| name | Supplychain |
| description | Executive-level supply chain expertise for automotive manufacturing. Strategic purchasing, materials management, supplier development, and cost optimization aligned with IATF 16949 requirements. USE WHEN user says 'supply chain', 'purchasing', 'procurement', 'supplier', 'materials management', 'inventory', 'sourcing', 'vendor', 'BOM cost', 'PPV', 'should cost', 'make vs buy', 'RFQ', 'category management', or needs strategic guidance on automotive supply chain decisions. Integrates with AutomotiveManufacturing, A3CriticalThinking, and HoshinKanri skills. |
| effort | medium |
Supply Chain Management - Automotive Manufacturing
When to Activate This Skill
- "Help me negotiate with [supplier]"
- "Create an RFQ for [component]"
- "Supplier scorecard for [vendor]"
- "Should-cost analysis for [part]"
- "Make vs buy decision for [process]"
- "Category strategy for [commodity]"
- "Reduce BOM cost by [target]"
- "Supplier quality issue with [vendor]"
- "Materials planning for [product]"
- "Inventory optimization"
Strategic Framework
The Supply Chain Value Hierarchy
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. QUALITY & COMPLIANCE │
│ Zero defects to production line │
│ IATF 16949, ISO 9001, customer requirements │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. DELIVERY & AVAILABILITY │
│ Right part, right place, right time │
│ Supply continuity and resilience │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. TOTAL COST OPTIMIZATION │
│ Not just piece price - total cost of ownership │
│ PPV, logistics, inventory, quality costs │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Critical Rule: Never compromise quality or delivery for cost. A cheap part that stops the line costs far more than the savings.
Executive-Level Competencies
Strategic Purchasing
| Domain | Competency |
|---|
| Category Management | Commodity strategies, market analysis, TCO modeling |
| Supplier Strategy | Rationalization, development, partnership tiers |
| Negotiation | Multi-variable deals, BATNA, value creation |
| Contract Management | Terms, risk allocation, performance clauses |
| Cost Management | Should-cost, VA/VE, design-to-cost |
| Risk Management | Single source mitigation, geopolitical exposure |
Materials Management
| Domain | Competency |
|---|
| Demand Planning | Forecasting, S&OP integration, consumption patterns |
| Inventory Strategy | Safety stock, JIT, Kanban, VMI, consignment |
| MRP/ERP | System optimization, parameter tuning, exception management |
| Logistics | Inbound optimization, milk runs, cross-docking |
| Warehouse | Layout, flow, accuracy, cycle counting |
Supplier Quality
| Domain | Competency |
|---|
| PPAP | Production Part Approval Process management |
| Supplier Audits | Process audits, system audits, LPA |
| Performance Metrics | PPM, OTD, cost recovery, scorecards |
| Development | SQE programs, capability building |
| Escalation | Quality alerts, controlled shipping, business review |
Key Metrics & KPIs
Executive Dashboard
| Metric | Target | Calculation |
|---|
| PPV (Purchase Price Variance) | Negative (savings) | (Standard - Actual) × Volume |
| OTD (On-Time Delivery) | ≥98% | (On-time receipts / Total receipts) × 100 |
| Supplier PPM | <50 | (Defects / Parts received) × 1,000,000 |
| Inventory Turns | ≥12 | COGS / Average Inventory |
| Days of Supply | <15 | Inventory / Daily Usage |
| Spend Under Management | >90% | Managed spend / Total spend |
| Cost Avoidance | Track | Negotiated savings from market increases |
Operational Metrics
| Metric | Target | Purpose |
|---|
| Dock-to-Stock Time | <24 hrs | Receiving efficiency |
| Inventory Accuracy | >99% | Cycle count results |
| Premium Freight | <0.5% of spend | Expedite control |
| Invoice Match Rate | >95% | Process efficiency |
| Supplier Scorecard | Top quartile | Performance trending |
Supplier Management
Supplier Tiering Strategy
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STRATEGIC PARTNERS (Tier 1) │
│ • Joint development, shared roadmaps │
│ • Long-term agreements (3-5 years) │
│ • Executive relationship management │
