| InterMotive's Plug & Play News
April 2009 |
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| What's New at InterMotive.. |
| By Ed Prokopik
 InterMotive Passes ISO 9001:2000 Audit
InterMotive passed their ISO (International Standards Organization) audit from TÜV Rheinland in March of 2009 with no major non-conformities. This marks the second straight year of no major non-conformities since earning ISO 9001:2001 certification in March of 2007.
The entire InterMotive team is very proud of the company's ISO 9000:2001 certification because of the employee dedication to process improvement, few small businesses aspire to and achieve ISO certification, and TÜV Rheinland's reputation for being one of the toughest ISO certification companies. The ISO criteria have been updated to ISO 9001:2008 and InterMotive has already started working on meeting the new objectives.
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Grow by Expanding |
| By Marc Ellison, VP Marketing & Sales
This year will see a lot of growth in the InterMotive Vehicle Controls product line not only in the number of different products being developed but also the number of markets being serviced. These products will either focus on new safety or productivity control systems or create enhancements to current products.
Read on.....
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Service Certification Program |
InterMotive's Certification Program Off to a Great Start
InterMotive's efforts to improve technician's knowledge level about Gateway (fast idle system) and ILIS (lift interlock system) has gotten off to a great start. So far, 35 technicians from dealerships, repair facilities, and transit agencies have become certified on these systems. Facilities that have at least one certified technician receive added benefits - including an increased labor rate and inclusion on an automatic distribution list for product technical information.
A special recognition goes out to Lasseter Bus & Mobility (the first facility to become certified) and Bus West in Woodland, CA (the most number of certified technicians - 5). We now have 16 facilities that have becom certified in the short time we've had the program.
Certification is achieved by passing an on-line, open book exam that tests a technician's knowledge about the system's operation, diagnostics, warranty process, and service support. To find out more details go to www.intermotive.net and click on Service Certification.
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| InterMotive Recycling |
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By Janel MacDougall
Taking steps to improve our environment
InterMotive has joined a growing number of companies in their efforts to help reduce the impact that technology has on our environment. Our most current efforts have proven to be very successful. A company wide E-Waste drive hosted by InterMotive, Inc. in conjunction with Sims Recycling Solutions located in Roseville, CA has collected a van full of recyclable televisions, personal computers, microwaves, cell phones, monitors and other peripherals that can be recycled, resold, or reused. The management team as well as the entire staff has embraced the opportunity to reduce the amount of electronic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills, therefore assisting in protecting human health and the safety of our environment for generations to come.
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| 2009 Gateway / ILIS Operation |
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By Dick Collier
09 Gateway / ILIS Interlock Operation  In my discussions with several dealers and customers, there have been questions about the 09 Gateway/ILIS operation with its new "Threshold Warning" enable feature. With the changes to 09 Ford electronics and the revisions that had to be done to Gateway to allow it to work with these changes, there was an opportunity to enhance the safe operation of the wheelchair lift. Below is a summary of that change and what it means to the installer/service tech & operator. Read on......
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| InterMotive Training |
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InterMotive continues to provide technical training to the industry.
 Our latest training was held Mar 24th in Albany NY for CDTA. The class held was our Small Bus Basic Electrical, course id IMT603. Classes were held "on-site" at CDTA and focused on providing the technician skills for troubleshooting electrical problems on vehicles.
Steve Waxman of CDTA had this to say; "The training went very well and I was very pleased with the instructor Dave. Both my trainers said it was one of the best classes they ever had in electrical. Thanks-"
The next basic electrical training will be held through the NMEDA organization (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Assoc) and will take place in Charlotte North Carolina in April. If you are a mobility equipment dealer and would like more information, please contact NMEDA.ORG.
Internet product training
We are in the process adding product training to our website through YouTube.com. We have found this to be an effective way to explain our products along with detailed snippets on operation and troubleshooting. Watch for this over the next quarter.
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| From the Service Department |
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By Bill Dahl, Technical Support
 How much is a phone call worth? Everyday I receive phone calls from technicians that need help. Most are very simple input issues. I wish I had a nickel for every technician that ended our conversation with "I should have called you before I spent two hours trying to fix it by myself." Our systems, while being easy to install, can sometimes confuse the most experienced technicians during troubleshooting.
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| New Shipping Policies & Tips for Ordering |
| By Kyndra Moran
New Shipping Policies & Tips for Ordering
Recently InterMotive has implemented new shipping policies in regards to shipping deadlines. Any orders that come into InterMotive requesting same day delivery must be received by 11:00 am PST. Any orders received after that time will be shipped the following business day. Please call to confirm the availability of all expedited orders. Read on..... |
| Message From the President |
Feeling Stimulated?
There's a lot of talk going on about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This massive infusion of government money (read: your money), better known as "The Stimulus Package," is significantly larger than the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. The ESA of 2008 consisted primarily of tax rebate checks. The ARRA of 2009 is a colossal spending/investing package. It contains expansions of social programs including unemployment benefits, decreases some taxes through federal tax cuts and credits, greatly increases domestic spending on health care, education, energy and it also includes numerous non-economic recovery related items much loved by congress (read: pork).
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InterMotive's email newsletter was created to provide our customers with an additional resourse for information on both our products as well as our company. Please let me know if there is more we can do to assist you.
Sincerely,
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Dick Collier
InterMotive, Inc.
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