Every so often, our editorial staff selects one aftermarket industry professional to get to know a little better. Participants are asked to respond to a series of questions that can be answered in about the same amount of time you might spend chatting at the office coffee pot or waiting for an elevator. In today’s installment of “Five Minutes With,” we want to introduce you to Micah Miller, new director, supply chain, sales and operation planning for ASC-Airtex. While he’s new to the aftermarket, Miller is a veteran of supply chain and demand planning, with nearly two decades in the field.
What was your first job in the industry?
This is it. This is my first experience with automotive and the aftermarket. Prior to this, I worked for a global ATM manufacturer. Conceptually, the supply chain concepts carry over, but there is certainly a learning curve to this.
What do you like best about your current position?
I like the challenge and the pace of it. I’m learning a new industry, which is keeping things exciting for me and in the short time I’ve been here at ASC and Airtex, the people have been great. Seeing a group of people aligned, working toward a common goal is a breath of fresh air for me and it allows me to rapidly make decisions and changes, which is critical in today’s supply chain environment.
What do you find most compelling about the aftermarket, being so new to the industry?
I’m going to lump automotive and aftermarket together here, but for me, it’s always been at the forefront of processes and supply chain innovations. You look back at Toyota and others that have been innovative in supply chain, so that drew me to this role and hopefully, is what is going to keep me here.
What do you do when not at work?
I spend a lot of time with my family. I have a wife and two kids – one is in seventh grade; the other is a freshman in high school. So, they are constantly having a performance or sporting event to consume our weekends. And then, I live on a small lake, so our summers are spent on the water, wakeboarding and waterskiing.
What one word best sums up your personality?
Resourceful.
What kind of car do you drive?
A 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
Who was your childhood hero?
I would say that was my father. I grew up in a blue-collar household. My parents worked hard for everything they have, and he built what became a very successful plumbing company from the ground up, so I like to think that he instilled a lot of his work ethic in me, and also [taught me about] thinking outside the box. I truly believe that hard work and creativity can solve almost any problem, so I give him a lot of credit for that.
Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?
Many people outside of Ohio might know who this is but I picked (famed Ohio college football coach) Woody Hayes.
If you could time-travel, to where and what in era would you want to visit?
I would go into the future. I wouldn’t want to go into the past. I’m always fascinated with what’s next and I think it would be great to go a couple hundred years into the future and see what people are doing.
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Know someone who would love to be featured in Five Minutes With? Email editor Amy Antenora at [email protected].