The Automotive Industry, Interactive Games & Advertising

Ferrari have announced an alliance with SCEE which means that finally you can drive a Ferrari in Gran Turismo! Licensing has traditionally been a complex area “Advergaming and Sponsorships” is a great article which talks about all aspects of in-game advertisement and sponsorships in particular the section titled “A Gray Line: Licensing vs. Advertising”.
Nissan North America and Microsoft recently announced expansion plans to a long term partnership which originally involved integrating the Xbox 360 platform into a concept car called the URGE.

The partnership now extends to Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions platforms such as; Windows Live, MSN, Live Search, Xbox and Windows Mobile. Nissan are the primary sponsor of “Forza 2 Motorsport” for Xbox 360 and are co-sponsoring Open for Design program.

Ford announced earlier this year their plans for an advergame called “Ford Bold Moves Street Racing". My money is on Nissan and Ferrari doing very well and Ford’s strategy falling flat. Gamespot reviews aren’t very favourable with ratings of “bad” to “poor” for the various platforms (Xbox 360, PC etc) which bodes very poorly for Ford. To quote a review: “When people complain about racing games because they are boring, Ford Bold Moves is exactly the kind of game they are talking about.

Business English and the Automotive Industry
There is a real challenge out there as the Automotive Industry ‘globalises’ – experts in a number of disciplines from Sales to Design, Engineering to Manufacturing are having to talk to each other across continents. This brings so many challenges, both for the business and the individual. Companies like Nissan and Renault have important alliances in place, and most automotive manufacturers are present in China, working with local industries.

The Challenge
English is the global language of the Automotive Industry
There are ever increasing demands on Automotive executives:

• International Travel
• International Companies & Alliances
• Shared, Time-pressured Development programmes
• International Meetings – face to face, on the phone, even on TV
• International Communications – e-mails, letters, video conferencing

Global Experts in Design, Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance who have challenges when trying to get their expertise across.

The Personal Challenge
Imaging the difficulties posed by the following examples:
7. “I really want to understand what makes this colleague / customer ‘tick’ – it would make this project / negotiation much easier” – but I’m stuck for words! English is too difficult!

The Solution
The Automotive giants and their suppliers need to get their experts ‘up to speed’, NOW. International alliances and cooperation means more travel, more meetings and more and more shared projects and platforms. There are various options available to employers to enhance their employees' skills in English, especially to those in Japan, Korea and China. Good training (which can also be carried out in-house, or in a language school either 'at home' or abroad) enables international experts to communicate easily and with confidence, so that a car-makers' ideas and agenda are definitely put forward.

Too often during my career in the industry I have watched Japanese colleagues struggling to communicate their point of view (and therefore that of their employers!) to people from very foreign cultures. My favourite example of this is sitting in a car in the UK, next to a Turkish gentleman, and hearing one half of a conversation he was having with a Vietnamese gentleman who was speaking from his desk in France where he works for a German company – all about a project for a French customer for parts that would be manufactured in Turkey for a Romanian factory!

What Auto Dealership Service Departments are Looking for in a Resume

What are auto dealership service departments looking for in a resume? Well right now there are about 150,000 jobs available in auto services. Industry analysts and data show that by beginning of 2007 there will be 188,000 job openings in the automotive service sector.

As we watch General Motors, Delphi and Ford Motor Company lay off hundreds of thousands of people it still is not enough to fill all the jobs currently available in the auto maintenance and auto service sector. If you are looking for a job turning a wrench or working on cars you will find a job waiting for you now at an auto dealership service department.

Not a whole lot, they just need bodies and people who are trainable to learn how to work on the new high-tech cars and get certified. Even though the competition is nonexistent for getting a job in the auto dealership service sector, you need to check around and find which auto dealerships are offering the best deal for you with the highest pay and greatest benefits.

Good Customer Service is Not Up-selling Customers into Oblivion
The new buzz-word in the Auto Industry for customer service is; Right-Selling, your customer. In other words do not sell your customer something they do not need or up-sell them into oblivion. The problem starts industry consultants continually talk about; dollars per customer sale.

Oil change facilities, car washes and many other automotive service businesses work very hard and even pay extra commissions to their service writers when they up-sell the customer. But overselling the customer makes the customer think that they have paid too much and are over budget on their auto expenditures.

One industry analyst says; if the customer's butt is sore when they leave they are liable not to come back. But I believe it gets even worse than this, because a customer who feels that they have paid too much for service is when the only win in for an $8.99 carwash or a $19.99 oil change and in some paying $24.99 for a super deluxe carwash and hot wax or $149.00 oil change, transmission fluid change, engine flushing and several other ancillary services is not likely be happy.

By right-selling the customer, you get a steady repeat customer and referrals too. Over selling means you lose the customer and that is just not good business.

Are You Over Polishing Your Car's Paint?

I have been reading a lot of threads on the Autopia.org forum lately that basically start with people asking "what polish should I use?" I think it's time for a completely different discussion about paint polishing. What I strive to achieve is the highest level of paint perfection without altering the structure of the paint. When I have a paint problem, I want to be able to fix it without removing excessive clearcoat that I need to maintain a deep-looking finish. I’m a huge advocate of spot treatment. I rarely take an abrasive polishing compound to an entire body panel, or worse, the whole car. In no way is this use of paint polish an appropriate way to care for paint.

RULE 1: Do less damage than the damage that already exists.
My experience shows me that 95% of all paint issues can be resolved with a very fine polish, the right tools and the right technique.

Autopia Member fotodad writes:
“You make many excellent points! I truly believe (after reading your post) that detailing can reach a point of diminishing returns once we get involved in all these assorted polishes and paint preparation products. Certainly no one would dispute the need to keep an automobile's finish clean of dirt and general debris via weekly or even daily cleaning. Often times neighbors will walk past my house while I'm detailing and they'll jokingly say, "You're going to rub the paint right off the car!" I laugh, call them a few choice names under my breath and continue polishing. But maybe they've got a point!”
Your neighbors are correct, fotodad, you are going to polish the paint off your car. There is a class of paint polish that can be used to maintain gloss without abrasives that thin your paint. These polishes are most commonly called pre-wax cleaners. The polishing (gloss enhancing) action is a combination of chemical cleaners that remove embedded dirt and very fine polishes that maintain gloss. The polishing “abrasive” is about the consistency of talcum powder. My two favorite products are Sonus Paintwork Cleanser and P21S Paintwork Cleansing Lotion.

RULE 2: Don't remove clearcoat you may need some day!
We all talk about gloss, depth and clarity, but are you stopping to think about what you might be doing to each of these final finish characteristics each time you take an abrasive polish to your paint? You might be seeing more gloss, but it's coming at the expense of depth and maybe even paint finish clarity.
Most professional polishes are designed to be used with a rotary buffer, by an experienced technician. When you use these polishes by hand or dual-action (DA) polisher, you put scratches in your paint finish that will not come out by using the next polish up in the line.

Autopia Member Accumulator writes:
“Glad you mentioned the lack of depth that can result from excessive polishing. I don't need a paint thickness gauge to tell me there isn't a normal amount of clearcoat on it.”
There’s no doubt that the clearcoat on the modern car finish creates the beauty of the finish. To retain the good looks, the clearcoat must remain clean and finely polished. Heavy polishing will reduce finish clarity and depth.

Autopia Member Tasty writes:
I raised the issue of how much polishing and abrasive use can be done before you are actually just wearing the paint thin. I also read the study that one guy did about abrasives on paint over on the Meguiar's forum. He tried several products on a hood panel, and after each use measured with a paint thickness gauge. After time all the less aggressive products effects become cumulative, and may start to do more harm than good.”
It should be noted that a proper paint finish (primer, color and clearcoat) is only 6-8 thousandths (6/1000) of an inch thick. If your car has a quality clearcoat, it will be about half of that total paint thickness. Removing 1-2 thousandths of and inch of clearcoat happens in a matter of seconds with an abrasive polish.
My business partner got a 3-inch long scratch in the clearcoat of his new Lexus SC. I used a spot pad and a corrective polish to pull most of the scratch out so it would pass the 5 foot test. I explained that if I removed more material we risked thinning the clearcoat and creating a patch of paint that no longer matches the rest of the finish.
The skill is learning how to read the paint and knowing what the final result will be when you use a product.

RULE 3: Know for a fact what tasks the products you're using were designed to perform.
Are you using a polish designed to be used on an automotive assembly line by a technician with a 4-inch spot pad on a pneumatic polisher to remove 2400 grit sanding marks? If so, what are the equivalent pad specs, rotation speed and polish time to remove your 5000 grit equivalent swirl marks?
Are you using a refinisher’s panel blending compound originally designed to cut and blend fresh paint using a wool pad as a general purpose cutting compound? If so, can your foam cutting pad effectively generate enough heat on your DA to break down the abrasives to prevent paint scouring?
The fact is, very few abrasive polish systems were designed from the ground up to be a DA polishing system. Very few others have bothered to correctly match "general purpose" polishes with polishing pads and proper instructions to create a system.

Autopia Member Accumulator writes:
“As for the abrasive products, I generally find myself using (and recommending) those that can be used by hand/PC/rotary. I sort of cringe reading recommendations to use rotary-only products by hand or PC.”
Again, I reiterate buyer beware. All abrasive polishes have abrasive particles with different characteristics. Abrasives have different size, shape and hardness. Some abrasive particles are designed to break down into smaller, finer abrasives as the polish is applied.

PAINT CARE WITHOUT ABRASIVES
Most new car finishes can be properly maintained without using abrasive (corrective) polishes. Doing so requires smart paint care, including regular washing and waxing, use of proper wash and wax tools (wash mitts, applicators, towels, etc.) and cautious parking. Finish damage avoidance is the best way to maintain a perfect finish. Nothing will swirl a paint finish faster than a bad wash mitt or drying towels.
If you park away from soccer moms and shopping carts, and wash your car using proper tools, you can keep the finish free of light surface damage for a long time. When your paint does get marred, the problem can be locally treated by hand or with a spot pad with a corrective polish.

Member Jinba ittai writes:
“I've always thought that it's preferable to get rid of or lessen a scratch by filling it rather than taking actual paint off. IMO [in my opinion] the more paint on the car, the better. Many wax products can be layered to help cover minor surface marring. My favorite combination is Klasse All-In-One followed by P21S Carnauba Wax. Others swear by the Zaino polish system.

Member laefd writes:
The trick is to learn to live with the minor imperfections and reach a happy medium where you take care of the issues that lead to the problem - proper wash, protection, etc. If you have a problem that needs immediate attention then take care of it, if you have issues (swirling, etc.) take care of the swirls when it crosses your individual threshold for tolerance. Moderation is the key.

I offer the following advice for proper long-term paint finish on new and like-new cars:

• Wash weekly (as possible) using a quality car wash, wash mitt and drying towels.
• Deep clean paint twice a year with detailing clay.
• Polish paint 3-4 times a year with a pre-wax, non-abrasive polish.
• Seal paint 3-4 times a year with a quality paint sealant.
• Protect your paint finish from damage by other motorists and pedestrians.

These five simple steps will keep your paint looking great without the need to use heavy polishes for corrective action.

Tips For Dealing With Used Car Repair Shops

Communication is the key to a successful result when dealing with used car repair shops. The first, and most important, aspect is for the car owner to be prepared to explain the problem in detail. The technicians at the used car repair shop will be able to better understand the problem and possibly locate it faster with the help of the car owner. For instance, if the problem is most noticeable when the brakes are applied or during acceleration, this will be important information for the used car repair shop.

While explaining the automobile’s problem to a used car repair shop, it will be ideal if the car owner could provide a written list of the symptoms that their car is experiencing. It is also important that the car owner not suggest a remedy, but rather allow the used car repair shop technician to diagnose the problem and offer a suggested course of action to repair the problem. The technician is a professional who is knowledgeable with cars and what to look for, so it will not make the process any quicker if the car owner is suggesting a remedy before the technician has had an opportunity to inspect the car.

The car owner should not be embarrassed to ask questions or request more detailed information regarding automotive terms. While it is important to ask plenty of questions, it is equally important for a car owner to refrain from demanding an immediate diagnosis. If the used car repair shop informs the car owner that new equipment must be installed, the owner should inquire about warranties and any available guarantee. It is also a good idea to inquire about payment options. Some used car repair shops may allow their customers to make convenient monthly payments after the work has been done, while many require immediate payment in the form of cash, money order, check or credit card.

Automotive Machine Shop Repairs
Machine shops undertake general mechanical work that includes fabricating new parts or repairing old ones. The automotive machine shops undertake the repair of cars or vehicles, which may include motorcycles also. Some automotive machine shops are brand-specific. The repair work may include engine cleaning and dust removal, the checking of cranks, rods, blocks and heads, as well as suspension parts of race cars, crack repair of blocks and heads, crank shaft grinding, polishing and hardening, block boring, complete engine balancing, and connecting-rod stress relieving.

