All Analysis articles – Page 11
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FeatureNavigating an uncertain future
The finished vehicle logistics sector needs to find better ways to communicate and collaborate to meet the challenges of an uncertain future, delegates at this year’s finished vehicle logistics north america conference in California were told in March. Marcus Williams reports The finished vehicle logistics industry may be facing a ...
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FeatureVW reveals details of new packaging centre
Further details have been revealed this week about Volkswagen Group's plans for a packaging centre at Jade-Weser-Port in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, which is due to open in 2019.The centre will package up to 7,000 different part lines for Audi, Volkswagen and VW Commercial Vehicles and more than 12,000 containers a year ...
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FeatureFord invests to meet surging demand for SUVs
Ford has invested a further $25m to increase line speed at its plant in Louisville, Kentucky to meet a 25% increase in output of the Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition SUV models as retail sales surge in the US.Its investment there includes 400 new robots and a data analytics hub ...
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FeatureOutbound TMS: The search for a system that can't be beat
In recent years, growing computer power, advanced software and algorithms for logistics planning have led to a rise in the use of the transport management system (TMS), which enables companies, among other things, to receive, plan, monitor and report on collections and deliveries. Some manufacturers and logistics providers have implemented ...
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FeatureDisaster recovery: Prepared for the worst?
As the scale of the destruction wrought by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated Japan’s north-eastern coastline in March 2011 became apparent, managers within BMW’s purchasing function were asked if it would affect the company. Their answer? No – because BMW had no suppliers in Japan.But that wasn’t quite ...
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FeatureBrian Mason takes on business development role at PAS
Brian Mason (pictured) has become vice-president of business development and administration at Pasha Automotive Services (PAS), which provides vehicle logistics services throughout North America and is part of the Pasha Group.Mason, who was previously vice-president of planning, analysis and development, will be primarily focused on servicing existing business and building ...
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FeatureSeat: Delivering improvement
After reinventing much of its vehicle logistics following a severe reduction in output in the wake of the financial crisis, Volkswagen Group’s Spain-based Seat has since seen strong growth in production, exports and sales. That has put even more pressure on space and capacity at its main assembly location in ...
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FeatureAvoiding supply chain disruptions with effective legal planning
Even the greatest logisticians at the world’s most prestigious automotive companies can’t predict the future. Economic downturns occur, suppliers falter and disputes occur that endanger just-in-time manufacturing. While these disruptions in the supply chain are inevitable, they do not have to be catastrophic.Although the strategies shown here are written from ...
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FeatureFacing digitalisation-driven disruption
Historically, traditional logistics players such as DHL, Kuehne + Nagel, DB Schenker, UPS and Nippon Express have operated in a stable world, where efficiency, standardisation and low cost have been the keys to success. Digitalisation, however, has begun to change this focus, transforming the market. New, digital-native entrants are better ...
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FeatureNo more second-hand innovation
The conservation of time and the acceleration of goods in the supply chain have long been valued by OEMs and their partners in bringing new cars from production to market. Those principles are increasingly being brought to bear in the used car market, too, with tighter logistics chains and greater ...
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FeatureNissan hits 20,000 exports from Brazil following project launch last year
Nissan has exported 20,000 vehicles from its plant in Resende, Brazil, since its export project began in March 2016, it has reported this week. What is more, the carmaker expects to increase exports by 50% in 2018.The carmaker is sending volumes of the March (43%) and Versa (57%) compact models ...
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FeatureOne box still does not fit all
A look at automotive packaging developments over the past 20 years
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FeatureBMW to open assembly plant in Russia ahead of state procurement rule
BMW has confirmed plans to build an assembly plant in Russia to produce vehicles for the domestic market with localised parts. The move has been made ahead of a new state procurement scheme that will oblige regional and federal authorities to purchase only vehicles manufactured in Russia for their own ...
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FeatureNissan halts production for local market in Japan after inspection issue
Nissan has halted production of cars in Japan destined for the local market after it found that unaccredited inspectors were still conducting final vehicle checks at its assembly plants – despite the company being notified a month earlier by authorities that its inspection process was non-compliant.Speaking at the Tokyo Motor ...
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FeatureProduction & logistics part 2: Questioning the future
This article is one of a series of pieces celebrating Automotive Logistics’ 20th anniversary issue that together take an extended look at the way top executives feel automotive production and logistics have changed in the last two decades – and where they see them heading in the future.
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FeatureDriver shortage the number one concern for road carriers in ATRI survey
The shortage of truck drivers in North America has climbed six places to come top of the list of concerns in a survey into critical issues facing the sector, conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). The results were released at this week’s 2017 American Trucking Association (ATA) Management ...
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FeatureLiving in interesting times
With the shadow of a hard Brexit hanging over the UK, the question of how it will maintain a competitive automotive sector into the next decade is harder to answer than ever…
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FeatureVolkswagen Group part 2: Talking ‘then and now’ with head of group logistics, Thomas Zernechel
The group’s head of group logistics talks about the major changes seen over the past two decades – and why he is optimistic about the future of logistics
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FeatureConference report: Attracting a talent for disruption
Given the pace of change in digital technology the automotive logistics sector may not know exactly where it will be in ten years but it knows it is going somewhere different and that a risk-to-fail attitude is essential in adopting supply chain strategies for the future. What it cannot risk, ...
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FeatureIndian vehicle sales bounce back post-GST but cess tax hike looms
India’s light vehicle sales have rebounded, following a big drop in June ahead of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1st.Based on wholesale transactions, official Indian sales surged by 16% year-on-year in July to 334,000 units, as dealerships replenished their inventories.The GST is a value-added ...