Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are some of the advantages and benefits of remanufacturing?

Response: Remanufacturing has many advantages and benefits, mainly environmental, economic and product performance.

• Environmental: Remanufacturing is a sustainable development activity. It contributes significantly to the reduction of CO2 and landfill waste, as well as the conservation of energy and natural resources.
• Economic: Remanufacturing means local manufacturing jobs, which benefit our national economy. The savings offered by remanufactured products also contribute to exceptional customer value.
• Product Performance: Products remanufactured in accordance with standardized industrial processes are safe and reliable. They offer design and quality upgrades (from the original design) and “same-as-new,” or better, performance.

Q: How does Manufactured Again™ fit in with the CLEPA definition of remanufacturing?

Response: MERA is working closely with CLEPA—the European Association of Automotive Suppliers—on the common initiative to advance remanufacturing. (MEMA and CLEPA have a long history of cooperation on key industry issues and initiatives.) In June, at ReMaTec2011, CLEPA released a definition of remanufacturing that received immediate support from MERA Chairman Michael Cardone, Jr., who also serves as chairman and CEO of CARDONE Industries, Inc. Members of MERA and CLEPA will continue to work together in the coming months to expand the initiative.

Q: Will Manufactured Again have a certification component?

Response: Yes. One of the aims of the initiative is to promote the remanufactured products from MERA member companies. A new certification program will let customers know that reman parts from MERA member companies are truly, remanufactured. The program will define minimum process criteria for products to be eligible for certification. The certification component for companies that remanufacture motor vehicle parts will include industry certifications, such as ISO 9001 and TS 16 949. This effort will lead to a certification seal that can be affixed to the part/box and used in advertising and other promotional materials by participating companies. Details on such a program will be made available when they are complete.

Q: What is MERA’s affiliation with MEMA?

Response: MERA is one of four market segment associations of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), a 107-year-old trade group well-known in Washington for lobbying on behalf of motor vehicle parts suppliers. MEMA has over 700 member companies, representing a $388 billion industry that employs 685,000 workers in the U.S.

The other three market segment associations are: AASA—the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, which covers the needs of automotive aftermarket suppliers; HDMA—the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, which covers the needs of suppliers to the heavy-duty and commercial vehicle industry; and OESA—the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, which covers the needs of original equipment automotive suppliers. Together with MERA, the four market segments represent every unique segment of the motor vehicle parts manufacturing industry—America’s largest manufacturing sector.

Question: How does Manufactured Again™ fit with AASA’s Know Your Parts^® campaign?

Response: The automotive aftermarket has a long, proud tradition providing quality parts and services that professional service technicians and “do-it-yourself” consumers have come to depend on. The AASA Know Your Parts® (KYP) campaign supports that tradition by raising industry awareness of the quality parts and value-added support provided by full-service aftermarket manufacturers. Its message is that quality automotive replacement parts matter and are as critical as accurate repair information for proper repair and maintenance.

Manufactured Again™ will launch its message for the automotive aftermarket at the Know Your Parts® booth at AAPEX in November 2011 (see below). In the spirit of KYP, the message of the Manufactured Again™ campaign is: “Know your reman parts from MERA member companies are truly, remanufactured.”

Q: Will Manufactured Again™ be visible at AAPEX in 2011 and HDAW in 2012?

Response: The MERA Manufactured Again™ campaign will formally launch at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, Nov. 1-3, 2011. A press conference will be held in conjunction with AASA to announce the campaign on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. We will have a presence in the AASA Know Your Parts® exhibit in Sands 3800—just inside the main entrance on the upper level. (AASA, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, is a fellow market segment association of MERA, covering the needs of automotive aftermarket suppliers.)

The AAPEX booth will feature informational materials on Manufactured Again™ and examples of the quality remanufactured parts produced by MERA member companies. The campaign will also have a presence at HDAW in Las Vegas in January 2012. This effort will be coordinated with HDMA. (HDMA, the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, is a fellow market segment association of MERA, representing suppliers to the heavy duty and commercial vehicle industry.)

Please stop by and see us at these events. In the meantime, if you would like more information on MERA or the Manufactured Again™ campaign, contact John Chalifoux, MERA president and COO, at 248-213-4644 or jchalifoux@mera.org.

Q: What is MERA doing to educate policymakers in Washington and across the U.S.?

Response: MERA and its members successfully raised awareness of the importance of remanufacturing to sustainability and job creation during the first-ever Remanufacturing Legislative Summit, held Sept. 20-21, 2011, in Washington, D.C. The event was held in conjunction with the Remanufacturing Industries Council with support from MEMA.

Attendees conducted over 65 individual meetings with congressional offices and demonstrated the latest remanufacturing technologies to scores of policymakers and staff during an evening congressional reception and exposition. In addition, the event included presentations from notable policy experts, including Fmr. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Nicole Lamb-Hale. The International Trade Commission (ITC) also gave a presentation on the agency’s study of the U.S. remanufacturing industry, which is scheduled to be completed in October 2012.

“We were very pleased that many lawmakers gained a better appreciation of the substantial benefits of remanufacturing,” said John Chalifoux, president and COO of MERA. He added, “They were impressed not only by the technologies and environmental benefits, but the significant job creation remanufacturing can offer.”

MERA, with assistance from the MEMA Washington D.C. office, will continue its advocacy efforts in Washington and with state and local governments.

Q: Is the Manufactured Again™ campaign intended for both large and small remanufacturers?

Response: Yes, the campaign is for remanufacturers of all sizes. The focus is on the existence of and adherence to a standardized industrial process, so company size is not important. Rather, the campaign draws comparison to those that may repair, rebuild, refurbish, etc. The common thread is that all remanufacturers are, first and foremost, manufacturing companies.