Moving Parts: A Framework for Improving Automotive Supply Chain PerformanceWithout context, strategy, and systems, the current automotive supply chain can seem like a complex web of disjointed parts. Combine that with the pressure to deliver on the promise of delivery and you have a recipe for disorder, bottlenecks, confusion, and frustration.  
Fortunately for OEMs everywhere, Cathy Fisher, Founder and President of automotive systems firm https://quistem.com/ (Quistem), and Terry Onica, who directs vertical solution strategy for enterprise resource planner (ERP) and supply chain solution provider https://www.qad.com/ (QAD), dove deep into ITF 16949 and MMOG/LE. Their goal — to unearth and demystify the workings and management of the auto supply chain machinery — resulted in an easy-to-implement framework that integrates and summarizes the two sets of professional standards and guidelines.


In this episode of Auto Supply Chain Prophets, co-host Jan Griffiths talks with Cathy and Terry about their findings and how they used them to identify 24 processes that are essential to the automotive supply chain, creating a five-step, easy-to-follow roadmap to optimize supply chain performance. 


Themes discussed in this episode: 


How a simple roadmap can make the seeming complexity of the automotive supply chain a lot more manageable and improve performance. 
The value for an organization of identifying its 24 essential processes in making good on the promise of delivery.  
How, without context and careful application, investing in IT solutions can cost time and money instead of saving them. 
The extremely valuable (but often under-utilized) employee who’s been with the company for decades and knows its systems and processes inside and out. 
The necessity of a seat at the C-suite table for supply chain leaders. 



Featured on this Episode  Name: Cathy Fisher
Title: Founder and President, https://quistem.com/ (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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-fisher-5069425/ (LinkedIn)


Name: Terry Onica 
Title: Director, Automotive at https://www.qad.com/ (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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-onica-615979/ (LinkedIn)


Name: Jan Griffiths 
Title: President and Founder, https://www.gravitasdetroit.com/ (Gravitas Detroit)
About: A veteran executive in the automotive industry, Jan previously served as chief procurement officer for a $3 billion, Tier 1 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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jangriffiths/ (LinkedIn)


Episode HighlightsTimestamped inflection points from the show


[2:19] Twenty-four processes, five steps: Cathy Fisher and Terry Onica identified 24 essential supply chain processes and mapped out five steps https://autosupplychainprophets.com/ ((click to download whirepaper)) to help OEMs deliver on the promise of delivery. Their roadmap begins with recognizing what the essential processes are within a particular organization. 


[3:11] Beyond recognition: Once a manufacturer identifies the essential processes they need to assess their...