Tenneco reaching out to customers every quarter with new program

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 1, 2007) — Tenneco Inc. knows what products it has way in advance of the parts hitting the shelves or a technician’s shop. The company now is working to cut down on that time by sending new part numbers to its customers and catalog systems on a quarterly basis.

Tenneco announced its new plans this week during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), but has been testing it for the past two quarters. Frank Murkowski, North America aftermarket marketing manager, exhaust, says the process will be implemented for Tenneco’s ride control, exhaust and brake lines.

“We have access to all the parts we design and manufacture, and as soon as we have them in place, we can announce them to our customers and give it to data centers, like Activant and Wrenchead,” he says.

New part numbers will be released on the first of January, April, July and October. The parts also will be posted on Tenneco’s Web sites. “This is great so they don’t miss out on that business,” says Carri Irby, brand manager.

The company will have plenty of parts to announce, as it will release hundreds of new part numbers across all of its lines between this year and 2008. For the Monroe brake pad program, which still is relatively new, most of the 79 part numbers released this year are related to pads, rather than shoes, says Tony Carter, brakes marketing manager, North American aftermarket. 

Mark Christiaanse, director of ride control product management, says Monroe shocks are expanding this year and next into the import market, including nearly 30 part numbers to bring the total to 101 in 2008.

Tenneco this week also is sharing information on its $10,000 donation to the Car Care Professionals Network, Irby says.