| | 9 MARCH 2026A strong supply chain matrix organization steers critical functions centrally and maximizes standardization and synergies.values to identify opportunities, and measure the criticality of possible disruptions as soon as possible will define the success of any organization in preparing alternatives for solutions at the earliest stage possible. Finding the right thing to measure is also crucial; how often are we measuring two KPIs that reflect two different situations? For example, I would name Stocks and the occupied area in a Warehouse. You can have enough space and occupancy in the traffic light "green," but the stock of a particular item could be overstocked in "red." Matching all related KPIs is vital to ensure anticipation. Identifying hidden relationships in the complexity is crucial.The generation, storage, and usage of data have achieved new magnitudes and meaning across all industries and services. More than ever, we need to cross-check reference data and create new KPIs to manage uncertainty. This is especially true in Supply Chain. From customer orders to deliveries in record times, new organizational measures are needed to thrive in uncertainty.Therefore, data, but most importantly, the metadata of every object in the organization will play a major role in the upcoming years. Understanding data as the property of an object or given situation, I like to define the metadata as the conditions surrounding that object. Take a Picture as an example. The data would be the bits and bytes representing the picture. Metadata is more important, the time the picture was taken, which camera was used, location, frequency, and amount of pictures taken by an individual, conditions of light and time, etc. The Term "digitalization," very often misused, means converting every object and process in the organization into Data and Meta-Data. The creation of Digital Twins and the use of AI to analyze, predict, and autocorrect is already the current challenge for 2024. Digitalizing is not Reporting nor implementing new IT systems. Converting Processes and Objects to usable data and creating the right questions is not easy. What does it matter is what was the absenteeism yesterday? You must be asking what would be the absenteeism next week and what are the events triggering it. You have to be able to define action no matter the complexity of the IT tool you are using in your company. Audi worldwide has been thriving in optimizing the supply chain with both organizational and innovation strategies. A strong supply chain matrix organization steers critical functions centrally and maximizes standardization and synergies throughout Audi companies worldwide and with maximum collaboration with the Volkswagen Group Companies in the North American Region.Audi, as a progressive brand, has defined a very ambitious digitalization and automation strategy for the Supply Chain looking into the future. But digitalization also requires new talents, and Audi Mexico is working very closely with Local Universities in Hackathons and different projects to apply new knowledge and new talent to the organization.Disruptive thinking, new collaboration models, and new technology will make us successful. SUPPLY CHAIN: TURNING MOTION INTO PROGRESS
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