Episode #08 | Engine Failure: Why Automotive Supply Chains Need Orchestration

Episode #08 | Engine Failure: Why Automotive Supply Chains Need Orchestration

"If you don't get the wheels of a car, there's no point getting the engine in." With the Strait of Hormuz under pressure, an industry-wide insolvency crisis brewing in Europe, and the EV transition rewriting decades-old supplier networks, how do automotive supply chains stay coordinated when every part of the system is moving at once? In this episode of Supply Chain Superintelligence, host Thomas George speaks with Falko Feldchen, Vice President of Procurement Solutions at o9 Solutions, about why orchestration, not just visibility or collaboration, has become the defining capability for modern automotive supply chains. Drawing on 25 years across the automotive and enterprise software industries, Falko explains how o9's "digital brain" connects demand planning, manufacturing, and procurement into a single decision-making layer, and why combining this with external risk data from partners like Prewave allows planners to contextualise thousands of risk signals into prioritised action.  The conversation moves from the Strait of Hormuz and its ripple effects on aluminium, plastics, and helium, to the deeper structural shifts reshaping the industry: tariffs driving localisation, EVs reconfiguring supplier bases, and the rise of Catena-X as a mandatory data exchange standard for European OEMs. Key insights: * Orchestration goes beyond visibility and collaboration by aligning every category and stakeholder around a single end-to-end decision. * Contextualising external risk data against inventory, demand, and capacity is what turns risk signals into prioritised action. * The shift to EVs, localisation driven by tariffs, and the rise of Catena-X are simultaneously reshaping how automotive supply chains operate. * Resilience requires a mix of inventory, alternative suppliers, reserved capacity, and structured cross-tier collaboration, no single lever is enough. About Falko Feldchen Falko Feldchen is Vice President of Procurement Solutions at o9, bringing 25 years of experience across the automotive industry and enterprise software companies. He advises global OEMs and suppliers on multi-tier collaboration, risk-aware planning, and the practical application of AI in procurement. About Thomas George Thomas George, host of the Supply Chain Superintelligence Podcast, is Prewave's Lead Risk Editor. As co-author of The Taiwan Complex and many more, his focus on the intersection of geopolitics, supply chains, and strategic risk brings niche supply chain topics to the public eye. Resources & Links Learn more about o9 Solutions: https://o9solutions.com/ [https://o9solutions.com/]Visit Prewave: https://www.prewave.com/ [https://www.prewave.com/] Don't Miss Out Follow the Supply Chain Superintelligence Podcast for more expert conversations on geopolitics, resilience, and the forces shaping the future of global supply chains.

Episode #07: Welcome to the New Europe: Sovereignty, Security & Supply Chains

“Supply chains have become a bargaining chip in political negotiations.” As Europe ramps up defence spending in response to geopolitical instability, supply chains have become a central pillar of economic security. But that creates a challenge. From rare earth dependencies to semiconductor chokepoints, the pressure to understand and control supply networks is growing rapidly across both industry and government. In this episode of Supply Chain Superintelligence – the first of season 2 – new host Thomas George speaks with Lisa Smith, co-founder of Prewave and Chair of the Board. Together, they explore how Europe is shifting from a focus on efficiency and sustainability toward resilience, sovereignty, and strategic autonomy in supply chains. Lisa explains why supply chain transparency is becoming essential at a national and EU level, how defense and public sector demand are reshaping supply chain priorities, and why Europe must rethink its approach to raw materials, diversification, and industrial coordination. The conversation also dives into the idea of a European “supply chain control tower” and what it would take to build true visibility across borders. Key insights: * Supply chain transparency is emerging as a core capability at an EU government level * One of Europe’s biggest structural challenges lies in its deep-tier dependencies on critical raw materials * Achieving sovereignty requires diversification, stockpiling, recycling, and redesign: not full decoupling * Proactive risk management and scenario planning are essential in an increasingly volatile world About Lisa Smith: Lisa Smith is co-founder of Prewave and Chair of the Board. Since founding the company in 2017, she has helped advance the implementation of AI in supply chain risk management, with a focus on sustainability, transparency, and resilience. Today, she focuses on advancing supply chain transparency at a government level, supporting Europe’s efforts to strengthen resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy. About Thomas George: Thomas George, host of the Supply Chain Superintelligence Podcast, is Prewave’s Lead Risk Editor. As co-author of The Taiwan Complex and many more, his focus on the intersection of geopolitics, supply chains, and strategic risk brings niche supply chain topics to the public eye. Resources & Links: Visit Prewave: https://www.prewave.com/ [https://www.prewave.com/] Don’t Miss Out: Follow the Supply Chain Superintelligence Podcast for more expert conversations on geopolitics, resilience, and the forces shaping the future of global supply chains.

