Watch: Livestream Hour Season Finale Part 1: Global logistics lessons with the Volkswagen Group

As part of our season finale series, this Q&A features how the Volkswagen Group has managed the coronavirus crisis, from the early stages in China, to shutting down global factories, supporting the medical industry and relief effort, through to restarting and now stabilising production amidst ongoing uncertainty and disruption.

Matthias Braun from Volkswagen Group Logistics, which procures and oversees global cross-brand logistics and transport at the group, shares key insights and lessons on navigating the pandemic and beyond, including the centre stage role that supply chain management and logistics are playing across the group’s 120 plants and huge supply chain.

As the head of digital strategy for the group’s logistics, he discusses digital tools and concepts that are supporting logistics – as well as the essential human factors in managing and motivating logistics teams and partners that remain so critical to the supply chain.

Download slides from Matthias Braun and Christopher Ludwig.

Gain valuable insights on:

• How Volkswagen Group has managed supply and logistics through each phase of the crisis
• The role that the company played in sourcing and distributing PPE and medical supplies both to health authorities and to employees
• Strategies for building special tasks forces to work cross functionally across departments including supply chain, purchasing, production and sales
• Moving to high frequency changes and communication with suppliers and logistics service providers
• Improving logistics data visibility
• Volkswagen’s long-term strategy and vision for digitalising supply chain and logistics processes

Guests

Matthias Braun
Head of Digitalisation and Concept Development, Volkswagen Group Logistics
Volkswagen Group

Matthias Braun is responsible for the development of new concepts and identifying opportunities for digitalisation in material and container processes at Volkswagen Konzernlogistik (Group Logistics), the central supply chain management organisation that works across group brands. He is also responsible for the purchasing and steering of the group’s global transport network. He joined Volkswagen in 2004 and has worked across group logistics in areas including pre-series logistics, order management, inbound logistics and network planning before starting his current role in 2018. Matthias’s team runs multiple projects analysing the implications and benefits of using new technologies in supply chain management, including artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.

Host

Christopher Ludwig, Editor-in-Chief
Ultima Media

Christopher is responsible for editorial production and strategy across Ultima Media’s global automotive media platforms, including Automotive Logistics, Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, Car Design News and its business intelligence unit, Automotive from Ultima Media. He’s covered the automotive industry and supply chain for 15 years and has nearly 20 years’ experience in the media and publishing business. He has an MsC from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

In Partnership

Enjoying the Livestream Hour? Register to join our first virtual conference this September 15-17th, Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live