Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • login
  • HOME
  • News
    • News by Brand
    • Auto Shows
    • Canadians Abroad
    • Photo Galleries
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Retail
    • Dealer Best Practices
    • Government Relations
    • Trade and Tariffs
    • Technology
    • Labour
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • Stellantis
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Fiat Chrysler
      • Jeep
      • Fiat
      • Lancia
      • Maserati
      • Ram
    • Subaru
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
    • Volvo
    • VinFast
    • Toronto Auto Show
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
  • Video
  • Podcasts
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • 2022 Auto News Canada All-Stars
    • 2022 Canadians To Watch
    • 2022 Diversity Champions
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
    • Canada Congress
    • Retail Forum: Dealer Discussions
    • Leading Women Roundtables
    • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
    • EVs Decoded
  • Jobs & Classifieds
  • +MORE
    • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
    • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
    • WEBINARS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • CONTACT US
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • PUBLISHING PARTNERS
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Unobvious Ones
July 20, 2022 10:45 AM

CVMA’s safety guru shows regulators the exceptions to their rules

The Unobvious Ones is a monthly look at movers and shakers who fly below the radar in the Canadian auto industry

Staff Report
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    July Unobvious Ones
    SUPPLIED PHOTOS

    Henry Kwok, left, and Karen Hou are the latest pair of Unobvious Ones, movers and shakers who fly below the radar in the Canadian auto industry.

    The Unobvious Ones is a monthly look at movers and shakers who fly below the radar in the Canadian auto industry.

    KAREN HOU

    SHAPING CANADIAN POLICY
    For domestic automakers, workplace health and safety rules are already complex, but then add the challenge of monitoring vehicle-safety regulations. That’s what Karen Hou handles as director of vehicle and workplace safety at the Toronto-based Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA), which represents the Detroit Three.

    “Our role is to interface with the Canadian government as well as be up to speed on the U.S. context so the [vehicle] standards line up,” Hou said.

    “We work with our members in reviewing policy and potential changes to regulations, including automated vehicles and driver-assist technologies.

    “The government sometimes comes up with ideas that aren’t feasible and we work with them to understand the limitations.”

    Hou, 39, communicates with member companies, federal and provincial governments, and sometimes with outside industries if broader workplace rules affect them all. The challenge is “how to frame issues in a way that makes sense and conveys the details.”

    • Head here to view our past Unobvious Ones

    For example, if the federal government asks for automaker data to help form policy, Hou determines whether what’s being requested will actually help. If it doesn’t, she offers information that’s more appropriate.

    Hou is strong in mathematics and earned a degree in applied science and engineering at the University of Toronto.

    “Even if I didn’t want to stay in typical engineering, it gave me the tools for problem-solving,” she said.

    Hou first worked for the Toronto International Film Festival in its sales and industry office, then joined the CVMA in 2007 as manager of health and safety and the environment. Eventually she added vehicle safety, but she still has a hand in some environmental issues related to auto manufacturing.

    Hou is currently working with federal proposals to improve consumer access to recalls, similar to U.S. regulations. “We’re working on the details to make sure there aren’t extra burdens on Canadian companies,” she said, “and recognizing the differences, such as needing English and French [versions].”

    HENRY KWOK

    THE ESSENTIAL LINK BETWEEN FACTORY AND DEALERS

    Although he inevitably has to deal with some of the current problems involving vehicle inventory, Henry Kwok has an advantage as distribution manager for Hyundai Canada in Markham, Ont. Because the automaker’s parent company has a partnership with a logistics shipping fleet, Hyundai vehicles have been arriving from South Korea on time.

    “The challenge is the disruption with suppliers to the factory,” Kwok said. “There may be constraints on a certain trim level, so we try to come up with alternatives [for] our customers. We work with our dealer network to make sure the customer knows and won’t be left in the dark.”

    Kwok, 41, is the link between the assembly line and dealers, fulfilling customer orders and maintaining showroom inventory. “It’s about ordering the right amount and the right product for the market based on market research. When the products arrive in Canada, I determine how to [disperse] them because every region [wants] different types of vehicles, such as EVs being more in demand in [British Columbia] and Quebec.

    “I have a team of four, and we work with a logistics partner to move them from the Vancouver port to the dealers.”

    With a degree in mathematics and statistics, Kwok began his career as a replenishment analyst at retailer The Bay, placing menswear orders with vendors so products would arrive before the shelves were empty. He then did a similar job at Loblaws Inc., with the additional challenge of monitoring food expiration dates.

    Kwok was intrigued by the auto industry and joined Hyundai in 2014 as a distribution analyst. Two years later, he began his current job.

    Kwok studies sales data to forecast the vehicles needed by dealerships. Those orders are added to customer orders, and the request is put in to the factory.

    “I have an understanding of the supply chain from my experience,” he said, “and everything is about making a positive impact to our customer experience.”

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    THE UNOBVIOUS ONES: Nissan’s goal is to walk a financially sustainable path with dealers
    Recommended for You
    Unobvious Ones Harkness Phillips
    THE UNOBVIOUS ONES: Nissan’s goal is to walk a financially sustainable path with dealers
    January Unobvious Ones
    THE UNOBVIOUS ONES: Caught between a rock and COVID-19
    DSMA CEO on current mergers & acquisitions outlook
    Sponsored Content: DSMA CEO on current mergers & acquisitions outlook
    Digital Edition
    March 2023 Cover
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up today for our Weekly Newsletter, Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts. We'll deliver the news you need to know straight to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Subscribe Now

    An Automotive News Canada subscription includes 12 monthly issues – delivered in print to your doorstep, and digitally to your inbox – plus unlimited, 24/7 access to our website.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Our Mission

    The Automotive News Canada mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in Canada.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Ave
    Detroit MI 48207

    1-877-812-1257

    Email Us

    ISSN 2475-5001 (print)
    ISSN 2475-501X (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • Advertise with Us
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Canada
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • News
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Ferrari
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • Stellantis
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Fiat Chrysler
          • Jeep
          • Fiat
          • Lancia
          • Maserati
          • Ram
        • Subaru
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
        • Volvo
        • VinFast
      • Auto Shows
        • Toronto Auto Show
      • Canadians Abroad
      • Photo Galleries
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Retail
      • Dealer Best Practices
      • Government Relations
      • Trade and Tariffs
      • Technology
      • Labour
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • 2022 Auto News Canada All-Stars
      • 2022 Canadians To Watch
      • 2022 Diversity Champions
      • Best Dealerships To Work For
      • Canada Congress
      • Retail Forum: Dealer Discussions
      • Leading Women Roundtables
      • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
      • EVs Decoded
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • +MORE
      • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
      • NEWSLETTERS
      • SUBSCRIBE
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
      • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
      • WEBINARS
      • ADVERTISE WITH US
      • CONTACT US
      • DIGITAL EDITION
      • PUBLISHING PARTNERS