Supply Shock

In the economic world, a dramatic change in the price of a commodity or service is known as supply shock. In the automotive world, that same phrase these days might as well mean life support -- what many companies find themselves on.

As manufacturers continue to deal with reorgs and slumping sales, the futures of the Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers who provide many of the parts for their cars and trucks are hanging in the balance. Some are waiting for payment, some are waiting for orders, while some are just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Doing what he can to prevent that is this week's Autoline guest Neil De Koker, president & CEO of the Original Equipment Supplier Association. The head of OESA since its founding in 1998, Mr. De Koker has nearly 50 years of automotive experience and has seen the industry from all sides. It almost goes without saying that he's never quite seen anything like this.

Joining John on his journalist panel are Tom Murphy from Ward's AutoWorld and Jewel Gopwani of the Detroit Free Press.