The Many Dimensions of Supply Chain Success

The Many Dimensions of Supply Chain Success

The Many Dimensions of Supply Chain Success

For Sherise Brown and Katrina Allen of Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS), a woman’s place is on the shop floor. As two female leaders who worked their way up from assembly staff to Supply Chain Superintendents, they bring important assets to the automotive manufacturing industry.

“Women tend to be patient, we listen, we hear what you're saying,” Katrina says. “One of the things that we bring to the table is a lot of wisdom where we can make good decisions.”

The focus of their management style? Cultivating and uplifting a strong team. It’s that kind of leadership, Sherise and Katrina say, that got DMS through the unpredictable post-pandemic environment.

In this episode of Auto Supply Chain Prophets, co-hosts Cathy Fisher and Terry Onica sit down with Sherise and Katrina as they share their supply chain management secrets. 

Themes discussed in this episode: 

  • What Supply Chain Superintendents do.
  • Why you should pursue training and certifications.
  • What women bring to the supply chain.
  • How great leadership and teamwork can keep your supply chain afloat in unprecedented times.
  • Why supply chains should embrace automation.

Featured on this Episode  

Name: Sherise Brown

Title: Superintendent of Supply Chain and Logistics, Detroit Manufacturing Systems 

About: After growing up with a father who worked in a manufacturing plant, Sherise never thought she would find herself in the industry. But after serving in the military, she found that she liked the structure that supply chains had to offer. A decade ago, she came into DMS as an Assembly Worker and climbed the ranks to Superintendent. 

Connect: LinkedIn 

Name: Katrina Allen

Title: Superintendent of Supply Chain, Detroit Manufacturing Systems 

About: Katrina started as assembly line staff at DMS 10 years ago, working her way through higher positions as a Dock Coordinator and later a Shipping Supervisor. This year, Katrina became a Supply Chain Superintendent alongside Sherise.

Connect: LinkedIn 


Episode Highlights

Timestamped inflection points from the show


[0:40] Meet the guests: Cathy, Terry, and Jan  welcome two exceptional female leaders in the automotive manufacturing industry: Katrina Allen and Sherise Brown from Detroit Manufacturing Systems.


[3:40] Pushing to the next level: Katrina and Sherise talk about their favorite things about supply chain management: engaging with and empowering employees and working collaboratively across departments.


[6:21] A woman’s wisdom: What can women bring to the table in supply chains? A lot of assets that will benefit the industry, Katrina and Sherise say, from patience to wisdom and the ability to multitask.


[7:56] Staying afloat: A shortage of manpower is one of the biggest challenges that supply chains face as the fallout of the pandemic continues. Katrina and Sherise explain how exceptional teamwork and leadership at Detroit Manufacturing Systems helped the company stay afloat in unprecedented times.


[9:44] Embracing automation: Sherise talks about how implementing a Warehouse Management System increased the accuracy and efficiency of the supply chain, and why others in the industry should embrace automation.


[8:34] Maintaining the line: Katrina walks us through a day in the life of a Supply Chain Superintendent.


[12:23] Get certified: Not everyone gets specialized supply chain training before entering the industry, but Katrina and Sherise both did. They explain how classes and certifications can help your supply chain career.


[13:39] Breaking down silos: Silos — or divisions in a company that operate independently of one another — have long been a problem in the automotive industry. Katrina and Sherise explain how they, as superintendents, break those silos down and facilitate teamwork.


[15:18] The one thing: Katrina and Sherise share some simple yet wise advice for aspiring Supply Chain Superintendents: today is your opportunity to build the tomorrow you want, and treat others how you want to be treated.

Top quotes


[3:18] Katrina: “DMS is a very wonderful company to work for. As far as integrity, we have a saying that's called gifted rich. Our organization is big on respect. We may be in different positions, but we respect the position that you're in. And that's what makes the company so great. Respect is one of the main things that we focus on.”


[4:43] Katrina: “I just like empowering people and pushing them to the next level. One of the things I do is, I walk to all my guys and say hey, I want somebody to tell me what can I change today? Or what have you learned today? And I tell them every day, you want to be a team leader, tell me what you learned today. If you can't tell me anything then you learned today, how can you train someone else?


[6:42] Katrina: “Women tend to be patient, we listen, we hear what you're saying […] One of the things that we bring to the table is a lot of wisdom where we can make good decisions. And being in the supply chain, you have to make good decisions because you are dealing with so many different suppliers and different employees. A good decision maker makes an excellent manager.”


[14:48] Sherise: “I over-communicate. I'm sending out emails, I'm sending out texts, I'm making phone calls, and I'm scheduling meetings so we can all be on the same page. I think that's very important. The objective is to send out a quality product and make money. Since that's our main objective, let's get on board so we can go in the same direction.” 

DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

White Paper
for Leveraging Risk Management in Automotive

Download here

Operational Restart Readiness
Checklist

Download here

The 24 Essential Supply Chain
Processes

Download here

STAY IN TOUCH

Keep in touch with Auto Supply Chain Prophet's co-hosts Terry Onica and Jan Griffiths on LinkedIn.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

QAD Wesbite

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