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Auto Supply Chain Prophets

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In this episode of the Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcast, hosts Terry Onica and Jan Griffiths are joined by Cathy Fisher and Alexis Scipio to talk about their new eBook called "Delivering on the Promise of Delivering: Automotive Sustainability and Profitability."

Discover why ESG is becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry and why you should care. Alexis explains how sustainability can lead to profitability and what benefits companies get from having solid sustainability strategies.

We'll explore how ESG is now part of industry standards like MMOG/LE and quality management systems. Organizations must now consider their environmental impact and align their operations with sustainability objectives, a shift that Terry, Cathy, and Alexis aim to support through their upcoming eBook.

Terry talks about the crucial role of technology in supporting ESG initiatives, citing examples such as supplier relationship management tools and ERP systems. Cathy explains how ESG relates to the 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes, which could help organizations integrate ESG into their operations.

Their combined expertise in ESG, quality management systems, and supply chain management led to an eBook that simplifies complicated regulations into a digestible format. It's a lifesaver for leaders industry leaders who are overwhelmed by the task of navigating numerous regulations.

The episode concludes with advice encouraging listeners to embrace ESG proactively. It reminds us that ESG is not a passing trend but a fundamental aspect of automotive operations that requires immediate attention and action.

Themes discussed in this episode:

• How supply chain, quality, and ESG intersect in the automotive industry
• ESG’s growing importance in the automotive industry
• How sustainability can lead to profitability
• The relationship between ESG and industry standards such as MMOG/LE
• Why we should focus on implementing ESG practices
• The role of technology in supporting ESG initiatives
• The overwhelming complexity of ESG requirements

Featured on this episode:

Name: Alexis Scipio

Title: Founder, The Thrive Point

About: Alexis Scipio is a seasoned ESG aficionado and supply chain professional with over 15 years of experience in the automotive industry. She’s the Founder of The Thrive Point LLC. and a certified diversity specialist who passionately integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into business processes.

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Cathy Fisher

Title: Founder and President, Quistem

About: As Quistem's driving force, Cathy helps its clients, particularly automotive manufacturers, 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: LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

• Leveraging Risk Management Throughout the Automotive Supply Chain
• Operational Restart Readiness Checklist
• The 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes
• ISO Climate Change Amendments
• Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
• What is New in MMOG/LE Version 6?
• Past episode with Alexis Scipio: ESG in the Automotive Industry: Embracing Sustainability for Global Supply Chains
• Register today for your 1:1 business assessment with automotive supply chain experts Terry Onica and Cathy Fisher.
• Grammer and AVL
• New eBook! Delivering on the Promise of Delivery: Automotive Sustainability and Profitability

Episode Highlights:

[01:40] Teamwork: Learn about Cathy, Alexis, and Terry's individual contributions to the eBook's creation.

[03:27] Why It Matters: Discover the importance of ESG and why it's crucial for listeners to take it seriously.

[04:57] Adding ESG: Find out why the third eBook is about ESG this time, expanding upon previous topics of quality and supply chain.

[06:28] ESG in Industry Standards: Explore the connection between ESG and MMOG/LE industry requirements.

[07:30] Climate Change Amendment: Learn about the significant amendment ISO made to management system standards regarding ESG.

[10:23] Complexity of ESG: Gain insight into the vast number and complexity of ESG requirements and regulations.

[13:51] Role of Technology: Learn how technology plays a crucial role in supporting ESG initiatives.

[15:33] ESG to Supply Chain Processes: Discover how ESG relates to the 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes.

[17:13] Special Offer: Terry is offering a complimentary one-hour discussion on ESG implementation.

[18:09] Release Date: Find out when the eBook will be available for download.

[18:33] Embracing ESG: Receive advice from Cathy, Alexis, and Terry on what actions listeners can take right now to embrace ESG.

Top Quotes:

[05:37] Cathy: “The key topic on everybody's minds and lips is ESG, especially in the past 12 months, that has really been a main focus and not just from a supply chain standpoint. We're actually seeing ESG as a topic across the organization and even at an operational level as well. So, we realized that the direction we needed to take the discussion in this third eBook is really supporting this idea of how you bring ESG into your organization from an operational level, as well as, integrating it into your supply chain activities.”

[09:57] Terry: “That’s why the three of us teamed up, and said, 'We need to be able to help them,' because we know off the bat, this is not going to be something that's inherent to them. And we're really excited because upon doing research, I think this is the only eBook or information out there on how to help the plant to look at ESG within their facilities and to educate IT, supply chain, and quality on how to meet these ESG requirements.”

[18:47] Alexis: “One thing manufacturers can do right now is just to see themselves in ESG…I think that there's very likely things that tier ones, tier twos, OEMs are already doing that are ESG relevant, especially if you're TS certified and if you're ISO certified, there are tasks that are already going on that could be captured in a sustainability strategy. So, I think it's important to take those wins and celebrate the ESG topics you're already delivering.”

[19:26] Cathy: “I think a great place to start, especially for larger organizations, is to look at what the corporate direction is regarding ESG. Understand how, as a corporation, your business is addressing sustainability and what resources may be available from the corporate standpoint that can then be deployed within the operations and relevant to the operational processes.”

[20:18] Jan: “ESG is not going away. It is here to stay. And the sooner you take action and start to understand what it's all about and what it means to you and your organization, the better.”