│ • Collaborative cost reduction │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PREFERRED SUPPLIERS (Tier 2) │
│ • Proven performance, competitive pricing │
│ • Medium-term agreements (1-3 years) │
│ • Regular business reviews │
│ • Standard cost reduction expectations │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ APPROVED SUPPLIERS (Tier 3) │
│ • Qualified but transactional │
│ • Spot buy or competitive bid │
│ • Annual review │
│ • Performance-based retention │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBATION / EXIT (Tier 4) │
│ • Performance issues, quality concerns │
│ • Controlled shipping or new business hold │
│ • Active exit planning │
│ • Seek alternatives │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Supplier Scorecard Framework
| Category | Weight | Metrics |
|---|
| Quality | 40% | PPM, PPAP on-time, warranty claims, audit scores |
| Delivery | 30% | OTD, lead time, flexibility, communication |
| Cost | 20% | Price competitiveness, VA/VE, payment terms |
| Service | 10% | Responsiveness, technical support, innovation |
Cost Management Strategies
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
PIECE PRICE
+ Tooling (amortized)
+ Logistics (freight, handling, duties)
+ Inventory carrying cost
+ Quality costs (inspection, sorting, returns)
+ Administrative costs (POs, invoices, management)
+ Risk premium (single source, geopolitical)
─────────────────────────────
= TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP
Cost Reduction Levers
| Lever | Description | Typical Savings |
|---|
| Volume Leverage | Consolidate spend, longer commitments | 3-8% |
| Specification Review | Over-engineering elimination | 5-15% |
| VA/VE | Value Analysis / Value Engineering | 10-30% |
| Should-Cost | Detailed cost breakdown analysis | 5-20% |
| Resourcing | Geographic arbitrage, new suppliers | 10-25% |
| Process Improvement | Supplier manufacturing efficiency | 3-10% |
| Payment Terms | Extend terms, capture early pay discount | 1-3% |
Should-Cost Model Components
MATERIAL COST
Raw material × Usage factor × Scrap factor
+ Market pricing or index
CONVERSION COST
Labor: (Cycle time × Labor rate) / Efficiency
Machine: (Cycle time × Machine rate) / OEE
OVERHEAD
SG&A: % of conversion
Profit: % margin (typically 5-15%)
LOGISTICS
Packaging + Freight + Duties
Negotiation Framework
Preparation Checklist
Multi-Variable Negotiation
Don't negotiate price alone. Trade across multiple variables:
| Variable | Give | Get |
|---|
| Volume commitment | Higher volume | Lower price |
| Contract length | Longer term | Price protection |
| Payment terms | Earlier payment | Discount |
| Specification | Relax tolerance | Cost reduction |
| Logistics | Different Incoterm | Price adjustment |
| Quality | Accept more inspection | Cost pass-through |
BATNA Development
Always have alternatives:
- Identify backup suppliers (at least 2)
- Understand switching costs and timeline
- Maintain relationships with alternatives
- Document qualification status
- Never reveal desperation
IATF 16949 Supplier Requirements
Supplier Quality Management System
| Requirement | Expectation |
|---|
| QMS Certification | IATF 16949 preferred, ISO 9001 minimum |
| PPAP Submission | Level 3 minimum, all 18 elements |
| Process Controls | Control plans, PFMEA, reaction plans |
| Change Management | Prior notification and approval |
| Traceability | Lot traceability to raw material |
| Calibration | Traceable measurement systems |
| Continuous Improvement | Year-over-year PPM reduction |
Supplier Development Program
Stage Gate Approach:
Risk Management
Supply Risk Categories
| Risk Type | Examples | Mitigation |
|---|
| Single Source | Proprietary technology, limited capacity | Dual source, inventory buffer |
| Financial | Supplier bankruptcy, cash flow issues | Credit monitoring, payment terms |
| Geopolitical | Trade disputes, sanctions, instability | Regional diversification |
| Operational | Fire, flood, equipment failure | BCP review, safety stock |
| Quality | Systematic defects, process drift | Audit frequency, incoming inspection |
| Capacity | Demand surge, allocation | LTA commitments, capacity reservation |
Risk Assessment Matrix
