About hcs international

Steve Hughes has been in the automotive aftermarket industry since 1973 and has worked or consulted for some of the industry's leading companies. Mr. Hughes serves as the lead voice for the automotive industry regarding ocean transportation, supply chain, and governmental issues

1987:

• Steve Hughes founded HCS International, a consulting and sales firm focused on the automotive parts industry. Over the years, HCS has consulted many major automotive parts suppliers, including domestic and international manufacturers.  

2003 – 2006: Advanced Engine Management(AEM) – Head of Operations and Purchasing:  

• Duties included supplier development, cost and inventory reduction, while increasing efficiency and reducing costs both in operations and manufacturing.  His initiatives saved the company millions of dollars significantly impacting EBITDA annually.

2006 - 2017: Centric Parts - Vice President of Supply-Chain. 

• Duties included supplier development initiatives, governmental affairs, and logistics. His cost-saving initiatives saved the company millions of dollars, significantly  impacting EBITDA annually.  

2007 - 2008: Anti-Dumping Duty Case for Brake Rotors from China.

• Formed and led coalition of importers and manufacturers to revoke the Anti-Dumping Duty order against brake rotors manufactured in the People’s Republic of China at the International Trade Commission (ITC). Outside of legal counsel, led the coalition in testifying at the ITC Sunset hearing. Coalition efforts were successful in revoking the order, which had outlived its purpose.

2012 – 2017: Brake Manufacturers Council Member

• Established in 1973, the BMC is dedicated to providing members current information relating to the brake industry, and communicating with federal, state and local government and regulatory agencies on members’ behalf.

2014 - 2015: Aftermarket Representative

• Mr. Hughes was instrumental in assisting the automotive industry to monitor labor negotiations and port disruptions at West Coast ports by collecting data on the negative impact of those slowdowns on the industry.
• Formed and led the industry coalition in meetings with the Federal Maritime Commission  to express industry concerns about the unfair application of demurrage/detention.
• Awarded the AIA Peter Klotz Person of the Year in 2015. 
• Appointed to the Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC 2) for the automotive industry.  Committees provide detailed policy and technical advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative regarding trade barriers, negotiations of trade agreements and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting industry sectors and perform other advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters.  https://www.trade.gov/itac-committees

2016:

• Steve led a delegation to the FMC to discuss concerns regarding the unfairness of PierPASS. He was selected to be one of 35 representatives from major companies to participate in the FMC Supply Chain Innovations Initiative. The FMC Innovations Team was a task force of supply chain leaders challenged to help identify and develop actionable supply chain process innovations to improve reliability and effectiveness at the nation's ports. Since then, Mr. Hughes has been the de facto leading voice for the automotive aftermarket industry trade associations regarding ocean freight. 

2017:

• Mr. Hughes returned to the private sector and re-established HCS International as a consulting firm advising the automotive industry on international sourcing, helping companies understand and reduce their shipping costs and government and trade issues. 

2017 - 2018: 

• Formed and led coalition of importers and manufacturers to revoke the Anti-Dumping Duty order against wheel hub units with tapered roller bearings manufactured in the People’s Republic of China, at the International Trade Commission (ITC). Outside of legal counsel, led the coalition in testifying at the ITC Sunset hearing.

Industry Associations and Committees:

• Member of the Government Affairs Committee for the Auto Care Association. 
• Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee for California Automotive Wholesalers Association (CAWA).
• MEMA Supply Chain & Operations Forum 
• SEMA Wheel, Tire, Brake & Suspension Council.
• Federal Maritime Commission National Shipper Advisory Committee member representing MEMA and the Auto Care Association.

Speaker, Moderator, Panelist:

Mr. Hughes has been a speaker, moderator or panelist many times over the past few years.  Participating in events such as the TPM (Trans Pacific Maritime) Conference, IANA EXPO, Auto Care Association Leadership Days, CAWA Leadership Forum, MEMA Supply Chain & Operations Forum, AAPEX Educational Sessions, Foreign Trade Association events and producing and running dozens of supply chain and ocean shipping webinars for various associations.