Auto Business Outlook: Specials Magazine

With a decade of specialized experience in the manufacturing sector, Trent Randles has been an asset to tier-1 automotive suppliers. His tenure at industry leaders like BorgWarner, Magna Seating and Plastic Omnium is marked by his ascent to pivotal leadership roles. Trent’s proactive approach has significantly advanced the field of digital transformation. He has been instrumental in the development of digitizing standard work documents, digital twins of assembly processes and the strategic use of manufacturing execution systems to refine and innovate manufacturing workflows. A graduate of the University of South Carolina-Upstate with a bachelor’s in engineering technology management, and holding a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University, Trent is the Engineering & Operational Excellence Manager at BorgWarner. In this role, he draws on his rich background to spearhead advancements in digital technologies across all departments. Can you share your journey so far and your current roles and responsibilities in the organization? My tenure at BorgWarner has been marked by distinct phases. Initially, I was tasked with ‘clean-up mode,’ a literal term as I joined following a tornado that had significantly damaged our plant. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I focused on enhancing machine availability, improving first pass yield, and reducing scrap. As our performance indicators began to improve, I transitioned into the ‘improvement phase,’ which involved automating laborintensive operations, refining data reporting, and addressing systemic process failures. Now, in the ‘sustain and advancement phase,’ my efforts are geared towards maintaining the robust processes we’ve established, optimizing our technologies to maximize sustainability, and employing advanced technologies to create a more profound impact on our business performance. What are the prevailing challenges you as a leader face today regarding technolog

In 1997, Diana and Marko Franovic arrived in the U.S. with little money, no English and a shared interest in all things automotive. Marko, a racecar driver in former Yugoslavia, wanted to stay close to the road and the machines he loved. Diana, observant and determined, instinctively turned this passion into a plan. They worked tirelessly the next two years, pursuing their version of the American Dream. The result? A single hauler. He drove and she managed the details. Together, they built a reputation for transparency and dependability. “Our first clients were moving between Michigan and Florida. We barely spoke English and used hand gestures to explain our services, pointing and mimicking how we’d wrap their belongings. Every trip, we let our honesty and hard work speak for us. Those early days proved that values speak louder than perfect English ever could,” says Franovic. By 2009, their minor operation had blossomed into SBS Transport - a family-owned company supporting drivers, logistics professionals and customers across borders. The decision to specialize in open car carriers kept operations efficient when commercial loads were introduced alongside individual moves. Although the company grew, it never lost sight of the promise that guided it: show up, communicate and deliver. Deliver it did - showing an ability to adapt at every twist and turn. When a client needed vehicles shipped into Canada, the company secured the necessary licenses, insurance and certifications to make the process seamless. When a manufacturer in Mexico faced rail delays and security concerns, SBS partnered with trusted operators and navigated regulatory hurdles to deliver a solution to the crisis. That willingness to adapt and evolve permeates throughout the entire business. Each hauler has custom roof racks that accommodate gasoline and electric vehicles, with adjusted weight and compliance requirements to match. Real-time shipment updates (including a driver’s location, estimated delivery time and foreseeable or potential delays) provide customers with unfiltered information in an industry where tariffs, port disruptions and fast turnarounds can often lead to misunderstandings. “Coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success,” says Diana, reciting a well-known Henry Ford quote (which also appears on the company’s website). “That applies to everything we do - from how we partner with customers to how our team supports each other on and off the road.” Assistance abounds among this team that feels more like a family than a corporate hierarchy. Drivers average over a decade of experience, backed 24/7 by an office team with over 50 years of combined industry knowledge..