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The Many Advantages Brought About By Contract Manufacturing Companies

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Contract manufacturing is a business model that enables companies and third party service providers to take advantage of each others needs and abilities in order to achieve an idea or design. It is a form of outsourcing wherein hiring firms deal with contract manufacturing companies to help them out when it comes to procedures, manpower, tools and product purchasing; this, so they do not have to deal with all of it by themselves. It has been applied in many fields for countless of years, from automotive to aerospace, defense, energy, medicine, and energy. And this comes as no surprise though since contract manufacturing is able to secure companies a lot of advantages.

First on the list is of course, cost savings, which a lot of other outsourcing processes provide. With contract manufacturing, hiring companies do not actually need to invest capital in order to acquire the needed facilities and equipment to get their productivity going. For a minimum fixed rate, they could have another company take on the manufacturing burden and keep it costs controlled according to the set budget. And then the hiring firm, in turn, gets to set aside savings for other priority activities.

This leads us to the second known benefit of contract manufacturing convenience. Since they do not have to worry about the production aspect of the business, hiring companies can focus on other important responsibilities and better their operations as a whole. It is common for small businesses to get overwhelmed with manufacturing to the point that they mismanage their marketing and sales. This is a big disappointment since the latter two should be the one driving the former. But with a contract manufacturer in play, such issues do not have to be a concern.

And then theres flexibility. In these unstable economic times, it is advantageous for businesses to be prepared for change. Having all of the companys facilities rooted in a single location with increasing expenses does not give way to that possibility. When the market crashes, they have to deal with the burden of losses first hand. But with a contract manufacturer, you could just cut contracts and not have to work out the retrenchments and recuperating fixed costs.

Fourth, with contract manufacturing companies, you can gain access to competencies right away, without having to invest time and energy in training personnel. You could just have the contract manufacturer provide you with skilled workers to meet your production demands. And with this comes the fifth benefit of getting contract manufacturing services quality. Obliged to promote your best interest, providers will be more than happy to quality control standards in order to meet their contract responsibilities and your expectations. This should help reflect well on your business and make you more credible in the industry youre serving.

Unknown to some, contract manufacturing companies also stand to gain something out of the partnership with hiring companies, aside from a steady flow of income. Since they can accommodate multiple clients at a time, they do not have to solely depend on the success of one business in order to grow themselves. And on top of that, they also do not have to specialize in just one product or service, making them resilient to market crashes.

Darrell Waltrip Automotive Supports 32nd Franklin Classic

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On Labor Day, September 6, 2010, Mercy Childrens Clinic in Franklin, TN held the 32nd annual Franklin Classic, with proceeds from the fundraiser benefiting their clinical services. Mercy Clinic is a “comprehensive pediatric healthcare facility that serves thousands of children from 32 counties”, according to Event Director Jessica Perry. The clinic has been operating in the Franklin Community since 1999 and, as a non-profit organization, relies on fundraising events, such as the Franklin Classic, to keep its facilities open.

Events at the Franklin Classic included a 5k run, a 10k run, a 4k family walk, and a 1k childrens run. The 5k race winner was Donald Bowman, with a total time of 17:28. Jacob Carrigan placed second with a time of 17:45, and David Scott came in a close third at 17:55. In the 10k race, Scott Wietecha finished first with a time of 32:12. Additionally, there were activities for children in the KidZone, and Scat Springs performed live at the Classic.

The Franklin Classic is Mercy Clinics “largest fundraising effort With an annual budget of nearly $3 million, 50% of which is raised through sponsors and donations, we’re hoping to raise $100,000 through this years event”, according to the Franklin Classic event guide. Official figures will not be out for a few weeks. The number of race runners and walkers totaled over 3,000 and Perry estimates there were additional 3,000-5,000 spectators at the event Monday morning.

Darrell Waltrip Automotive helped the clinic by donating $20 per test drive during the two registration days of September 3rd and 4th. The test drives took race participants and volunteers around a short route, and were met with much enthusiasm.

Darrell Waltrip Automotive donated over $2,000 to Mercy Clinic from the two days of test drives. In total, Darrell Waltrip Automotive donated $12,000 to benefit Mercy Clinic through sponsorships and other miscellaneous donations, including a $500 cash prize to the school that put together the largest team for the Franklin Classic. See Franklin Classic for more information and photos on the fundraising event.

Headed For Transmission Repair Read The Signs!

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Transmissions are complex machines buried deep in the chassis of our vehicles. Regular transmission service will help post-pone or eliminate some problems, but when a transmission begins to malfunction, there are specific signs that the average vehicle owner can recognize.

