Message from the Publisher

Automotive RL is changing - Fast

This last year while I was visiting the automobile industry in Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan, I was able to take a tour of the Ford Motor Company museum. One of displays shared how farmers who purchased the Ford Tractor banded together to share data on part replacement and enhancements. Today that exchange is one of the oldest processes of Reverse Logistics since Ford’s introduction of the tractor back in 1917. When the early adopter’s purchased these farm tractors, not only was there a huge increase in productive, but the economic cost of the equipment demanded that the maintenance life and part support be extended well beyond anything that had been seen before. Voilà, the formation of associations like the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association, which makes it very fitting that we are collaborating with APRA in Rimini, Italy this month for a Symposium, Conference & Expo on the Remanufacturing and Reverse Logistics processes.

One of the discussions that we will be having at the conference at our European event is on the Basel Convention. If you haven’t heard about this movement, please give yourself a crash-course on the subject. No matter what your philosophic or political position is, the Basel Convention is going to or already has made an impact on your life. So join us along with over 150 RL and Reman Professionals in person or link our pod-cast streaming data of the conference so that you can be prepared for the future directions and sharp turns in policy regulations that are coming to Reverse Logistics. Also, take a look at the 40 plus exhibitors that will be presenting solutions for your company.

The major changes in the automobile industry are just around the corner. Just think, driver-less electric cars & trucks are coming soon. Imagine having a company that remanufactures disc-brakes, now contemplate re-writing your business plan to revamp your operations to support the future disc-brakes that are mostly inductive based for the use of back EMF for generating energy for the batteries!! Or hiring/training factory workers to remanufacture electrical/electronic systems that guides the navigation of vehicles. Yes, RL processes are changing very fast!

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Best Regards, Gailen Vick, Founder & Publisher www.RLA.org

Gailen Vick founded the Reverse Logistics Association in 2002. His market research found that over $750 billion was being spent annually on Reverse Logistics in North America alone! Uncovered where thousands of 3rd Party Service Providers (3PSP) that provided services to OEM/ODM, Branded and Retail companies! Additional research showed that there wasn\\\'t any common thread between any of the 3PSPs other than competition. There just wasn't a forum for the OEMs, ODMs, Branded and Retail companies to discuss best practices for Reverse Logistics. In January 1996 Gailen was re-introduced to the Service Logistics sector. This process in the supply chain industry was taking advantage of 3PL improvements. Many products were being sent to a depot and setting untouched instead of being repaired and sent back to the field. This new sector was just evolving into a formal industry where major cost saving were being realized. Gailen turned his focus to the'repair services' industry and managed Business Development at Sequel, PCS, Inc and later at Magnetic Data Technologies, LLC until the successful acquisition by Solectron (aquired by Flextronics) in the spring of 2002. These companies supported major OEMs and 3PLs such as UPS, 3Com, Iomega, Dell, HP, Compal, Toshiba, Sun Microsystems, Hitachi, Panasonic, Apple, Mitsubishi, Imation, Gateway, Kinpo, Bizcom and many others. With 40 years experience in aftermarket supply chain, engineering, manufacturing and marketing, Gailen's RL knowledge is a resource to companies across all industries. Prior to founding Reverse Logistics Association, Gailen served on the executive staff of several 3PSP companies. Most of these companies were in the computer and telecommunications industries which made for an enjoyable learning experience in business management for Gailen. His career started at Diablo Systems in 1974 as an EE & expanded to senior marketing & sales positions at Shugart, Fujitsu and Seagate. His experience at Xerox, Seagate, and Fujitsu along with business involvement at many trade conferences has allow Gailen to work hand and hand with many of today\\\'s Executive Management and has thus made him a resource to his colleagues. Early in his career as a Regional and National Sales Manager, Gailen managed several Service Centers, but on January 1996 he joined Sequel after leaving the Disc Drive Industry. Reverse Logistics (even though it wasn\\\'t called that until much later) was just starting to be outsourced and a formal industry was evolving at that time. EDUCATION Mr. Vick studied Electrical Engineering at Chabot College & Chapman University. Tutored by IBM and Xerox file technology engineers while studying at night, Gailen reached the position of Senior Engineer at Shugart Associates before transferring to the Marketing department. PERSONAL Mr. Vick was born Tennessee where the importance of an individual\\\'s word carried as much weight as a contract. After six years in the Navy (and while going to college in the evenings) Gailen started at Diablo Systems in 1974 and started his career in Electrical Engineering. Gailen changed his career path in 1980 (while at Shugart Associates) to Sales in order to provide for his growing family. He held several senior management positions in the disk drive industry, with companies such as Fujitsu, Priam, Conner Peripherals, Seagate and Avatar. As Gailen retired on July 30, 2016, he stays fit by taking long trips on his recumbent bicycle, but his favorite sport is racquetball. Since all of his 8 children are raised, and to overcome the empty nest syndrome, family history research,volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America and at his Church which is his favorite pastime. He stays busy with his wife Stella of 49 years visiting their 32 grandchildren!