International Women's Day: Salakchit Noppatao, Ford Thailand

This International Women's Day, we proudly spotlight the diverse perspectives and powerful contributions of Ford women who are not just working, but leading the charge across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa regions. From manufacturing floors to customer experience strategy, these leaders are shaping the future of Ford, each in their own distinct way.

As material replenishment process coach in material planning and logistics, Salakchit Noppatao is responsible for coaching and leading the material replenishment team to ensure a seamless, synchronized flow of parts to the production line while upholding the highest safety and lean manufacturing standards.

A good day means material flow is perfectly in sync with the production beat, her team feels empowered and safe, and potential bottlenecks are resolved proactively before they impact the line. Since joining, her role has evolved from focusing on individual task execution to becoming a strategic coach, concentrating on people development.

The biggest misconception about her work? "People often think material planning and logistics is just about moving boxes from A to B, but it is actually a complex synchronization of timing, data accuracy, and people management that requires constant agility and problem-solving."

What makes her proudest is her team: everyone works together to find root causes and reduce delivery waste. They're enthusiastic and always help other teams.

Her advice for newcomers captures her philosophy: "Keep an open mind and be ready to learn from everyone. It may feel challenging at the start, but remember, it will never be as difficult as the first day."