Red Sofa interview | Crafting luxury and moving with precision, Aston Martin meets the challenges of low-volume logistics and high-complexity supply chains

Martin Corner, executive director of supply chain management and logistics at Aston Martin, shared insights into the complexities of managing supply chain operations at the luxury automaker. The company faces unique challenges due to its low-volume production and bespoke, high-quality designs. Corner explained: “The amount of complexity in the product and the fact that we offer much more opportunity to bespoke the trim inside the car” makes supply chain management particularly difficult.

Aston Martin’s strategy includes implementing a sales and operations planning process, helping to stabilise the supply chain by offering “one version of the truth” across the business. This approach reduces supply and demand fluctuations, as Corner elaborated: “We focused a lot on putting controls in place… stabilising production.”

A key part of their strategy moving forward involves balancing design innovation with supply chain efficiency. Corner stressed the importance of standardising non-essential components to improve costs and supply chain management. “We can adopt a bit more carry over… control the costs, control the income statement better,” he noted.

Additionally, Aston Martin is exploring how logistics providers can optimise costs by leveraging unused capacity and reducing inefficiencies in their supply base, especially with body parts sourced from distant locations.

Stay tuned for more insights and content on the ALSC Europe recap blog