Page 43 - MetalForming April 2014

its way through the challenges.”
Sig Huber joined Chrysler in April 2008 having previous-
ly spent nine years with Toyota. His team is responsible for improving supplier and industry relationships, communi- cations and events, supplier risk management, supplier assessments, supplier diversity, contract administration, training and development, audit compliance and various other strategic areas within global sourcing at Chrysler. Huber also oversees the procurement of all parts and services for MOPAR, Chrysler’s aftermarket parts and performance parts division. Huber was actively involved in Chrysler’s restructuring activities in 2008 and 2009 and in that capac- ity he worked closely with the U.S. Treasury Auto Taskforce and Fiat due diligence and integration teams.
The Chrysler purchasing operation is headed by Scott Kun- selman, who has several direct reports, notably the com- modity directors who purchase parts and services by category. One is responsible for metallic commodities such as chassis parts, one for powertrain, including transmissions and engines purchased from other companies, one for chemical commodities, basically parts made from plastic or rubber such as tyres or spoilers. Another has responsibility for elec- trical components including navigation systems, radios and computers and there is also a director responsible for indi- rect materials such as products used in Chrysler’s plants including lubricants and protective wear. This latter category
also includes services such as IT, consulting, advertising and capital equipment.
The Chrysler purchasing operation was one of the first groups to integrate globally following the acquisition by Fiat in 2009. Some of the commodity directors are global leads for their category and could be located either in Europe, Latin America or the United States. The chemical director, for example, is the global lead for chemical around the world and all the chemical buyers globally report through him.
“There is a global head of purchasing for Fiat/Chrysler, who is Scott Garberdine,” explains Huber. “He is the global
Sig Huber,
Chrysler director of supplier relations:
“We look at total landed cost of parts as a criterion. Whether they are sourced in China or the Philippines or Mexico or Canada or the United States is not as significant a factor for us as the total landed cost. That said, there is a very strong trend toward regional purchas- ing; buying the parts in the regions where we are manu- facturing the vehicles.”
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