David Nelson

R. David Nelson is a former vice president of Delphi Corporation, Global Supply Management. He also served as a member of the Delphi Strategy Board, the company's top policy-making group. Additionally, Nelson served as the executive champion for Delphi's Global Supply Management Task Team.

From 1957 to 1987, Nelson worked for TRW Inc. in various manufacturing, quality control metallurgy, materials, sales and marketing positions, in addition to purchasing.

Following, Nelson served for 10 years as a corporate officer of Honda of America Manufacturing in Marysville, Ohio, as vice president of purchasing and later as senior vice president of purchasing and corporate affairs. He was promoted to the Board of Directors of Honda of America Manufacturing in 1997. During his tenure at Honda he saw the company's purchasing division grow from 100 to 400 associates and North American purchases increase from $600 million to $6 billion. Honda of America was the 1995 recipient of the Medal of Professional Excellence from Purchasing Magazine.

After Nelson's time at Honda, he served as vice president of worldwide supply management at Deere & Company in Moline, Ill., for four years. Under his direction, Deere became known for implementing world-class supply management processes and best practices. In 2001, those efforts were recognized when Purchasing Magazine awarded Deere the Medal of Professional Excellence, the purchasing industry's highest award. Nelson joined Delphi and was named to his current position effective February 2002.

Nelson has long been involved in advancing the purchasing and supply management profession and holds a Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) certification. He is chair emeritus of the Institute of Supply Management (ISM). He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of CAPS Research, promoting academic research in strategic issues involving supply management. He also chairs the OESA Chief Purchasing Officer's Council.

Nelson is a founding member the National Initiative of Supply Chain Integration, Ltd., a public/private partnership to develop and enhance manufacturing supply chains. He also serves on the board of directors of the Purchasing Round Table.

Nelson has co-authored a book on Honda and another on managing supply chains at 10 top companies.