Welcome to the NASB Conference Preparation Process! This guide was developed to help OEM Representatives better understand the expectations of their role both leading up to the conference, as well as at the conference.
Carlisle will be hosting a webinar on November 17th at 3:00 pm ET for OEM Reps to kickoff the conference season and to answer any questions you may have. Register Here
A recording of this webinar will be made available to those who are unable to attend. For additional details, or if you have any questions on your role or the conference overall, please reach out to insights@carlisle-co.com
Who is Carlisle?
As the leader in aftersales strategy and insights, Carlisle leverages our unparalleled knowledge and vast experience when we partner with our clients to solve their most complex problems, drive growth, and create value. Global OEMs in the automotive, agriculture, construction, heavy truck, and power equipment sectors have been coming to us for over 30 years because of the value we deliver as benchmarking specialists. To learn more about Carlisle & Co, visit our website: www.carlisle-co.com
The North American Service Benchmark (NASB) Conference is an annual, two and a half day benchmarking event, including participants from most major motor vehicle OEMs. Additional details and the conference website will be coming soon.
The 2023 conference will be held at the Charlotte Marriott City Center on May 22nd – 24th. The NASB Conference is packed with new research on emerging issues and robust discussions on the service business. The event allows OEMs to have detailed discussions on current and pertinent topics and walk away with action items
Below is a general timeline of responsibilities leading up to the conference:
OEM Rep FAQ
The OEM Rep Role
What is an OEM Rep?
OEM Reps are the primary points of contact from each participating company who work with the Carlisle team to help prepare materials for breakout sessions at the conference. They are identified as someone knowledgeable on the topic, and are responsible for providing data and supporting case study materials to be shared during the conference.
Do I have to attend the conference in-person to be an OEM Rep?
No, not necessarily. While we would ideally love for all OEM Reps to attend the conference in person to participate in the discussion, we understand travel limitations and scheduling conflicts may restrict this. In the event that you aren’t able to attend the conference in-person, we may ask your Steering Committee Member to identify a stand-in to participate in the in person discussion. If that’s the case, we ask that you still work with Carlisle to complete all pre-conference information requests to support session presentation development.
Why was I chosen for this role?
Your Steering Committee Member identified you as the best person within your organization to represent this topic. If you have any questions about why this is, or think you have been named OEM Rep in error, please coordinate directly with your Steering Committee Member.
Can I be an OEM rep for multiple sessions?
Yes, depending on your role and expertise across the various topic areas, your Steering Committee Member may ask you to represent your organization at more than one conference session.
Conference Prep Process
Who will I be working with from Carlisle?
From the Carlisle team, each breakout session is assigned a primary facilitator and support team member – they will be your primary points of contact on your session prep work. Once the prep process has begun, we will inform you of the primary facilitator and support staff, and you can contact them directly with any questions you might have. In addition to the Carlisle facilitator who will be leading your session, you will also periodically hear from the broader Carlisle benchmark team with helping information, tips, info requests, etc.
What information will I need to provide?
Generally, all OEM Reps are asked to complete an online questionnaire with key questions on the specified session topic. Depending on the session type and scope, this questionnaire may be extremely brief, or it may require some more extensive data collection. Beyond the online questionnaire, you may be asked to complete a phone interview or a PPT case study request. Any additional information will be requested directly by your facilitator or support staff.
Why is the information due so far in advance of the conference?
Generally, questionnaires are due in November/December the year before the conference, with all follow-ups requested throughout January/February of the conference year. It is critical that we stick to this timeline in order to finalize and review all materials in advance of the April conference. Your information request deadlines will be communicated well in advance, and you will generally have 2-3 weeks to complete any request. If you aren’t able to complete requests on time, please alert your facilitator(s) and/or Steering Committee Members ASAP.
What will be done with the information I provide?
All data and materials provided by OEM Reps are the basis of the presentations that will be used during the conference sessions. Your Steering Committee Member will have the opportunity to review any company-specific slides in advance of the conference.
How do I know if I’m allowed to share the requested data/information?
All data and materials shared within Carlisle’s benchmarks is protected by our Benchmarking Non-Disclosure Agreement, which protects the sharing of information across our member OEMs. We will never request confidential or sensitive information, but if you have concerns regarding what can be shared, please consult your Steering Committee Member for additional guidance. You can review and sign the NDA acknowledgement directly here: www.carlislenda2023.com
What happens after I’ve responded to the information requests?
Depending on the needs of your session, your facilitator and/or support staff may be in touch with you periodically to confirm details or request additional information. In most cases, OEM Rep responsibilities are complete once all information requests have been submitted (until the actual conference time).
