Jim Tompkins

written by Chris Cunnane with InterSystems   Automotive manufacturers have invested billions in digital transformation over the past two decades, achieving meaningful gains in production efficiency. Yet one area has stubbornly lagged behind: warranty cost performance. Despite advances aligned with Industry 4.0, warranty costs as a percentage of revenue have remained largely unchanged. This disconnect highlights a critical truth that while production has evolved, warranty operations have not kept pace. At the heart of the issue is a fundamental inefficiency: time. Specifically, the lag between when a warranty claim is submitted and when meaningful problem-solving begins. This delay not only drives up operational costs but also impacts customer satisfaction and brand perception.   The Hidden Complexity of Warranty Claims Warranty management is more than a back-office function. It is a complex, data-driven process involving multiple stakeholders, systems, and validation steps. Each claim requires verification of warranty coverage, assessment of the issue, and coordination across service providers, suppliers, and internal teams. Much of this process remains manual. Organizations often rely on fragmented systems, inconsistent data formats, and time-intensive validation steps such as reviewing receipts, maintenance records, and warranty agreements. These inefficiencies introduce delays that can stretch into weeks before root cause…

Another great week here at Supply Chain Now! Have you listened to all the episodes? If not, you can check them all out here:   We introduced a new series on Monday, with This Week in Business History, where Scott looks back at some of the biggest historical events in business history for the week ahead.   Supply Chain Now · “June 15th- This Week in Business History: Goodyear, IBM, & More”   Then on Tuesday, we continued in the Logistics with Purpose series and welcomed Melenie York with Whitehouse & Schapiro.   Supply Chain Now · “Logistics with Purpose: Melenie York with Whitehouse & Schapiro”   On Wednesday, Scott and Greg tackled the top news in supply chain on the Supply Chain Buzz.   Supply Chain Now · “Supply Chain Buzz for June 15th: Grocery, Bots, Retail Challenges, & More”   Scott and Greg were joined by Radu Palamariu with Alcott Global on Thursday, as they discussed the current supply chain talent market.   Supply Chain Now · “Key Observations in the Current Supply Chain Talent Market: Radu Palamariu with Alcott Global”   And we wrapped up the week with a world-class supply chain leader as Scott and Greg…