The Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcast is relaunching with a significant milestone—10,000 downloads—and a new partnership with QAD and AIAG. To mark the occasion, Jan Griffiths sits down with Anton Chilton, CEO of QAD, and Matt Pohlman, CEO of AIAG, to tackle the pressing challenges and opportunities shaping the future of automotive supply chains.
The automotive industry is undergoing a massive transformation. Traditional supply chain strategies are no longer enough. The old belief that "big fish eat small fish" is outdated—today, fast fish eat slow fish.
Between ongoing disruptions, economic uncertainty, and the push toward electrification, the industry can no longer afford to rely on slow, outdated processes.
So, how do companies keep up? Both leaders believe speed, collaboration, and real-time data are the keys to survival. Companies stuck in outdated ways of thinking—focusing on their operations rather than the entire supply network—will struggle to compete.
But why hasn't the industry mastered speed and collaboration despite decades of talking about them? It points to one key issue: while technology and automation have advanced, manufacturing productivity has been stagnant since 2010. The reason? There is too much focus on efficiency and not enough on adaptability. We have to embrace change and empower people with the right data.
AIAG proves that this kind of reinvention isn't just talk—it's essential. Once focused on compliance, it has become a key industry player, connecting the right people to solve the supply chain's toughest challenges.
So what's next? Both leaders agree that radical collaboration and data-driven decision-making will define the industry's future. The challenge isn't just about having the right technology—it's about using it to create a culture of innovation within your company.
Their advice to leaders? Empower your people, understand your supply chain from end to end, and stop thinking of speed as just a tech problem—it's a leadership problem, too.
Themes discussed in this episode:
- The need for speed and adaptability in today’s automotive supply chain
- Why traditional supply chain strategies no longer work in a rapidly changing industry
- How real-time data and technology can improve decision-making—but only if people are empowered to act
- The biggest risks facing the industry, from geopolitical tensions to supply chain disruptions
- The reinvention of AIAG from a compliance organization to a true industry connector
- How QAD is leveraging tech and AI to deliver practical, real-time supply chain insights
- Why leaders must break silos and rethink their approach to supply chain management
Featured on this episode:
Name: Matt Pohlman
Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)
About: Matt Pohlman, CEO of AIAG, leads the organization in tackling the automotive industry’s most pressing challenges in quality, supply chain efficiency, and corporate responsibility. With decades of leadership experience in global supply chain management, supplier quality, manufacturing, and logistics, he has held senior executive roles at Federal-Mogul, Delphi, Tenneco, and WABCO/ZF Group. Now in his third year at AIAG, Matt is driving a transformative vision focused on speed, relevance, and accountability.