| Probability | Low Impact | Medium Impact | High Impact |
|---|
| High | Monitor | Mitigate | Urgent Action |
| Medium | Accept | Monitor | Mitigate |
| Low | Accept | Accept | Monitor |
Materials Planning
Inventory Strategy by Part Type
| Part Type | Strategy | Target DOS |
|---|
| A Items (High value, critical) | JIT, frequent delivery | 3-5 days |
| B Items (Medium value) | Weekly delivery, safety stock | 7-14 days |
| C Items (Low value, commodity) | VMI, consignment, bulk | 30+ days |
| Critical spares | Buffer stock regardless of value | Per risk |
Safety Stock Calculation
Safety Stock = Z × σ × √(LT + Review Period)
Where:
Z = Service level factor (95% = 1.65, 99% = 2.33)
σ = Demand standard deviation
LT = Lead time in periods
MRP Best Practices
Templates Available
| Template | Purpose | Location |
|---|
| RFQ Package | Request for Quotation | templates/rfq-template.md |
| Supplier Scorecard | Performance tracking | templates/scorecard.md |
| Should-Cost Model | Cost breakdown | templates/should-cost.md |
| Negotiation Prep | Deal preparation | templates/negotiation-prep.md |
| Category Strategy | Commodity planning | templates/category-strategy.md |
| Supplier Audit | Assessment checklist | templates/supplier-audit.md |
Integration Points
With A3CriticalThinking
- Supply disruptions trigger A3 problem solving
- Cost reduction projects use structured analysis
- Priority hierarchy: Quality → Delivery → Cost
With AutomotiveManufacturing
- PPAP documentation requirements
- Control plan supplier inputs
- Work instruction material specifications
With HoshinKanri
- PPV targets cascade from strategic objectives
- Supplier development as improvement priority
- Bowling chart for supply chain KPIs
Key Principles
- Total Cost Thinking - Never optimize piece price at expense of total cost
- Supplier Partnership - Best results come from collaboration, not adversarial relationships
- Risk-Adjusted Decisions - Factor in supply continuity, not just price
- Data-Driven Negotiation - Use should-cost and market intelligence
- Continuous Improvement - Year-over-year cost and quality improvement
- Strategic Alignment - Supply chain supports business objectives
- Ethical Conduct - Fair dealing, no kickbacks, transparent process
Extended Context
For detailed methodologies, case studies, and advanced strategies:
read ~/.claude/skills/SupplyChain/CLAUDE.md
For templates:
ls ~/.claude/skills/SupplyChain/templates/
Workflow Routing
| User Request | Workflow | Output |
|---|
| "Negotiate with supplier X" | Negotiation Framework | BATNA analysis, multi-variable strategy |
| "Create RFQ for [part]" | RFQ Package | Structured RFQ document using template |
| "Supplier scorecard for [vendor]" | Scorecard Framework | Weighted performance assessment |
| "Should-cost analysis for [part]" | Should-Cost Model | Cost breakdown by material/conversion/overhead |
| "Make vs buy for [process]" | Make vs Buy Framework | Decision matrix with recommendation |
| "Category strategy for [commodity]" | Category Management | Spend analysis, tiering, sourcing strategy |
| "Reduce BOM cost" | Cost Reduction Levers | Prioritized list of cost reduction opportunities |
| "Supplier quality issue" | Supplier Development / 8D | Escalation path, containment, corrective action |
| "Materials planning / inventory" | Materials Planning | ABC analysis, safety stock, replenishment strategy |
| "Risk assessment for supply base" | Risk Management | Risk matrix, mitigation actions |
Examples
Supplier negotiation prep:
"Help me prepare for a negotiation with our casting supplier who wants a 10% price increase"
→ Provides BATNA development, should-cost comparison, multi-variable trade strategy, and walk-away point.
Total Cost of Ownership analysis:
"We found a cheaper supplier in Eastern Europe — should we switch?"
→ Builds full TCO model including freight, inventory carrying cost, quality risk, and management overhead to compare true cost.
Supplier development plan:
"Our key machining supplier is at 800 PPM and 90% OTD — what do we do?"
→ Provides phased development plan: assessment, improvement targets, SQE resource deployment, and ROI calculation.
