How can you build supply chain resilience amid chaos?

Supply chain resilience is key to building the sustainable supply chain of tomorrow. 

Organizations must ensure their suppliers meet the future goals and intentions of the company and industry as a whole. This doesn’t mean just Tier-1 suppliers — all tiers must be aligned. 

Each supplier should be managed through a defined category strategy that is aligned to the grow, sustain or exit framework established by the procurement team. Supplier performance and capabilities should be assessed against the category’s future state requirements. A backup plan for exiting suppliers is critical so production or services aren’t disrupted. A backup plan to mitigate potential risks is also essential for suppliers of critical parts. 

Ensuring continuity of supply amid chaos is essential to building and maintaining a sustainable supply chain. Amid disruption, you must not lose touch with the end goal.

Challenges will exist, speedbumps will slow the process, and unintended issues will arise, but by having backup plans and strategies — whether through safety supply, dual sourcing or other means — will enhance your resilience. Create a plan with key stakeholders, ensure supply and execute to success.

The most helpful career advice I’ve received:

To follow and understand Harvey Coleman’s P.I.E. Theory of Success, which essentially means devoting 60 percent of your efforts to your exposure, 30 percent to your brand and image and 10 percent to your performance, which must be exceptionally well. Many practitioners think they need only to perform well and go above and beyond to be promoted. But they fail to realize that (1) networking and who you know and (2) building their personal brand are key to being successful and getting to where you strive to be.

Those who get promoted generally are the ones who connect with their network the most, whether through activities inside or outside work, like employee resource groups or team-building events. Of course, how you perform is also important. But relying on your network and outside activities gives you additional exposure to people at your company and in your organization who you may not have worked with directly.

Another piece of career advice: Never burn bridges. It is a small world. You never know whom you will be working with — or working for — in the future.

The biggest professional challenge I’ve had to overcome: 

On my first day of work after graduating college, I was told that the key supplier I had been assigned declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As a buyer, it was my job to not only support that supplier in supporting us, ensuring continuity of supply and minimizing production risk, but to also create a contingency plan if it didn’t make it through bankruptcy. In the end, a contingency plan was created and vetted, but the supplier was bought by another company, ensuring it received funding and support.

How I define work/life balance:

Most people probably don’t feel this way, but I enjoy having two phones, one for work and one for personal use. This has been my biggest saver in ensuring an adequate work/life balance. The ability to detach from work on weekends and while on vacation — just by not taking my work phone with me (or silencing it) — has helped me tremendously in separating work life from personal life.

Also, work/life balance can be enhanced by doing the activities that bring you joy, whether that’s volunteering, learning a new skill, or another activity. It’s important to make time to do what makes you happy as an individual.  

How I describe my job in one sentence:

With more than 30,000 individual parts in a vehicle, even one part that doesn’t make it to the assembly plant could shut down our assembly process — so, my job is to ensure continuity of supply, whether related to quality, labor or force majeure.

What I like best about what I do: 

The work I do ensures that General Motors has the necessary parts that meet the highest standards for production of all our vehicles. It is at the forefront of automotive supply chain. I enjoy the high-paced environment most.

Contributing to the profession so important to me because:

It helps me better understand the supply chains of tomorrow and what it takes to learn to become a successful leader. I am involved in Institute for Supply Management^® (ISM^®) locally as president of the ISM—Southeast Michigan Chapter, as well as with the broader organization as a member of the Emerging Professionals Committee.

I also was honored with the R. Gene Richter Scholarship in 2023. Although I am early into my professional career, ISM has given me a strong network of mentors to support my growth. I strive to give back and help the next generation, just as I was supported when I was in their shoes.