Your physical supply chain is optimized. Your data supply chain is broken. That's the hard truth at the center of this conversation and it's one most automotive leaders haven't fully faced yet.

In this episode, Jan Griffiths and Tom Roberts sit down with Kevin Piotrowski, Chief Transformation Officer at AIAG, to break down Catena-X: what it is, why it matters, and why the automotive industry can no longer afford to ignore it.

Kevin makes the case clearly: the data that companies need to make decisions no longer lives inside their four walls. 60, 70, 80% of decision-critical data now comes from outside the enterprise, from supply chains both upstream and downstream. Catena-X is the ecosystem built to move that data securely, at scale, across the entire supply chain, while protecting IP, maintaining data sovereignty, and enabling AI and robotics to act on it.

This is not another IT initiative. It's a movement. Approaching its fifth anniversary in Europe and hitting year one or two in North America, Catena-X is entering the adoption phase and AIAG is driving that effort as the North American hub. The Readiness Booster Program, a 12-week onboarding, is already helping companies of all sizes get connected. From small suppliers using an Excel file to large manufacturers building their own certified connectors, there's an on-ramp for everyone.

The challenges are real. Trust between OEMs and suppliers has never been a strength of this industry. Data extraction from fragmented ERP systems is hard. And many companies haven't even defined a data strategy yet. But the companies that wait will absorb the cost. The companies that move will build a competitive advantage that compounds: in quality, sustainability, carbon footprint reporting, digital twins, and beyond.

Jan and Tom will both be at the AIAG Elevate conference in Detroit on May 21st. If you want to understand what's coming and where the real tension between OEMs and suppliers sits, that's the room to be in.

Themes Discussed in This Episode

1. Why the data supply chain is the next frontier for automotive
2. What Catena-X is and why it's more than a data exchange
3. Data sovereignty: how suppliers protect IP while sharing across the chain
4. The path from data to AI to robotics and why it's now one integrated system
5. The Readiness Booster Program: how to get connected in 12 weeks
6. Why every supplier needs a data strategy before they pick a solution
7. The trust deficit between OEMs and suppliers, and why it has to change
8. Catena-X in two years and five years: the global expansion roadmap
9. AIAG Elevate Detroit Conference, May 21st: what to expect

Name: Kevin Piotrowski

Title: Chief Transformation Officer, AIAG

About: Kevin Piotrowski serves as Chief Transformation Officer at AIAG, where he leads North American efforts around Catena-X adoption and digital transformation across the automotive supply chain. Kevin brings deep expertise in data strategy, supply chain technology, and industry collaboration, working directly with OEMs, suppliers, and solution providers to accelerate the shift toward connected, AI-ready supply chains.

Connect: LinkedIn

Jan Griffiths

Jan is the host and producer of the Auto Supply Chain Champions Podcast and The Automotive Leaders Podcast. A former automotive manufacturing and supply chain executive, Jan is recognized as a Champion for Culture Change in the automotive industry. She brings direct, grounded conversations to leaders navigating execution, disruption, and transformation across the global automotive ecosystem.

Tom Roberts (Co-host)

Tom is Co-host of the Auto Supply Chain Champions Podcast and Vice President of Strategic Industry Development at QAD. He works closely with automotive and industrial manufacturers to close the gap between insight and execution, helping leaders move from visibility to systems of action that drive real operational outcomes.

1. American Manufacturing Summit
2. Catena-X North America Hub
3. AIAG North American Catena-X Conference

[00:00:00] The Broken Data Supply Chain: Jan explains that while automotive perfected the physical supply chain, the data supply chain remains fragmented across disconnected systems. Catena-X aims to connect and standardize how critical supply chain data moves.

[00:03:04] What Catena-X Actually Is: Kevin explains Catena-X simply: a secure way for companies to exchange complex supply chain data across the entire network, not just point-to-point.

[00:04:56] Data Sovereignty in Practice: Kevin describes how Catena-X protects sensitive relationships. Data moves only one level up or down the chain, so companies see outcomes without exposing supplier identities.

[00:08:00] From Data to AI to Robotics: Clean data feeds Catena-X, which enables secure exchange, powers AI decision-making, and ultimately drives automation and robotics.

[00:10:07] The Readiness Booster Program: AIAG’s 12-week onboarding program helps companies quickly join the Catena-X network with training, connectors, and testing for suppliers of all sizes.

[00:12:28] The Real Challenge: Strategy Before Solution: Many companies jump to tools before defining their data strategy. Kevin emphasizes understanding what data exists, where it lives, and what should be shared.

[00:13:46] Trust: The Automotive Industry’s Weakest Link: Jan and Kevin discuss how trust and collaboration across OEMs and suppliers will determine how fast Catena-X can scale.

[00:17:11] Two Years and Five Years Out: Kevin predicts global expansion of Catena-X in the next two years, with broader adoption and measurable value across industries within five.

[00:19:06] See You at AIAG Elevate – May 21 in Detroit: Jan and Tom commit to attending the AIAG Elevate conference to hear firsthand how OEMs and suppliers are approaching Catena-X adoption.

[00:00:30] Tom: “Manufacturers don't have a data problem; they've got an execution problem.”

[00:01:23] Jan: “We spend decades optimizing physical supply chains. We're very, very good at it. But that data supply chain is still broken.”

[00:04:16] Kevin: “Today, 60, 70, 80% pick a number, but it's a big number. They need data outside their four walls to make the proper decisions.”

[00:07:09] Kevin: “Data sovereignty is making sure everybody has access only to the data they should see and to nobody else's.”

[00:09:07] Kevin: “It starts with data, it works its way where you need to exchange it in a secure way, and then it goes to AI engines, and then it goes to robotics.”

[00:13:46] Kevin: “Trust up the chain and down the chain is gonna become a very key factor.”

[00:17:47] Kevin: “Just like EDI and common barcoding and common quality requirements have saved the industry probably billions of dollars over the decades, this has that same promise.”

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