There are automotive machine shops that take up all types of vehicular repair work irrespective of brand. They also undertake the repair of older vehicles, the so-called ‘yesterday’ machines, whose parts and accessories are not easily available. The job of these generalists is also more labor-intensive and time-consuming. Both brand-specific and general repair shops also supply or fabricate new parts to replace the damaged ones if they are beyond repair.

A point of concern is that these machine shops use hazardous materials for their repair work and release environmentally harmful waste materials. For example, they use methylene chloride to clean the aluminum parts. This solvent is toxic in nature. If it is not properly disposed of it may prove dangerous to the environment. So, apart from repairing and fabricating machine parts, the machine shop owners also need to be responsible for protecting public health and the environment.

The Best Way To Find The Best Car Accessories

How do you find the car accessory that is just right for your new BMW. Everyone I know who owns a BMW wants to give it just a touch of personality. To put their signature on it, many of them look for a car accessory that will give their BMW some personality.

For some people, the best car accessory for a BMW is wheels, some find steering wheels or gear shift covers to be the perfect car accessory for their BMW. Any of these after market items make a great touch to personalize a BMW. They come in a variety of styles and prices, but there is certainly a car accessory in the group that would be just right for you and your car.

When choosing a car accessory for your BMW, keep in mind that it will have to be installed at some point. In order to make sure you install your car accessory properly, you will definitely need to get your hands on some instructions. You can, if you are having trouble installing your car accessory, contact other BMW owners or check on line for supplemental instruction. No matter how you do it, just make sure that your accessories get installed properly so as not to do damage to the part or to your car. If you are concerned, you can always contact a BMW dealer or car accessory dealer to find out what they charge to install.

Where do you begin your car accessory search, though? The best place to look is online. There are so many stores and dealers offering car accessories for your BMW online that you will hardly be able to believe it. Many companies discount online items or at least offer free shipping. So it is a great place to start your search.

Your BMW is your baby, right? Well a car accessory here and there can really personalize your BMW to make it uniquely yours with a personality all its own. Finding and installing the right car accessory is not difficult if you just make sure you know what you are doing going into it. With a little research and determination you will have the perfect car accessory for your BMW before you know it. Good luck and enjoy your new personalize car.

Automotive Machine Shop Repairs
Machine shops undertake general mechanical work that includes fabricating new parts or repairing old ones. The automotive machine shops undertake the repair of cars or vehicles, which may include motorcycles also. Some automotive machine shops are brand-specific. The repair work may include engine cleaning and dust removal, the checking of cranks, rods, blocks and heads, as well as suspension parts of race cars, crack repair of blocks and heads, crank shaft grinding, polishing and hardening, block boring, complete engine balancing, and connecting-rod stress relieving.

There are automotive machine shops that take up all types of vehicular repair work irrespective of brand. They also undertake the repair of older vehicles, the so-called ‘yesterday’ machines, whose parts and accessories are not easily available. The job of these generalists is also more labor-intensive and time-consuming. Both brand-specific and general repair shops also supply or fabricate new parts to replace the damaged ones if they are beyond repair.

A point of concern is that these machine shops use hazardous materials for their repair work and release environmentally harmful waste materials. For example, they use methylene chloride to clean the aluminum parts. This solvent is toxic in nature. If it is not properly disposed of it may prove dangerous to the environment. So, apart from repairing and fabricating machine parts, the machine shop owners also need to be responsible for protecting public health and the environment.

How To Find And Install Auto Parts On Your Own Vehicle

Are you one of those people who is mechanically inclined? One way that you can reduce the expense of auto parts is to go for recycled car parts.
You will find that companies that specialize in recycling auto parts can offer you some really good savings. One of the ways that they get the cars is from insurance companies that drop off cars that have been deemed to be totaled which the recyclers use the parts from.

You are also helping the environment by buying recycled parts because there is a good bit of pollution caused by making new parts due to the fact that they use a lot of oil to make new parts. As with many other things that we use as humans, reusing raw materials like this is very beneficial to our environment. There are well over four million vehicles recycled annually in the United States so that should tell you that there are lot of parts available out there for a wide range of vehicles. The act of recycling also saves and helps the environment by not filling unnecessary space in landfills. You are also able to get the same quality parts by using a recycler as you would get from the original manufacturer’s parts.

