Communicating with our suppliers
SUPER Program
FCA Group Purchasing also promotes many initiatives for incentivizing the sharing of supplier innovations. One example of this is the Supplier Product Enhancement Reward (SUPER) Program. This program encourages suppliers to adopt a proactive approach to the management of component requirements expressed by FCA. In addition to identifying technical solutions which not only produce innovate products, but also reduces component costs. Through this program, innovative production technologies are implemented and component designs are improved, resulting in economic benefits that are shared with suppliers.
eSupplierConnect
For FCA Group Purchasing, being able to continuously promote dialogue is another fundamental ingredient for enhancing supplier partnerships. eSupplierConnect is a FCA portal through which suppliers within the four operating regions can access the technical, commercial and logistics planning applications, which result in improved supplier efficiencies.
Technology Day
FCA organizes other initiatives for promoting the exchange of ideas and information with its suppliers. Technology Days, for example, are meetings held in FCA locations worldwide and actively involve suppliers.
These meetings provide a forum for suppliers to present solutions they can offer to all FCA organizations, including Engineering, Purchasing and Supplier Quality, in terms of innovation, technology and quality.
The face-to-face interaction allows suppliers to get immediate feedback to their innovations and receive recommendations on the current and future needs of FCA.
Supplier Town Hall in NAFTA
FCA organizes open forums for suppliers with the purpose of having them involved, informing them about the key themes and business operations in order to enhance transparent and “One Voice” communications. These meetings can also be followed online, making them one of the main two-way communication channels.
Supplier Advisory Councils
The purpose of these meetings is to promote top-level dialogue between FCA Group Purchasing and selected global strategic suppliers regarding matters which impact medium and long-term business plans.
The goal is to share information, align strategies and investments, and assist with risk management for the organization. The level of detail discussed and transparency provided during these meetings helps to promote supplier commitment. The Regional SACs meetings are held on a quarterly basis, while the Global SACs meetings are held twice a year.