OEM Reps at the Conference
This section outlines roles and requirements for individuals acting as OEM Rep for a breakout session at the NASB Conference. Note that depending on the format and final scope of your assigned session, you may or may not be asked to participate as an OEM Rep at the conference. All conference attendance decisions are made by your steering committee member(s) – if you have any questions regarding your planned attendance, please contact them directly.
What is my role at the conference?
As an OEM Rep at the conference, you will be an active participant in the session discussion. You should be prepared to speak on the topic, and comfortable answering questions on behalf of your organization. Depending on the format and scope of your session, your exact role may change – you may be asked to present your organization’s case study slides, or you may simply be asked to participate in the open discussion with the group. The Carlisle facilitator will lead and moderate the discussion, with all OEM Reps engaging in relevant conversation by asking and answering questions of one another.rnrnNote that it is possible you may have been assigned the OEM Rep role for the conference, even if you were not the original OEM Rep on the topic. This is a common practice, as not all subject matter experts are able to attend the conference due to scheduling and travel conflicts. If this is the case for you, don’t worry! Your Carlisle facilitator will work with you to ensure you’re prepared for the conference discussion.
Can I swap out OEM Rep role for someone else from my team?
If you’ve been asked to act as OEM Rep for a session at the conference and you don’t think you’ll be able to fill this role, please alert your Steering Committee Member ASAP.
How should I prepare leading up to the conference?
Shortly before the conference (1-2 weeks), you will receive a final copy of the presentation materials from your session facilitator. Additionally, your facilitator will schedule a pre-conference check-in with you, along with all other OEM Reps participating in the session. If you are unable to attend this pre-conference meeting, please feel free to reach out to your facilitator directly to answer any questions you may have. Please plan to review the session materials in advance of the conference and be prepared to speak to any case study slides from your organization.
What can I expect in terms of room arrangement and format?
There are several session types, each of which has a unique format and setup. Please refer to the appendix of this document for more details on what to expect from your session type. If you are unsure of your session type, please ask your Carlisle facilitator.
Will audience members be allowed to participate in discussions or ask OEM reps questions?
Yes, while the discussion will primarily be amongst the Carlisle facilitator and OEM Reps, audience members are encouraged to ask questions of OEM Representatives. The conversation content will follow what participants and audience members are interested in.
When do I need to arrive at the session?
As an OEM Representative, please arrive at the session at least 15 minutes early. This will allow you time to get settled in, find your seating arrangement, meet the Carlisle staff, and get comfortable with your fellow OEM Representative
After NASB
What do I need to do after the NASB conference?
Potentially! Each year, the NASB Steering Committee meets to plan the breakout session topics for the following conference year. Depending on what topics are selected, you may be asked to be an OEM Rep again in the futur
Will I be assigned to be an OEM Representative at next year’s conference?
Potentially! Each year, the NASB Steering Committee meets to plan the breakout session topics for the following conference year. Depending on what topics are selected, you may be asked to be an OEM Rep again in the future.
Appendix: Session Format Details
There are several different types of breakout sessions at the conference, each of which has a unique setup and participation expectation from the OEM Reps. Below you will find more information on each of these session types to help you better understand how your session will be formatted, and what will be asked of you in terms of discussion.
Roundtable & Presentation Discussions
For both of these session types, each company has an OEM Representative who sits at a table in the middle of the room, while a Carlisle facilitator stands in front of the group and guides the discussion. Typically, these sessions begin with a short presentation by the facilitator, summarizing the answers provided by the OEM Representatives through a pre-conference questionnaire. Select OEM Representatives will share prepared slides to the group and field questions, based on whether they are doing something notable in that area. Roundtable Discussions tend to rely more on these OEM case studies, while Presentation & Discussions rely more on Carlisle facilitator presentation. The conversation in these sessions is generally among the OEM Representatives sitting at the table and the facilitator, though audience members are welcome to ask questions and offer insights.
Round-Robin
For this session type, several OEMs have OEM Representatives sitting at a table in the middle of the room, while a Carlisle facilitator stands in front of the group to direct the conversation. The Carlisle facilitator will introduce the topic, then hand off all presentation to the OEM Representatives, who will present their prepared slides to the group. The facilitator will be strict on presentation time limits to keep the conversation moving, allowing for brief conversation and questions around the OEM case studies. Round-Robin discussions typically cover broader topics, with fewer OEM presentations and more room for open discussion, while Lightning Rounds are fun and fast-paced, incorporating a ton of actionable information in a short amount of time.
Panel
In these sessions, a small number of Panelists sit in the front of the room and speak to the audience-at-large about the topic. The Carlisle moderator typically gives a short presentation on the topic, and then facilitates discussion amongst panelists, allowing audience members to ask panelists questions. Panelists share information about what their respective companies do in that area, as well as answer questions from the facilitator and audience members. Moderators may modify the process somewhat, so it is best to speak with them in advance to fully understand the intended process for your panel.
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