With the support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, CAR is launching the Program for Automotive Renaissance in Tooling (PART) to support Michigan’s tooling industry by improving the effectiveness of the industry’s collaborative efforts. PART will work to address the following areas of need:

1. Building collaborative relationships - among tool shops and between tool shops and their customers, strengthen the RZ collaborative efforts

2. Assessing performance - developing quantitative data on the competitiveness of our shops and value of collaboration

3. Supporting implementation of lean practices - identify portfolio of best practices, and support implementation

4. Fostering innovation - both in steels and plastics, low-cost tooling, advanced materials, etc.

5. Advancing business development - for domestic Tier-1 and OEM customers

6. Improving workforce development - HR management for the future tool shop.

CAR kicked-off the PART initiative at a series of three meetings held in Howell, Grand Rapids and Warren in late July 2006. The following information was presented at these meetings:

CAR has been involved in supporting Michigan’s tooling industry for more than 20 years through research and collaboration efforts. For more information on CAR’s recent work in this area -

PART is a membership organization. If you are interested in becoming involved in PART or would like more information on the program, please contact Ms. Karen Esper, 734-929-0479, kesper@cargroup.org or complete and submit either the interest form or an application to join PART.