 p.m. (Pacific) in Casanova Room 605 at the Sands Expo/Venetian Hotel during the AAPEX/SEMA trade shows.
NASTF General Meetings are free to attend and no pre-registration with NASTF is necessary. However, registration for the AAPEX/SEMA trade shows is highly recommended. To register for a show badge, visit www.aapexshow.com.
