Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Greenergy, Haldor Topsoe tech turns tires to fuel
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      GRI expanding ag tire capacity at 3-year-old Sri Lanka plant
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
    • NewAge Industries celebrates 15 years of employee ownership
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      JobsOhio funding gives Sperry & Rice room to grow
    • Safic-Alcan and Arkema working together on distribution deal
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Biesterfeld to supply Denka acrylate rubbers
      Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      ASTM cancels April meetings as COVID-19 continues impact
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
    • ARP Materials adds technical sales manager
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Adriano Alfani named Versalis CEO
      Maroon Group adds to Southeast sales team
    • India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
      Column: Still far way from normal
    • Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
      A comparative study looking at effects of curing kinetics and batch variation on SBR injection molding and numerical analytics
    • Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
      New Products: MonTech automates bale cutter for safety, productivity
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Synthomer optimistic, raises earnings forecast
      Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Selectâ„¢: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 22, 2016 01:00 AM

Early engagement key to automotive success

Catherine Kavanaugh,
Plastics News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Saber Haidous, senior manager of global raw materials and purchasing for General Motors Corp.

    DETROIT—There's a revolution going on to meet government regulations and customer expectations in the auto industry, and purchasing managers for auto makers and their Tier 1 suppliers have a word to the wise for plastics processors: Engage us early.

    “Autonomous vehicles, technology, connectivity, safety, lightweighting—plastic is a tool we have to achieve those goals,” said Saber Haidous, senior manager of global raw materials and purchasing for General Motors Corp. “Not every idea will go through but the team will listen.”

    A 16-year veteran at GM, Haidous joined Jim Bos, vice president of global procurement, for Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, and John Erwin, vice president of purchasing for SRG Global Inc., which sells chrome-plated plastic parts, to talk about opportunities and challenges for suppliers at the Jan. 12 Plastics In Automotive conference organized by Plastics News.

    Auto executives in their positions are under tremendous pressure to save money and meet goals. Car and truck sales set a record in 2015 with 17.4 million units sold and industry experts say there's a possibility to surpass that mark this year. However, sales look flat a couple years out and threaten profitability unless innovation continues.

    While Haidous's one comment made access to important purchasing directors seem simple, he and the others offered insight into how plastics processors can get their foot in the door in the first place.

    For example, the integration of electronics with plastic trim is a major trend that will only bode well for Yanfeng suppliers that show a full commitment to improvement, Bos said.

    “That's one area I think is most important. It drives performance through the operation, through design, through engineering and through all the disciplines,” Bos explained, describing what the company looks for from its supply base. “It starts with the leadership having a true commitment to continuous improvement.”

    As purchasing directors evaluate materials for lightweighting, some plastics parts come with a higher per-piece price than aluminum right now, Haidous said, but polymer processors may be able to address that with their color capabilities.

    “Eliminating paint is a big advantage,” he said. “That's what you want to do when you look at cost. That really can help us get ahead.”

    Technical analysts in purchasing at GM work closely with engineering to understand their projects and offer feedback about what is happening in the market as far as capacity and capability. Sometimes that puts use of a plastic into question.

    “Sometimes engineering will change specifications and even material based on our feedback,” Haidous said. “For example, polypropylene capacity is right now at max. Do we want to look at a material substitution to be able to make sure we can get it if we put it on a part?”

    At SRG, Erwin said they are wary of resin suppliers that talk about being global companies yet have niche products that vary from region to region.

    “And then you find out the resin isn't quite the same, the performance characteristics are slightly different and your manufacturing process doesn't fit right,” Erwin said. “The next thing you know you've got non-conforming product making it into an assembly plant or worse yet finding its way to an end customer.”

    Haidous added: Transparency and trust is critical.

    “That's why our sourcing process has changed to engage our supply base as early as possible—in early design—because we want you to know what we are doing. We no longer can make the car by ourselves,” he said. “We make great cars because great suppliers supply us with great materials so this relationship is very important.”

    Bos stressed the need to take potential partnerships seriously right away and then do everything possible to make it a long-term one.

    “We'll work with our resin providers—I talked with a few of the Trinseo [Automotive] folks this afternoon—and we've partnered on a variety of resins in trying to differentiate product to make it more competitive and help our customer make that vehicle, that interior more competitive,” Bos said. “It's an on-going process. It is a trust and not a one-time, let's-do-a -road show relationship.”

    SRG looks to the supply base to help it achieve global scale—“globality,” Erwin called it—and it has a group focused on advanced development strategies.

    “How do you achieve functional integration? How do you achieve electronics with plastics as a sensor? How do you achieve replacement of paint? How do you go about developing not only a capability or technology but also the relationships to support that? Because the worst thing you can do is develop a technology that a customer wants, but not be able to achieve it for them,” Erwin said. “Anybody can make one thing once. The secret is to make it a million times and to make efficiently and to the expectations of the customer.”

    So suppliers are needed to not only dream up innovations and make them work, but they have to execute them flawlessly, Erwin said.

    Haidous also urged businesses to invest in research and development and hire extra experts if needed. He called R&D the bread and butter of a company.

    “Whatever it takes, you have to keep up with the changes—and the changes are fast,” he said.

    The auto industry is at peak demand, Bos said, and he thinks it will continue in North America, particularly with growth in Mexico. However, the need to run lean continues.

    “The cost pressure is there,” Bos said. “And certainly we need to engage as a partnership to understand where the industry is going together because we each see different parts of how it is evolving.”

    Related Articles
    GM executive Lieblein to retire at end of month
    U.S. auto sales reach record high
    GM, Maserati receive grants of inconsequential noncompliance
    Fire damages Mississippi molder Custom Engineered Wheels
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION