Description

In the automotive industry, supply chain is typically not viewed as a driver of profits — but that needs to shift. 

Over the years, the supply chain has evolved from a mostly local or regional operation into a sprawling, diverse, global enterprise. And as the pandemic proved, it can make or break an organization. 

In the premiere episode of Auto Supply Chain Prophets, co-host Jan Griffiths talks with Cathy Fisher, Founder and President of automotive management systems firm Quistem, and Terry Onica, Director, Automotive who directs vertical solution strategy for enterprise resource planner (ERP) and supply chain solution provider QAD, about the importance of changing this perspective. 

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Themes discussed in this episode: 

• The automotive supply chain is no longer vertically integrated. It’s diverse and global.
• How to view supply chain as a moneymaker in the automotive industry.
• Supply chain has been viewed, until recently, as an operational function. It needs to be approached as a strategic one with implications for the bottom line. 
• Cathy and Terry’s definition of supply chain.
• The Industrial Age roots of the traditional “command and control” style of supply chain management and why it doesn’t fit the current realities of manufacturing.

Featured on this Episode 

Name: Cathy Fisher

Title: Founder and President, Quistem

About: Cathy’s firm helps its clients, particularly automotive clients, eliminate customer complaints and increase their profits. She has worked in the automotive supply chain since the 1980s when she started her career with General Motors. 

Connect: LinkedIn 

Name: Terry Onica 

Title: Director, Automotive at QAD

About: For two decades, Terry has been the automotive vertical director of this provider of manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and supply chain solutions.  Her career began in supply chain in the late 1980s when she led a team to implement  Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for all the Ford assembly and component plants.  

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Jan Griffiths 

Title: President and Founder, Gravitas Detroit

About: A veteran executive in the automotive industry, Jan previously served as chief procurement officer for a $3 billion, tier-one global automotive supplier. As the president of Gravitas Detroit, Jan provides online courses, speeches, podcasts and workshops to break the mold of command and control leadership to help you unleash the potential of your team and allow authentic leadership to thrive!

Connect: LinkedIn