For the last decade suppliers and assemblers have developed strategic partnerships to closely coordinate supply chain activities to produce the highest quality products at the lowest possible cost. At each tier of the supply chain responsibilities for production, design and development have been shifted towards suppliers. Dramatic reductions in product cost and gains in productivity were realized. But now some feel the strategic partnership is in jeopardy, putting in peril the survival of many suppliers as well as the long-term health of the industry. From the suppliers' standpoint, the supply chain has been severely squeezed financially in many areas, while the auto manufacturers have shown record profits in many cases. Are relationships among supply chain partners becoming more contentious, less cooperative, even more cost-focused, and less quality-focused? How do we turn adversity into advantage? How can managers at all tiers anticipate and deal with the new dynamics of the global marketplace?

The Global Automotive Conference (GAC) is administered by the Office Of Global Business & Entrepreneurship of Western Kentucky University.

The conference was created to provide a unique opportunity for senior and middle management of automotive  assemblers, suppliers,  and  service providers to network and learn key skills and emerging strategies of the future.  The conference serves as a venue where managers interact with practitioners and discuss emerging trends that will bring forth dynamic changes to  the industry. There are a wide variety of automotive conferences targeted at top-level management.  However, there  is a growing  need  for a well-rounded annual conference for senior and middle managers in the automotive industry.