2023 Conference Programme

After years of material and capacity shortages, automotive manufacturers and their providers have made progress in stabilising much of the supply chain, reducing cost and creating more predictability. However, the industry continues to face challenges, from extended vehicle delivery lead times, capacity issues in rail and ro-ro, to changing networks and requirements as electric vehicle and battery production ramps up. How should supply chain stakeholders approach these issues?

In this session, major manufacturers and logistics providers will share insight into the innovations and learnings of supply chain disruption, including partnerships, technology and investments. They will also outline how the industry needs to shift from short-term firefighting to partnerships based on long-term planning, sharing insight on the investments, technology and partnerships needed to ensure the North American automotive supply chain can compete in efficiency, quality, customer satisfaction and sustainability.

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Addressing diversity, equality and inclusivity has fast become a fundamental pillar for companies of all sizes and across all sectors. As a truly global industry, automotive manufacturing and its supply chains have the opportunity to lead this change and positively impact millions of lives around the world. This shift can also deliver improvements in supply chain performance, not least as the sector requires new talents and skillsets, new thinking and leadership for the transition to sustainable, connected and electrified mobility solutions.

In this session, hear how individual logistics leaders and forward-thinking automotive manufacturers and providers are taking meaningful action to raise awareness within their own organisations and across their value chain, and develop and implement best practises to create welcoming environments where all individuals can be celebrated and supported to achieve success.

The rapid digital transformation of automotive products, supply chain tools and production processes are paving the way for a connected and efficient future but as technology and services in vehicles increases, automotive manufacturers are facing an increasingly complex software supply chain along with new attack vectors, increasing their exposure to cyber security breaches that can threaten the entire enterprise.

In this session, leading experts address the need to prioritise cyber security and invest in preventative measures to eliminate threats and vulnerabilities for supply chain as the digital ecosystem continues to expand and evolve.

Following years of production disruptions and delivery delays, automotive manufacturers and service providers are accelerating the path to more connected, transparent and predictive supply chains. In this session our panel of supply chain and technology experts explore the technology and process to digitalise the supply chain, from real-time tracking and control towers, network optimisation to artificial intelligence, sharing real-world case studies and discussing the potential of the metaverse for supply chain.

Near-constant crisis and increased cases of supply chain disruptions and issues requiring urgent attention can leave little capacity for focus on process excellence and network optimisation, but these are fundamental practices that underpin cost control, network efficiency, and waste reduction, particularly across parts movement and packaging.

In this session, logistics and packaging specialists will discuss how innovations in network engineering and design, as well as material choices are crucial to improving fill rates, reducing CO2 footprints, and how enhanced asset-tracking and visibility can maximise capacity and ease bottlenecks.

Whilst automotive product portfolios transform, becoming more environmentally friendly and eventually carbon neutral, that path to net zero for transport and logistics will take time, as there is no immediate path to scaling up zero emission road, truck, rail or air freight. If manufacturers and logistics providers don’t work together closely, new supply chain and manufacturing requirements, including for EV and battery production, could lead to increases in transport emissions, material and packaging waste. That is why manufacturers are so focused on implementing long-term strategies to achieve more sustainable logistics and packaging.

In this session, understand how carmarkers, suppliers and key stakeholders are collaborating to develop best practises for packaging materials and waste reduction, emission reporting and target setting, advance recycling capabilities and develop closed loop systems throughout the supply chain, from logistics and transport to plants to dealerships.

Daily firefighting comes as standard for logistics and supply chain practitioners in today’s environment, with line stoppages always just one supplier failure or one missed shipment away, but logistics leaders must separate themselves from the noise to develop the strategies and steer their organisations in a direction that will enable them to thrive in the longer-term. The development, retention and recruitment of talent is a fundamental aspect, ensuring that existing employees have the tools and skills they need to succeed, whilst preparing the next generation of leaders and team members to thrive in the years to come.

In this final session, logistics leaders will share their views on the key forces and trends shaping their strategies and approaches to leadership, team building, future skills and recruitment, and how to build a culture that thrives even in the uncertainty and 'chaos' of the new normal in supply chain. With university students in supply chain and logistics invited to attend, they will also share advice and insight for those considering or just starting to build their careers in automotive supply chain and logistics.