Recycled parts have so many benefits, from being environmentally conscious to saving you lots of money this is one of the best possible ways to buy auto parts. If you are concerned about the quality of the recycled auto parts you should know that most of the recyclers give warranties on the parts they sell so you do not have to be worried about whether they are good or not. They also usually have huge networks of other recyclers and parts dealers and can find the part you need quickly, efficiently, and at a good price.

How To Find The Automotive Body Parts You Need
If you have ever had to look for body parts for a vehicle you know what a pain it can be. There is such a wide array of different choices for the parts that it can really be confusing. There are aftermarket body parts that are more on the low end and then there are others that are more expensive so the prices can vary wildly. If you go with original manufacturer equipment you can expect to pay a great deal more than if you go with an aftermarket company that has similar if not equal quality. You also have the choice of going with used body parts which may come off of a junk car which will be cheaper still. Virtually any body part you need can be found from lights and grills to quarter panels and entire truck beds. You can find a vehicle that may have damage to one side and the rest of the car is fine, or you may need the front clip are able to get it from a car that the rear end has been totaled on. If you own a late model car you can be sure to find just about any part you need and there will more than likely be several models of your car at a bigger salvage yard. The real defining factor of whether you are able to find quality parts at a salvage yard is probably geographical. For instance if you live up north where they use salt on the roads you may find it difficult to find parts that haven’t already began to corrode. If you live in a desert area such as New Mexico or Arizona there will be no problem finding parts at all.

Another idea for you is to buy cars with salvage titles. You can get them extremely cheap and then you have all the parts you need, once you have all you need you can part out the rest. If you have time on your hands this can be a good option and it allows you to bypass the middleman. Lastly you also have the aftermarket industry that specializes in automotive body parts. They have parts available for just about any car you can imagine.

Automotive Training Schools

Automotive Training Schools prepare students for careers in the auto, diesel, and auto body industry. Students in Automotive Training programs can expect to learn the essentials of maintenance and auto repair procedures from tires and suspension to computers and diagnostics.

Automotive Training programs include combined classroom instruction and hands-on experience. Students of Automotive Training should expect to receive instruction while working on older model as well as newer model vehicles, as it is imperative to be familiar with the early as well as the latest in automotive technology.

Trade and technical Automotive Training Schools offer programs that may last up to a year. Community college Automotive Training programs combine automotive instruction with courses in general studies. Certification is available through some programs. Automotive Training curriculums may include customer service and communication skills.

Today electronic systems and complex computers run cars while measuring performance on the road. Automotive Technicians have become high-tech diagnosticians, using electronic diagnostic equipment and computer-based reference materials. Other skills that will serve an Automotive Technician are sound reasoning capabilities and a thorough knowledge of the complex components and interactions of auto bodies and motors.

Automotive Training Schools must continually update their curriculum to keep apace of rapidly changes in technology. Certified Automotive Technicians can expect to be subject to regular review and recertification requisites.

Automotive Training Online
Online Automotive Training Schools offer instruction on the basic concepts and functions of automotive engines through instruction modules. Online Automotive Training begins with instruction on the fundamentals of electrical circuitry, fuels, batteries, motor functions, etc., presented in written, diagram, and sometimes animated forms.

Automotive Training curriculums must continually be updated to keep apace of rapidly changing technology in the automotive industry. Today electronic systems and complex computers run automobiles while measuring performance on the road. Automotive technicians have become high-tech diagnosticians, using electronic diagnostic equipment and computer-based reference materials. Students can expect to learn the essentials of maintenance and auto repair procedures from tires and suspension to computerized functions through Online Automotive Training modules. Courses will emphasize the development of a solid understanding of functions that will be necessary to effectively diagnose and analyze automotive problems.
Course studies in Online Automotive Training may include good communication skills and techniques in relation to customer service. Passing the Online Automotive Training examinations will allow students to enter the laboratory phase of their automotive education with hands-on experience in a shop.

Online Automotive Training programs may take up to a year. Certified Automotive Technicians can expect to be subjected to regular review and recertification requisites.
Find an Online Automotive Training program at www.schoolsgalore.com and begin your training for a career in automotive maintenance and repair.