At the heart of The Prophets’ vision are “The 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes.” What are they? Find out, and see the future yourself. Click here

In this episode of the Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcast, hosts Terry Onica and Jan Griffiths explore one of the industry's most overlooked but critical aspects: Supplier Relationship Management (SRM).

The discussion starts with reflections on Stellantis' layoffs, which got Jan thinking about how OEMs and the UAW still approach negotiations in a transactional way. The same old "tit-for-tat" mindset from her days in the supply chain continues, but the real question is, how can we move beyond this?

Fresh off a trip to Belgium, Terry brings practical insights from a recent conference where she discussed the importance of internal collaboration. With so many moving parts—purchasing, quality, materials management, plant operations—the challenge is how to break down silos and get everyone aligned. The solution? SRM technology. With today's SRM tools, companies can finally achieve a "single version of the truth," enabling real-time data access and more reliable performance metrics.

The recent disruptions have pushed risk management and ESG into the spotlight, highlighting the need for compliance. It's no longer a matter of "should we do this?" but "we absolutely must." Jan and Terry point out that for leaders listening, now is the time to commit to compliance. This is especially true as regulations increase and controls become tighter, making it mandatory to establish effective systems for managing suppliers.

What shines through this episode is Terry's unwavering optimism. Despite being in the trenches of the auto supply chain for years, she stays passionate and hopeful because, as she explains, she's seen it work. She talks about her work with problematic suppliers and how walking them through the steps of MMOG/LE transformed their businesses. Even industries outside of automotive, like medical, have reaped the benefits of implementing these best practices.

Join us for a thought-provoking episode that urges listeners to rethink supplier management and highlights the importance of leadership, collaboration, and a unified approach to data.

Themes discussed in this episode:

• The need for the automotive supply chain to move from transactional to collaborative relationships
• The role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) tools in fostering data transparency and shared accountability among stakeholders
• How leadership commitment is essential for driving supply chain transformation and addressing resource constraints
• The increasing demand for rigorous data accuracy and compliance in today’s complex supply chain environment
• The potential of technology to revolutionize supply chain processes and improve overall efficiency
• Why regular evaluations of supplier performance are necessary to encourage accountability and sustained success
• How implementing best practices from frameworks like MMOG/LE can significantly improve supplier collaboration and overall performance

Featured on this episode:

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 software and supply chain solutions. Her career began in the supply chain in the late 1980s when she led a team to implement Electronic Data Interchange for all the Ford assembly and component plants.

Connect: