Tesla’s Supply-Chain Prognosticator 

In 2021, a container ship more than four football fields long became wedged in the Suez Canal for six days and handcuffed the global supply chain for months.  

That was the first time many people considered the importance of container ships.  

Ana Cheyre (MSAI ‘22), however, focuses on that mode of transportation daily. 

Cheyre is a data analyst at Tesla. As part of her job, she helps manage the company’s supply chain, which includes predicting how many containers it will need in upcoming quarters to transport materials and keep vehicle and energy storage system production rolling smoothly.  

To succeed, she applies the lessons she learned in Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) program.   

“What attracted me to the MSAI program was being able to learn how to take advantage of the vast amount of data that surrounds us, learning how these new highly complex models work, and how they can transform data into valuable insights,” Cheyre said. 

Cheyre previously worked at LATAM Airlines and DSA Technologies in Chile, as well as Pulsar Global in California. Her time in the MSAI program gave her a wealth of new knowledge that is helping her at Tesla, where she's worked since February. 

“I am able to take raw data and craft it into something meaningful,” she said. “The end result can provide information that was previously hidden within the raw data itself.”   

Her role involves building tools that help showcase supply chain data in easy-to-understand visuals to cross-functional teams, enabling decision-makers to develop strategies to maximize efficiency.  

That means teaching machines to turn mountains of data into appealing graphics that make sense to the human eye and mind.   

“What excites me about my job is that every day there is a new challenge,” Cheyre said. “The opportunity to contribute to such a dynamic environment, where innovation meets practical problem-solving, is what makes my work truly fulfilling.” 

Cheyre is excited to find herself working with artificial intelligence (AI) during a time she considers "a wave of progress." The MSAI program gave her experience working with others who want to be exactly where she finds herself – at the forefront of AI's growth.   

“We are witnessing a rapid surge in new developments and innovations nowadays,” she said. “I'm eager to collaborate with forward-thinkers, dive into groundbreaking projects, and actively engage in shaping the transformative developments of our time.”   

Because of how MSAI helped her develop the tools she relies on for success at Tesla, Cheyre is a strong advocate of the program. She said the structure of MSAI is a key differentiator from other programs.  

“In most of the courses of MSAI, there is the flexibility to choose your own projects, giving you the opportunity to work in what you are interested in,” she said. "If you are uncertain on what you want to do, it’s better to take the risk and get out of your comfort zone. You will be impressed with what you are capable of.”