Know the three common signs of transmission problems:

*Fluid leaks under the car — If there is a persistent red leak under your vehicle, is it coming from the transmission or from the power steering system? It is difficult to determine, as most power steering systems also use transmission fluid. Thus, leaks can appear on the ground in roughly the same areas as transmission leaks. If the leak is fairly small, you may be able to postpone a transmission repair as long as the fluid level is checked regularly. However, when the fluid level falls below the minimum required level, a transmission repair is inevitable.
*Color and odor of fluid Check the fluid level when the vehicle is running and on level ground. The fluid should be red and transparent. If it is cloudy or muddy looking, or if it smells burnt, take your vehicle to a transmission repair technician. They may recommend a transmission service to drain and refill the fluid, as well as replace the filter. Some transmissions may require a computer program updating.
*Noises, vibrations and irregular shifting — Modern transmissions typically shift smoothly and quietly under light acceleration. Heavier acceleration should produce firmer shifts at higher speeds. If shifting points are erratic, if there are strange noises when shifting, or whining noises that come from underneath the car, are causes for concern.

Note: Look and Listen to your transmission. If problems are taken care of early, they can often be resolved without a costly major transmission repair.

** Did You Know? — With gas prices down to less than $2.00 a gallon around the country, a growing number of motorists have been flocking back to showrooms for pickups, SUVs and muscle cars. Yet, despite that sudden surge, the days of the classic V-8 and V-6 may be coming to an end. A new study suggests that less than half of the vehicles that will be sold around the world by 2017 will be powered by conventional gasoline engines. Alternative fuels (such as diesel, ethanol, and hydrogen), hybrid-electrified vehicles and more advanced internal combustion systems will make up the majority of the global mix, according to a new report from Navigant Research. Hybrids, plug-ins and pure battery-electric vehicles still account for less than 5% of the U.S. market, but demand is expected to grow exponentially. That said, a summary of the new Navigant report notes that, “gasoline is anticipated to remain the leading fuel in the coming years, albeit in unconventional vehicles that employ a range of fuel-efficiency technologies, such as smaller engines and turbo-charging.” A growing number of vehicle manufacturers will opt for either alternative fuels or advanced technologies designed to squeeze far more mileage out of every drop of gas.**

For expert advice on transmission repair, contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at http://clausenautomotive.com for more information about our transmission service. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

How Ethanol Car Engines Work

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Ethanol cars work in a way very similar to normal gasoline cars, and are a great viable alternative fuel option because of current high gas prices. The only real difference is that ethanol car engines are able to utilize the biofuel ethanol instead of oil based gasoline.

Ethanol fuel itself is extracted from plants such as corn or sugarcane, and refined into an alcohol. This alcohol is suitable to be used as a biofuel in cars and other vehicles. Most hybrid automobile engines that use ethanol can also use gasoline, and are also called flex-fuel engines. The ethanol is injected into the engine in the same way as a non-hybrid automobile engine. Though ethanol gives slightly less miles per gallon than gasoline, it doesn’t create as much air pollution when it is burned.

The similarities between ethanol flex-fuel engines and standard engines make ethanol cars cheaper than most alternative or hybrid vehicles, because they are built in much the same way as a regular engine. Ethanol is actually cheaper in some cases than gasoline, and thus a hybrid that runs on ethanol can be less expensive to operate than a gasoline based vehicle.

Most standard automobiles can even run on a 10% mixture of ethanol in gasoline. Many gas stations around the world offer ethanol as an alternative to gasoline, and in some countries cars are required to run on ethanol.

You can find out more information about Hybrid Cars at ProHybrid.com along with video news, reviews, and tools such as price quotes and an automotive loan calculator.

Car Care Tips To Ensure Smooth Holiday Travel

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Holiday travel can be a bust if your vehicle breaks down on the way to visiting friends and family.

With today’s busy schedules and high-tech vehicles, most drivers are left with neither the time nor inclination for an afternoon of tinkering on their car. But motorists can still do their part.

According to the experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), good communication between the repair shop and the customer can help ensure satisfactory service.

ASE offers the following tips to help make the repair process go smoothly.

* Do your homework before taking your vehicle in. Read the owner’s manual to learn about the vehicle’s systems and components. Follow the recommended service schedules and keep a log of all repairs and service.

* Don’t ignore your vehicle’s warning signals. There may be explicit dashboard messages or subtle changes in performance. Make a note of any problems – and under what conditions they occur.

* Inspect your car frequently. Check for unusual sounds, odors, drips, leaks, smoke, warning lights and gauge readings. See if you notice changes in acceleration, engine performance, gas mileage or fluid levels. Also, check for worn tires, belts or hoses, and problems in handling, braking and steering or vibrations.

* Communicate your findings. Be prepared to describe your car’s symptoms. Carry a written list of those symptoms to give to the technician or service consultant. Do not suggest a specific course of repair; let the technician diagnose and recommend a remedy.

* Stay involved. Do not be embarrassed to request simple definitions. Professionally run repair establishments recognize the importance of two-way communication in automotive repairs. However, don’t rush the technician to make an on-the-spot

diagnosis.

* Leave a telephone number where you can be reached. Ask to be called and apprised of the problem, course of action and costs before work begins. Before you leave the shop, be sure you understand all shop policies regarding estimates, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

ASE is dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign.