OESA recently released its Automotive Supplier
Barometer for November 2014. The November Supplier barometer
focused on Human Resources issues related to staffing benefits and
training. The Supplier Sentiment Index (SSI) is the same as the
September level, at 56, reflecting a positive outlook for
suppliers. However, as the OESA notes, the warranty/recall issues
in the United States and global economic and political volatility
have driven the SSI downward this year.
The survey identified several supplier trends in hiring,
staffing, and human resources this year. Sixty-one percent of
suppliers expect to hire engineers in the next year, and over 54
percent plan to hire technicians, hourly skilled trades, and hourly
production positions. However, salary turnover and hourly turnover
both appear to be increasing, and suppliers continue to face
difficulties in finding qualified engineers, technicians, and
skilled tradespeople. In fact, 38 percent of survey
