We’re moving full speed ahead with our Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcast – Quistem’s Cathy Fisher and I are so delighted to continue the momentum. Thanks for listening and following along, as we delve deep into the supply chain issues most relevant to tier suppliers and OEMs. You can read a recap of episodes 1-5 and episodes 6-10 in blog form and listen to the Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcasts directly. Also check out our Promise of Delivery white paper “The 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes.”
Here’s a wrap-up of the latest episodes.
Episode #11: Silo is a 4 Letter Word!
How delightful to hear from self-proclaimed “quality nerds” Rocky Pinheiro and Mike Payionk of fastening solutions manufacturer PennEngineering. They absolutely delivered with their passion, expertise and arcane knowledge. Their Quality bona fides are impressive: Rocky spent 25 years in manufacturing, mostly in automotive, with 13 years with Fiat Chrysler. Mike spent the last two decades laser focused on quality control in the automotive industry.
They described how to convince reluctant supplier organizations to automate and break down the dreaded information silos. Rocky suggested that identifying pain points is the first step in encouraging organizations to automate away from spreadsheets. Mike agreed and focused on data collection to improve quality issues, saying “you cannot fix the problems with half the data.” Breaking down silos requires a “U.N. diplomat approach” to communication and collaboration.
Click here to listen to the full episode.
Episode #12: The Many Dimensions of Supply Chain Success
Celebrating successful women in the automotive supply chain is a theme that’s very near and dear to our hearts. This episode with Sherise Brown and Katrina Allen of Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS) may be one of our very favorites.
Sherise and Katrina shared their experiences as Supply Chain Superintendents and defined their essential roles. By presenting a “day in the life” of a Supply Chain Superintendent, they explained how the best supply chain leaders focus on teamwork to face unprecedented challenges.
They pointed out that “women tend to be patient, we listen, we hear what you’re saying. One of the things that we bring to the table is a lot of wisdom where we can make good decisions.” Women bring assets that lend themselves to supply chain management, including patience and multi-tasking.
Sherise and Katrina also shared their experiences automating warehouse management, resulting in better quality, accuracy and efficiency – embracing automation is a must.
Click here to listen to the full episode.
Episode #13: Pushing Past the Status Quo: The CIO Drives Business Value
Heidi Mattison, Chief Information Officer at Superior Industries joined us for this episode about the role of tech and IT in manufacturing. Growing up in an automotive household, she was drawn to a career in IT to enable automotive supply chains to face challenges and thrive.
She described how supply chain IT professionals contribute to strategy and business operations and are not limited to a narrow focus on technology. Organizations need to understand and value how the IT role affects P&L. She shared with us her vision of how supply chain IT leadership can deliver value to organizations:
“I think the one thing that supply chain leaders need to do right now is embrace data. We, right now, have more data available at our fingertips, than ever in our history. Cost of storage has decreased, it’s led to the ability for more data, extensive analytics and extensive reporting. Embrace what your technology team can deliver to you and be open to change.”
Technology couldn’t be more important across the supply chain, especially where the board of directors and the C-suite might not have the knowledge and expertise, for example about cybersecurity and the benefits of automation. IT professionals deliver critical expertise.
Click here to listen to the full episode.
Episode #14: Leading the Next Generation of Women in Manufacturing
Anyone notice a trend here?
We’re continuing with one of our favorite themes – showcasing the contributions of women in the automotive industry and supply chain. Alison Grealis is President and Founder of the Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation, which develops training and development programs for women in the industry. She joined us for this episode to discuss how women only make up about 30% of the automotive workforce in manufacturing and supply chain – an improvement over the years but an area that still needs attention – and ways to support women in manufacturing.
Alison’s goal is to encourage more women to join the automotive workforce. She shared that, “The best thing supply chain leaders can do to excite a new generation about supply chain manufacturing jobs is to share their stories and be ambassadors for the industry.” She is doing exactly that.
She shared her thoughts about the need for training and professional development opportunities to attract more women into automotive manufacturing and supply chain positions. The Women in Manufacturing Association “is dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who have chosen careers in the manufacturing industry.”
WIM offers a variety of opportunities for training and professional development that members identify as an important way to achieve career success. Corporate membership benefits include ways to leverage WiM training and resources.
Click here to listen to the full episode.
Episode #15: The Force Majeure Pandemic
In this episode, we’re talking with Katherine L. Pullen, attorney at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP about force majeure, that common contract clause that relates to liability in cases of extraordinary events or circumstances beyond the control of both parties. It can relate to events such as strikes, riots, crimes, epidemics, war – or pandemics. It has now become “one of the most invoked and highly-analyzed terms out there,” according to Katie. As a litigator with vast experience working in the automotive industry, Katie shared with us her best practices for automotive supply chain leaders about contract terms and conditions.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, automotive supply chain leaders have seen contract negotiations evolve as force majeure has become more well-known. It can get tricky understanding the differences between the legal terms and common business terms. She explains:
“Some suppliers are leaning on force majeure to justify suspending performance due to some unexpected increased costs. But then in the next breath, they demand a price increase and say, ‘We’ll keep performing if you pay these higher prices.’ … There are very rare exceptions, but the general rule is that you cannot rely on a force majeure provision to try and get price relief.”
She advises supply chain leaders to pay close attention to contracts, understand them thoroughly and make sure all parties are aware that “certain things that were previously unforeseeable may now be foreseeable,” she says.
Click here to listen to the full episode.
To download and catch up on all the latest podcast episodes, please visit the Auto Supply Chain Prophets website. Are there topics we haven’t covered yet that you’d like us to explore? Leave a comment below.
