Dana Corp. has selected two chemical managers to servicenearly 100manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada. The automotive component manufacturer split its chemical management business between Haas TCM and Houghton Fluidcare on a geographic, business-unit and dollar-amount basis. Haas TCM, based in West Chester, Pa., reported late last month that it will provide chemical life-cycle management services to more than 50 Dana facilities, beginning with Dana sites in the Midwest in the third quarter of 2004. Houghton Fluidcare, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., announced its chemical management contract with Dana in April. At the time, Houghton said its selection followed a yearlong evaluation process involving 12 other chemical management companies.
Chris Dawson, global commodity manager for Dana Corp., confirmed that the company has awarded all its U.S. and Canadian chemical management business to Haas and Houghton. Dana is currently becoming more centralized and more global, Dawson said. By the end of the first quarter of 2005, well have the United States and Canada completely in our chemical management system.
Danas U.S. and Canadian plants currently consume about $12 to $15 million in metalworking fluids alone each year, Dawson said. Reducing chemical and industrial fluid usage and reducing costs are major goals of the chemical management program.
Were now looking at chemical management globally, Dawson said. In Europe, the company may increase the scope of services in its chemical management programs. South America may be the next geographic region Dana targets for chemical management.
Haas CEO Thad Fortin told Lube Report, “Chemical management services is a new industry, and there has been a lot of fallout. Like Dana, more companies are selecting fewer chemical managers. For example, General Motors recently reduced its roster of chemical managers from 12 to four. And we’re seeinga centralization of services. Our customers don’t want plants to make their own [chemical] decisions, so they’re seeing more synergies.”
Haas will introduce its proprietary tcmIS software to the Dana plants that it services. “TcmIS is an enterprise resource program designed specifically for chemicals,” Leigh Hayes, Haas executive vice president for marketing and development, said. “It will provide Dana’s sites –whether they’re large, or small and remote –a common information system to order and track chemicals, manage MSDSs, determine chemical efficiency and track costs.”
Dana Corp., based in Toledo, Ohio, employs approximately 45,000 people worldwide. The company operates technology, manufacturing, and customer-service facilities in 30 countries. Its core products include drive shafts and axles, brake and chassis systems, frames, bearings and other components for automotive, commercial and heavy vehicle manufacturers. Sales from continuing operations totaled $7.9 billion in 2003.