Thomas W. Sidlik, a U.S. member of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG, celebrated America’s Independence Day as the keynote speaker of an automotive seminar in France.
Sidlik, Executive Vice President, Procurement & Supply and General ManagerJeep Operations, was the featured speaker at a conference jointly sponsored bythe Centre Francais du Commerce (CFCE) and CLIFA, an association representingthe Automotive Industrial and Equipment Manufacturers and the French PlasticsProcessing industry.
Sidlik addressed representatives of over 100 automotive suppliers on theNorth American perspective of DaimlerChrysler’s global procurement and supplyoperations.
Sidlik emphasized the four initiatives of quality, systems cost, cycletime and technology, which comprise the basis of the company’s supplierrelations philosophy of Extended Enterprise(R).
“Extended Enterprise is our supply chain management process,” Sidlik said.”It is our overriding principle of managing multiple tiers of suppliers.”
The main goals of Extended Enterprise are: reduce cycle time; minimizesystems costs; achieve perfect quality; and leverage supplier technology.
“We view ourselves as managers of the supply chain and we want our Tier Isuppliers to help us manage the entire supply chain,” Sidlik told the Frenchautomotive suppliers.
“Extended Enterprise becomes long-term relationshipswith suppliers based on mutual trust and respect.”
DaimlerChrysler Corporation produces vehicles in 34 countries, which aresold worldwide in 200 countries.
