Spotlights & Successes
Championing Driver Safety Through Sub-tier Supplier Quality
In recent years, Jeffrey Thomas noticed that several global quality issues had been traced back to Tier-N suppliers. “I recognized the importance of building a more systemic, structured approach to managing and developing Tier‑N supply partners,” he says. “This is what motivated me to join AIAG in the revision of CQI-19: Sub-Tier Supplier Management.”
As senior supplier quality engineer at Volvo Group Trucks, Thomas says his purpose is simple but deeply meaningful: to ensure that anyone driving a Volvo truck returns safely to their family. His responsibilities include selecting the right supply partners who share a commitment to safety and quality; proactively identifying and mitigating risks across the supply chain; securing quality throughout the entire Tier‑N supply base; driving robust APQP and PPAP processes; and solving problems by identifying true root causes and implementing systemic corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
CQI-19 is a guidance document for sub-tier supplier management designed to help Tier 1 suppliers evaluate and manage their own suppliers. It focuses on risk management, pass-through characteristics, and performance improvement to reduce costs and improve quality. Thomas says contributing to the CQI-19 revision effort has been the perfect fit for his experience, interests, and skillset. In addition to working on CQI‑19 Version 2, he leads Sub‑Group 5, which focuses on the Review of Technical Requirements. The group’s goal, Thomas explains, is to strengthen the technical foundations and ensure the guideline is practical, robust, and applicable across different supply chain contexts.
“With global trends shifting toward localization and customer expectations for quality increasing more than ever, I strongly believe this is the right time to work with AIAG to further strengthen CQI‑19,” Thomas says. “Enhancing this guideline will support the entire industry in managing deeper supply chains more effectively and consistently.”
He notes that collaborating with global OEMs and leading Tier ‑1 suppliers — all aligned under one vision of “customer first” — has been an exciting and enriching experience, adding that AIAG brings together diverse perspectives, best practices, and decades of expertise in a way that truly elevates the industry.
“AIAG provides a unique platform — unlike any other — to collaborate with global OEMs and suppliers with diverse cultural backgrounds and quality perspectives,” Thomas says. “By bringing together ideas from across the world and shaping them into solutions that benefit our end customers, the work becomes not just impactful, but truly meaningful.”