Episode #06: Bottleneck Europe: Geopolitics & Supply Chain Dependency with Prof. Sebastian Kummer

“For decades, we focused on cost optimisation and single sourcing. Today, true resilience requires regional diversity and building real options.”  With geopolitical conflicts threatening critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, supply chain dependencies have again become front-page news. As governments and companies face unprecedented scrutiny, the fragility of our interconnected world is more apparent than ever. In this episode of Supply Chain Superintelligence, Marco Felsberger speaks with Prof. Sebastian Kummer, a logistics and supply chain expert at the University of Economics and Business in Vienna. They unpack why companies must balance immediate crisis response with long-term strategic resilience. Prof. Kummer explains why staying calm during maritime disruptions is often the smartest move, how long-term semiconductor shortages pose a greater structural risk than temporary energy shocks, and why the future of resilience lies in robust data security and leveraging artificial intelligence. Key insights: * Evaluating supply chain design must now equally balance cost, ecological impact, and risk. * Long-term dependencies on foreign technology and processing capacity pose severe structural risks. * Artificial intelligence will drive future resilience, making robust data security essential. About Prof. Sebastian Kummer  Prof. Sebastian Kummer is Head of the Institute for Transport and Logistics Management at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and an Endowed Chair at Jilin University, China.  Known as a widely published academic, he advises global companies and government bodies on supply chain resilience and navigating complex disruption. About Marco Felsberger Marco Felsberger, Senior Advisor for Supply Chain Resilience at Prewave, is a risk and resilience specialist with over 15 years of experience helping organisations strengthen business continuity, crisis response, and supply chain security. He brings a sharp, systems-focused approach to navigating geopolitical risk and building resilient supply chains. Resources & Links Visit Prewave: https://www.prewave.com/ [https://www.prewave.com/] Don’t Miss Out Follow the Supply Chain Superintelligence podcast for more expert conversations on regulation, resilience, and the geopolitical forces reshaping global supply chains.

Episode #05: Regulation, Resilience & the Geopolitics of Supply Chains with Nils Poel

“If China cuts us off from critical materials, European supply chains have a real problem.” In this episode of Supply Chain Superintelligence, Marco Felsberger speaks with Nils Poel, Head of Public Affairs at Prewave, about how geopolitics is redefining regulation, trade policy, and supply chain strategy in Europe and beyond. From the “Donroe Doctrine” and spheres of influence to the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, Nils explains why regulation is expanding beyond questions about sustainability and compliance into economic security and strategic autonomy. They explore how US industrial policy and trade pressure affect European supply chains and how public procurement is emerging as a powerful lever for resilience. The conversation also examines the limits of WTO rules, the role of defence spending, and why companies can no longer assume geopolitical alignment between major powers. Most importantly, they discuss what this means for businesses: why supply chain visibility is now a strategic capability, how resilience and sustainability overlap, and why unpredictability in policymaking requires stronger internal governance and faster reaction structures. Key insights * Regulation is shifting from sustainability-driven to security-driven * Supply chains are increasingly shaped by geopolitical power dynamics * Economic security is redefining EU trade and industrial policy * Public procurement and resilience criteria are becoming strategic tools * Companies must strengthen supply chain visibility to manage structural uncertainty About Nils Poel Nils Poel is Head of Public Affairs at Prewave. He specialises in EU regulation, trade policy, sustainability legislation, and the geopolitical forces shaping global supply chains. With deep experience in European policymaking and industry representation, he provides strategic insight into how regulatory shifts translate into operational impact for companies. About Marco Felsberger Marco Felsberger, Senior Advisor for Supply Chain Resilience at Prewave, is a risk and resilience specialist with over 15 years of experience helping organisations strengthen business continuity, crisis response, and supply chain security. He brings a sharp, systems-focused approach to navigating geopolitical risk and building resilient supply chains. Resources & Links Visit Prewave: https://www.prewave.com/ [https://www.prewave.com/] Don’t Miss Out Follow the Supply Chain Superintelligence podcast for more expert conversations on regulation, resilience, and the geopolitical forces reshaping global supply chains.

Episode #04: Living with Macroeconomic Uncertainty in Supply Chains with Christiane von Berg

“The main risk right now for all economies is the level of uncertainty.” In this episode of Supply Chain Superintelligence, Marco Felsberger speaks with Christiane von Berg, Head of Economic Research for Benelux and the DACH region at Coface, about how macroeconomic uncertainty translates into real supply chain and business risk. From tariffs and trade disruptions to inflation, recession in manufacturing, and shifting geopolitical alliances, Christiane explains why uncertainty, not single shocks, has become the defining challenge for companies today.  She shares how macroeconomic signals feed into country and sector risk assessments, why narratives can be more dangerous than data, and how organisations can avoid paralysis in an environment of constant change. They discuss how tariffs actually impact exporters, importers, and consumers, why supply chain disruptions are no longer one-off events, and how leaders can make better decisions by cutting through noise and focusing on fundamentals. Key insights * Uncertainty itself is now the biggest macroeconomic risk for Europe and global supply chains * Tariffs affect exporters, importers, and consumers differently depending on product substitutability * Supply chain disruptions have become structurally frequent rather than exceptional * Data-driven risk assessment helps leaders act decisively instead of freezing under uncertainty About Christiane von Berg Christiane von Berg is Head of Economic Research for Benelux and the DACH region at Coface. She specialises in macroeconomic analysis, country and sector risk assessment, and the transmission of economic shocks into corporate insolvency and credit risk. Her work supports both credit insurance underwriting and business decision-making. About Marco Felsberger Marco Felsberger, Senior Advisor for Supply Chain Resilience at Prewave, is a risk and resilience specialist with over 15 years of experience helping organisations strengthen business continuity, crisis response, and supply chain security. He brings a sharp, systems-focused approach to navigating uncertainty and building resilient supply chains. Resources & Links Visit Prewave: https://www.prewave.com/ [https://www.prewave.com/] Don’t Miss Out Follow the Supply Chain Superintelligence podcast for more expert conversations on macroeconomic risk, supply chain disruption, and strategic decision-making.