January 16 - 31 , 2017 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY A11
The Philippine ( Auto ) Parts Maker Association ( PPMA ), formerly known as the Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines , feels left behind in the government ’ s move for more inclusive growth and better car program .
The association , according to PPMA president Ferdinand Raquelsantos said Japanese assemblers chose their counterparts and ignored local parts suppliers which are small and medium in size .
Raquelsantos noted none of the partners of the participants in the Comprehensive Automotive
Local car parts suppliers feel left behind
Resurgence Strategy ( CARS ) program – Toyota Motor Philippines Corp . and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp . – are registered SMEs .
He added that both assemblers have established the sourcing of components by planning in-house parts production and having some of their foreign suppliers ink a technical licensing agreement ( TLA ) with some local parts suppliers .
“ None of these local suppliers are registered under the SME category . Mostly are Japanese locally established companies with the rest having TLA with local Filipino large companies ,” Raquelsantos
Tire age does not matter , maintenance does
Used to reading food and medicine labels , we look for the manufacture or ‘ Best Before ’ date because we have been conditioned to think there is an expiry date on everything . Not so with tires . Unlike food , or medicine , or that fruit , the banana , that easily shows when it ’ s time to toss it , you do not need to look for the newest tires to ensure your safety on the road .
In fact the most important date to remember for your car tires is not its fabrication date , but the date they were installed on your vehicle . That ’ s when its aging process starts .
Before car tires are installed on the vehicle , they are uninflated , do not carry any load , and deal only with minor temperature fluctuations in their storage facility , so they do not deteriorate . Tires are designed to provide good , reliable service on vehicles for many years , no matter their manufacture date .
When the tires are already part of the vehicle , they are subjected to high stresses of stop and go , high speeds , sudden breaking , friction , contact with sharp objects , exposure to extreme temperatures , damage from the elements , heavy loads or simply , under inflation . Even when the vehicle is stored , the wheels may suffer . Tire pressure is affected , that is why correct tire pressure should be checked regularly .
Michael Nunag , Michelin ’ s Chief Representative to the Philippines says the misunderstanding can be dangerous because consumers wrongly focus on the DOT instead of on correct safety maintenance after a tire is installed . Consumers may also wrongly select tire dealers based on new stocks instead of looking for quality of service .
Three studies were conducted in Korea , Germany and Saudi Arabia that showed no difference in performance between newly manufactured tires and tires that have been in storage for three years . “ The Saudi Arabia study showed that a tire used on a vehicle for one year had equivalent aging to a tire in storage for 10 years . In terms of the characteristics of the tread rubber , it took 20 years in storage at 40C to reach the same characteristics as the tires used at 40,000-km showing that tires do age more rapidly when used than when stored ,” said Nunag .
“ It is not on tire age , but in correct tire maintenance that vehicle owners should be meticulous about ,” Nunag said .. “ Maintaining correct tire pressure , proper alignment , inspection for damages and tread depth measurements is important .”( mb . com ) said in the statement .
Raquelsantos said as a consequence there has been a noticeable downsizing in SME operations , with some even closing down .
Raquelsantos said in contrast , large companiesmembers are preparing and looking forward in making true the forecast of increase in production of about 55 percent .
Last November , Mitsubishi awarded certification to 25 local companies as the initial batch of suppliers for the Mirage model , which is slated for production by April 2017 .
Toyota , on the other hand , announced last month
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that 30 local parts makers will supply 317 part numbers for the Vios model that will start volume production by August 2018 .
“ It seems that the local car assemblers have totally ignored the local SME supply chain and have just focused on their own Japanese-affiliated suppliers ,” Raquelsantos said .
He cited reports saying that Toyota admitted it would take four years to develop a local supply chain and if approved , supply phase-in would be in the middle of production life which will be sometime by the end of 2021 .
Raquelsantossaid for
Mitsubishi , a scheduled wave one to three phase-in is targeted for 2018 .
“ Unfortunately , right now no plan for local development of SME suppliers is apparent or forthcoming ,” he said .
He added : “ What happened to the objective of boosting the local production and supply of SMEs ?”
The PPMA said a roadmap of He said some Filipino local parts suppliers were dislodged in favor of the Japanese companies which were established in the Philippines and offered TLA by the original foreign suppliers .( I . Isip , Malaya )