German logistics provider, Rudolph Logistik, has inaugurated a logistics centre in Wallersdorf in Lower Bavaria for the supply of car body parts to BMW's nearby plant in Dingolfing. The 32,600-square-metre warehouse, the LSPs tenth in the region, has been stocking parts since January and sequential just-in-time deliveries to the assembly line by the logistics provider began this month.
Rudolf Logistik is moving parts over the 25km distance using 80 trucks a day transporting an average of 1,280 containers. Order-to-delivery time is exactly 125 minutes according to the company and it has set up a return collection point for the containers on the return leg.
The company is reported to be looking at greater investment in the Wallersdorf location over the next ten years with $26m earmarked. The next move will be to an 8,500-metre-squared warehouse on the same site.
BMW’s Dingolfing plant makes a broad range of models including the 5 Series Sedan and Touring varients, and the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible. It also makes the 7 Series and M5 sedans amongst others.
As well as Rudolph Logistick’s investment, BMW is also investing $4m in a new small parts facility near its assembly plant in Dingolfing.
Sequential production supply
For the sequential production supply to BMW the company is setting up a 7,000 metre-high bay and block storage,” said a spokesperson for the company. “From this logistics facility eight part families, including generators or panels, will be sequenced.”
The company is sequencing 20 different part variations for head-level airbags alone, which can be built into the different vehicle series. It is using BMW-specific SAP software to handle activity within the warehouse and a WMS system called Inconso for the sequencing of the parts, specifically modified for the project.
In terms of value-added services, Rudolph Logistik will start of operations at a new European industrial cleaning facility in May. The facility will be used for cleaning car body panels such as car tops or hoods for Rolls-Royce. The parts cannot be assembled before they are cleaned according to the company.
“Besides parts, which are made out of steel or aluminium, small load carriers like plastic boxes for small parts such as bolts and nuts, must also be cleaned too before they can enter into the production cycle,” said the spokesperson. “Our new cleaning facility will replace the washing plan used so far in Dingolfing and will be worth 2m euro.”
The latest contract with BMW is one of several collaborations with the carmaker for the Bauntal-based company, including its logistics centre in Loiching, where it provides value-added services and warehousing. It also runs an integrated logistics centre and AC buildling the MINI Oxford plant in the UK.
