Ray Li
Supply chain expert | Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. | Shanghai, China | Age: 37
What was your first job in the industry?
Demand planner.
What attracted you to the industry?
Goodyear's brand is the key that attracted me to the industry. China has become the largest tire consumption country in the word. Meanwhile tires are deemed as an essential part among a vehicle’s spare parts. Along with the booming vehicle sales in China, tires will become more competitive and prosperous in the future.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
The biggest challenge is to keep up with change so we can continue to be a pioneer in the industry instead of a follower. Putting an innovative idea in place is tough work. I believe change is the biggest challenge for all industries.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
I had a tutor in university who helped me select my major as well as map out my career path.
What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry?
I successfully developed a new planning model in our commercial business and improved sales forecast accuracy through collaborative planning methods for the sake of on-time order fulfillment.
I also recently was a project leader to cooperate with China’s largest e-commence company to work out the brand-new business model launching this year. This is a new business for Goodyear to directly serve the e-commence customer, and Goodyear is the industry pioneer to directly run the customer's new business model to gain more market share. To this end, we faced unprecedent challenges in terms of services and system. After several months' efforts, we have conquered all the obstacles and now all is set and ready to roll out.
Tell us about your current job and responsibilities. How do you spend your workday?
I take care of the company's strategic programs and projects which are more related to innovative programs and are expected to drive the company's business and competitiveness.
What's been the biggest surprise of your current job?
Everything is new and challengeable for me. I want to lead the company to be the pioneer in the tire industry with more competitiveness.
Tell us about your family.
I have one child aged 13. I'm content with the status quo. Accompanying my family is always on top of my mind.
If you could wake up tomorrow with one new skill, what would you choose?
I hope I could make a new skill everyday when I wake up.
In a single word, how would your friends describe you?
Humble.
If you could switch jobs for a day, what job/who would you choose to swap with, and why?
I would swap with my son in order to let him know your dad's working is not that easier than your studying.
What's the biggest issue facing the tire industry?
Supply is far more than demand, which leads to a vicious price war.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Astronaut.
What goal did you set for yourself this year? Are you on track to reach it?
To finish my current projects on time. It's on track now.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now?
Be the company's CEO.
