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, Beth Crowley, Chief Resilience Officer and president of the Crowley Group, joins hosts Terry Onica and Jan Griffiths to dive into the topic of resiliency and its significance in today's auto supply chain.

Beth starts by defining resilience, explaining that it's more than just an industry term; it's the ability of organizations and supply chains to adapt and bounce back from challenges.

The pandemic has heightened the urgency for companies to adopt resilient practices, and the data suggests that major disruptions are becoming more frequent. That's why Beth suggests that resilience should be woven into the culture, with everyone—from the front lines to the C-suite—playing a part in strengthening the supply chain.

Reflecting on the common tendency for companies to prioritize immediate crisis management over proactive planning, they discuss how automotive culture often glorifies the "firefighters" who save the day rather than encouraging a resilient mindset from the start. Beth suggests that organizations shift this perspective by training an "army of problem solvers" and integrating resilience into daily operations.

She shares practical advice for training teams, suggesting that even small organizations can identify recurring issues and use them as learning opportunities to build a stronger problem-solving culture.

Beth urges leaders to invest in their people, build resilient processes, and rethink their view of contingency planning—not as a task but as an integral part of their organizational mindset. Tune in to discover how to turn resilience into a foundational practice that drives success for your supply chain!

Themes discussed in this episode:

• Understanding resilience in today’s automotive supply chain
• The importance of organizations adapting to unexpected events and preparing for future disruptions
• The role of leadership in building resilient organizations
• Creating a culture where all employees are equipped and empowered to solve problems
• Moving away from a “firefighting” mentality to a proactive approach focused on continuous improvement and long-term resilience
• Rethinking contingency planning as an ongoing cultural practice rather than a one-time task
• Why investing in people and problem-solving training are essential components of a resilient organization

Featured on this episode:

Name: Beth Crowley

Title: President, The Crowley Group

About: Beth Crowley’s passion for Operations and Continuous Improvement runs deep in her family, tracing back to her grandfather’s pioneering work at Ford during World War II. After earning a BA and MBA in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University, Beth’s career began with roles focused on Lean and Continuous Improvement. She has since held positions at companies like AlliedSignal, UNISYS, and Maytag, where she advanced her expertise in transforming organizations. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Beth is now a sought-after consultant, part-time faculty member at Oakland University, podcast guest, and regular contributor to the Lean community.

Connect: LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode: