IAR Recyclers Newspress May / June 2016

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Page 9 Recyclers News Press
Mr. Swift Goes to Washington
VIN Data for Parts is within Reach
economic benefits. The current system of sending hardcopy letters to the last
registered owner of the vehicles was not only inefficient and expensive to
automakers but lacked integration to the parts inventory system used by au-
tomotive recyclers thus did not accomplish the intended transfer of infor-
mation necessary. The bill became law but with the concession, that only the
recall data will be provided to auto recyclers. The law is in the rule writ-
ing process now.
The availability of the recall data in batch data form to inventory manage-
ment systems will allow auto recyclers’ systems to flag recalled parts in real
time so that as soon as a defect is identified the parts will be marked as non-
saleable. Additionally, if the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or a
third party vendor is offering a buy back on recalled parts they will be easily
pulled for sale much like integrated core sales programs work now.
The law was championed in the
House of Representatives by Rep-
resentative Adam Kinzinger, from
Illinois, and his motivated staff.
ARA honored Representative
Kinzinger and his staff for under-
standing that the data is unneces-
sarily kept from consumers and
auto recyclers even though it was
readily available in electronic form.
The process is not over and the
mechanics of making the data inte-
grated with inventory management system is a political process wrought with
concession and compromise. Thankfully, Mr. Swift, ARA CEO Michael Wil-
son, and the extremely talented ARA Director of Policy, Delanne Bernier,
along with a dedicated support system made up of ARA staff, the genius
team at Car-Part, and highly engaged recyclers like Shannon Nordstrom, just
to name a few of the many many individuals that accomplished this arduous
task, are still at the helm watching the rule writing process.
This is big folks. What has already been accomplished is a game changer in
the industry. Possibly THE game changer we desperately need. In the true
vein of the title innuendo, all made possible by people who cared to make a
difference assisted by people who know how to make it happen. Ponder that
for a moment please, because those two things do not come together by ac-
cident. That IS the political process. As the saying goes, "Never doubt that
a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
West Edge Auto Salvage
Independence, IA
Wilken Auto Salvage Britt
Britt, IA
Wilken Auto Salvage Iowa Falls
Iowa Falls, IA
Wilken Auto Salvage Kensett
Kensett, IA
Wilken Auto Salvage Nashua
Nashua, IA
Wilken Auto Salvage Waukon
Waukon, IA
Yaw Auto Salvage
Des Moines, IA