According to a recent study commissioned by the NAED Education & Research Foundation, "Operational Model for Increasing Distributor Profitability," electrical distributors are under pressure from their customers to provide more for less—lower prices and higher levels of service. The study suggests it may be necessary to implement an entirely new business model based on a more precise analysis of customer needs.

In the study, researchers examined a new operational model for electrical distributors that incorporates the elements of lean production. As applied to distribution, a lean-production model involves five key elements: system design, process models, information flows, organizational learning, and differential technology.

Researched by Dr. Perry Daneshgari, adjunct professor of management and engineering at the University of Michigan, and edited by Dr. Al Bates of Profit Planning Group, the study indicated that a number of distributors were able to successfully adapt lean production concepts in the areas of customer satisfaction, reducing customer procurement costs, and extending service. The researchers concluded that distributors need to transition from the historical competency of sales-based service, as service-based sales will be the future of the industry. These service-based sales can increase both the productivity of customers and the profitability of distributors.

For more information, visit www.naed.org.

The Copper & Brass Servicenter Assn. announced the re-election of its president, Bruce V. Seeger, president of Seeger Metals and Plastics in Toledo, Ohio, at the conclusion of the association's 54th annual meeting. Also re-elected to additional one-year terms are Denis Brady of Nonferrous Products Co. as vice president; William G. Sabol of Copper and Brass Sales as secretary; and Dan Erck of Cambridge-Lee Industries as treasurer.

Association Board of Directors members include the re-elected Jerry Simms of Atlas Metal Sales in Denver; and the newly elected Scott Kraft of Alro Steel; and Haim Kotler of Peckover's.

For more information, visit www.cbsa.copper-brass.org.

The Power Transmission Distributors Assn.'s 2005 Industry Summit, themed "Increase Your Odds for Success," will be held Oct. 18–20, in Las Vegas. The summit is designed to help distributors and manufacturers in the industrial power transmission/motion control channel take the gamble out of their business strategy.

Highlights of the summit include: a North American economic forecast by keynote speaker Todd Bucholz, contributing editor to Worth Magazine and manager of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund; an interactive forum on controlling health care costs; a tactical session on the effective use of inside sales; a workshop by Northwestern University's Brian Uzzi on assessing and strengthening a network; a session on low-cost, high-impact marketing; and a keynote presentation by Connie Podesta on understanding individual personality traits to improve networking.

For more information, visit www.ptda.org.

kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com