Phil Ideson started in automotive purchasing at Vauxhall, Ford, and Visteon, then left for pharma, consumer products, technology, and financial services. Today, he runs Art of Procurement, the home of the number-one procurement podcast in the world.
In this conversation with Jan Griffiths, Phil names what the industry rarely says out loud. A lot of automotive processes exist to hold control, not to drive an outcome, and the function ended up being measured on cost savings because that is the business case procurement built for itself. Regarding AI, his argument is that it is an operating-model question, not a technology purchase.
Phil also covers ProcureTech100 and previews Catalyst coming to Detroit on September 22nd.
Episode Highlights:
0:00 Intro
1:27 How Phil fell into procurement by accident
3:51 What automotive gets right, and what it misses
6:43 Process for control or process for outcome
8:39 The cost savings trap
9:48 The seat at the table
12:49 ProcureTech100 and a market that exploded
16:44 Why Catalyst is built small
22:44 Power dynamics and early supplier involvement
25:14 AI is an operating model issue
29:21 Driving change with confidence
Subscribe to the Jan Griffiths Automotive Leaders channel for more conversations with the leaders reshaping this industry, and download the 21 Traits of Authentic Leadership, a free PDF, at the link below.
If you are a CEO, forward this one to your head of procurement.
If you are the head of procurement and you want an invite to Catalyst Detroit on September 22nd, message Jan on LinkedIn.
#AutomotiveProcurement #ProcurementLeadership #SupplyChain #AutomotiveIndustry #authenticleadership
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