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Recorded live from the AIAG Supply Chain Conference in downtown Detroit, this episode captures real conversations with the people driving (and dealing with) supply chain change. With a fresh venue, new voices, and an unfiltered look at what's working (and what's not), the ASCP team dives into what's happening across the automotive supply chain, shaping the road ahead.

The day starts with fresh eyes—Wayne State student John LaGarde shares what it's like attending his first supply chain conference. He's drawn in by the industry's complexity, but what stands out is his call for continuous learning and work-life balance—things Gen Z now expects, not just hopes for.

Fred Coe, Chair of AIAG's EDI Advisory, gives an update on their latest EDI survey. 500 companies responded, and results show a split: some still use fax and email, while others have moved to APIs. The industry isn't aligned, but the interest in standardization is growing.

Dr. Bing Xu from Catena-X shares what he heard at the event: companies are looking beyond old supply chain methods and focusing more on using data properly. He notes the interest in AI tools and stresses the need for fast implementation, especially with growing pressure from tariffs and supply chain instability.

Then comes Sig Huber from Elm Analytics with a warning: uncertainty is paralyzing the industry. Companies aren't investing, demand is unclear, and policy changes continue. A 5% increase in the cost of goods could double the number of distressed suppliers. Whether demand rises or drops, disruption is coming.

That pressure is already hitting the tier-two level. Jennifer Smith, VP of Supply Chain at Royal Technologies, explains how suppliers are stuck—OEMs want cost cuts, suppliers want margin. Her focus? Speeding up processes and getting actual context behind data. Suppliers need the "why" to make the right decisions—and that's still missing in too many places.

Finally, Tanya Bolden from AIAG puts the day into perspective. The industry is changing fast. Mandates, electrification, decarbonization, and digital tools are all colliding at once. AIAG's job, she says, is to bring all those pieces to the table—while helping the next generation of professionals see that this isn't your grandfather's supply chain job.

Themes discussed in this episode:

• The unpredictability and chaos of today’s global tariff landscape
• Why AI and digital tools are now essential for managing supply chain complexity
• What the next generation of supply chain talent actually wants from employers—and why the industry needs to listen
• Why transparency from OEMs matters more than ever to tier-two suppliers
• How policy shifts and tariff uncertainty are paralyzing investment and planning
• The risk of a bullwhip effect—and why the industry is still unprepared for sudden shifts in demand
• How supply chain roles are evolving—and why the next generation needs to see that shift

Featured guests:

Name: John LaGarde

Title: Marketing and Global Supply Chain Student at Wayne State University - Mike Ilitch School of Business

Discussed: [03:04 ] First-time attendee John LaGarde shares what drew him to supply chain, what surprised him at the conference, and what today’s students really want from employers.

Name: Fred Coe

Title: Chair, AIAG EDI Advisory Group

Discussed: [07:11 ] Fred Coe shares surprising insights from AIAG’s EDI survey, revealing a split between companies stuck in the past and those ready for API adoption.

Name: Bing Xu

Title: Senior Director of Catena-X at AIAG

Discussed: [10:18 ] Dr. Bing Xu came in expecting the usual talk—but was caught off guard by how much the conversation had shifted toward high-tech solutions and AI. For him, the message is clear: the time for slow planning is over—supply chain leaders need to act fast, use data better, and push resilience all the way down to the lower tiers.

Name: Sig Huber

Title: Chief Commercial Officer at Elm Analytics

Discussed: [13:00 ] Sig Huber explains how policy confusion, stalled demand, and political bias are paralyzing the industry, leaving companies unsure of how to act. With supplier liquidity dropping and even small tariffs doubling financial risk, the next 12 months look anything but stable.

Name: Jennifer Smith

Title: Vice President of Supply Chain at Royal Technologies Corp.

Discussed: [19:07 ] Jennifer Smith lays out the pressure facing tier-two suppliers—squeezed between OEM cost cuts and supplier margins—and explains why visibility and understanding the “why” behind the data are critical for faster, smarter decisions on the plant floor.

Name: Tanya Bolden

Title: VP of Supply Chain and Corporate Responsibility at AIAG

Discussed: [24:49 ] Tanya Bolden shares how this year’s AIAG agenda was designed to reflect the pace and complexity of modern supply chain—from tariffs and EVs to carbon tracking—while making space for students to see the full scope of the industry beyond outdated stereotypes.



Mentioned in this episode:

• AIAG Supply Chain Conference
• Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Launches New Website and Brand Designed to Ignite the Next-Generation of Automotive Progress
• Episodes with Fred Coe: What's Next for EDI? Be Part of the AIAG Survey and Revving Up the Supply Chain: Exploring the Future of Automotive EDI
• Supply Chain Bullwhip Effect
• Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VAVE)