Supplier Interfacing Team
- Daphne Lai (Deactivated)
What is the Supplier Interfacing (SI) team?
We are the team that helps outsource any materials, machining, finishing, etc. that can not be done at the University of Waterloo. We sit under Business but we work with the Mechanical teams (i.e. Dynamics, Structures, and Interiors) to expand our network of companies willing to sponsorship with us in trade for marketing. The SI team is similar to the Sponsorship team but instead of monetary sponsorships we handle supplies.
Why is the SI team important?
The Supplier Interfacing team is super important because we acquire the physical materials that will be used for the car and nurture relations with our sponsors to help out our future team members. Without the SI team, the solar car would struggle receiving high quality components within our original budget.
Who should join the SI team?
If you are interested in:
Building on your communication skills (both verbal and written)
Managing strong and long-lasting relations with suppliers
Learning the bridge between business and technical roles
Taking on another small commitment to the team
Then welcome aboard!
What does the day-to-day of the SI Team look like?
The SI team focuses on reaching out to potential manufacturers/supplier and mediate discussions between the sponsor and our technical members. This is mainly done through phone calls and emails. An SI member is also likely to learn about the tasks their assigned on a technical level to ensure there is no misunderstandings when communicating to both parties.