With nearly half a century of combined experience between them, Leich and Vogel commit to AIAG’s mission of championing industry collaboration in a non-competitive environment.
SOUTHFIELD, Michigan, January 27, 2016 — The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) announced the appointment of David A. Leich, director of global supply chain for General Motors Corporation, and Matthias Vogel, senior vice president quality and HSE for Kongsberg Automotive ASA, to its board of directors. More than 20 executives from the automotive and transportation OEM and supplier community currently serve on the AIAG board, representing a cross-section of member companies.
AIAG’s board of directors is responsible for maintaining the organization’s commitment to a seamless, efficient, and responsible supply chain by providing strategic direction and overseeing the organization’s collaborative effort to build and enhance the industry’s competitiveness.
“AIAG has a strong value proposition with many diverse tools in areas such as materials management, quality, corporate responsibility, and sustainability,” Leich notes. “Whether it’s developing or improving global standards, reducing redundancies for suppliers, providing superb training and self-assessment tools, hosting face-to-face conferences and summits, or developing industry best practices, AIAG enables all stakeholders to benefit.”
With over 26 years of automotive experience in purchasing, supply chain, and manufacturing operations — including various leadership positions in four different manufacturing locations, the launch of two greenfield operations, and the execution of numerous major product launches — Leich is a strong proponent of mitigating risks in the supply chain and improving safe working conditions within manufacturing.
“To support these risk mitigation endeavors, AIAG provides an array of tools for the smaller sub-tier suppliers to improve their capabilities and competitiveness,” Leich says. “Through AIAG, sub-tier suppliers have access to numerous educational and assessment tools to keep their employees abreast of the latest industry standards and best practices in quality, materials management, and corporate responsibility. Ultimately, this provides an edge for these suppliers and reduces the uncertainty and risk within the supply chain for the OEMs.”
Quality, health and safety, and corporate responsibility are areas Vogel is passionate about, a journey he began 20 years ago through his work on global supply chain management, environmental aspects, and working conditions. Vogel would like to foster closer cooperation with and increase insights into the European automotive industry and standards. He is looking forward to supporting the development of AIAG’s global approach because he believes in the need for a strong global association and platform for the industry.
“I share the AIAG vision for collaborative work, striving for streamlining industry processes, developing global standards, and harmonizing business practices,” says Vogel. “I truly believe this can be achieved through a joint effort supported by individuals within a strong network who volunteer and promote this into the industry and live up to it day by day.”
Noting that the “future looks bright for AIAG” — including opportunities to drive and simplify standardization across the industry and provide a platform for networking opportunities through summits and other activities — Vogel says most important are the many AIAG initiatives that represent the member’s voice.
“Motivating the industry to come together and collaborate in a noncompetitive environment and to voluntarily strive for the benefit of all is a challenging order,” he says. “I see AIAG’s role as being the voice, providing the platform, and accelerating excellence and peak performance in quality assurance, health, safety, environment, and corporate responsibility for companies along the supply chain in the global vehicle industry.”
About AIAG
The Automotive Industry Action Group is a unique not-for-profit organization where OEMs, suppliers, service providers, government entities, and individuals in academia have worked collaboratively for more than 30 years to drive down costs and complexity from the supply chain. AIAG membership includes preeminent manufacturers and many of their parts suppliers and service providers. For more information, visit www.aiag.org.