All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 11
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Global conference: Ford is buying more boxes ‘off the shelf’
Ford Motor Company is making a global push to reduce the amount of specialised, bespoke racking and packaging that it uses to move components and parts, in favour of more ‘off the shelf’, standard equipment. The carmaker is also looking to take more ownership of containers and racks, rather than ...
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Steady makes a Subaru
Subaru has doubled sales in the US over the past five years, by maintaining a well-planned, stable scheduling and logistics flow. Its top logistics team talks in depth about the carmaker's strategy for current and future growthSubaru has been on a tear for the last seven, tumultuous years in the ...
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Getting the North American network in ship shape
The inaugural Import Export North America conference, a joint AIAG and Finished Vehicle Logistics event, saw executives and lawmakers debate how best to prepare the region to meet the logistics challenges of changing import and export flows and rising production. Executives gathered at the port of Baltimore, Maryland The recovery ...
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Labour flexibility and logistics outsourcing key to Daimler union deal
Daimler has agreed new terms with its labour union for the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen, Germany (pictured), which will allow for more labour flexibility and outsourced logistics operations, helping to save hundreds of millions of euros over the next several years. In return, the carmaker will build a new model ...
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His heart always in logistics, Paliwal leaves Honda India
*Updated August 6thJoining in a recent flurry of executive changes in India, Achal Paliwal, head of exports and logistics for Honda Cars India (left), has left the company. Paliwal had been with Honda since 2005, following a 19-year stint at Maruti Suzuki.Paliwal has declined to comment yet on what position ...
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Getting back on track
Even in our digital world, location matters. Earlier this year, travelling between equally grey and rainy London and Germany, I didn’t appreciate how much the cold weather was disturbing the rail network in North America. Sure, Marcus Williams (our news editor) and I made calls and heard about the frozen ...
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A logistics drinking tour
Mexico conjures up many vivid and often contrasting images; from pristine Caribbean beaches to brazen kidnappings and violence; from the crowded streets of Mexico City to open, unspoilt desert landscapes. For the automotive industry, the country has attracted billions of dollars in investment even as many executives worry about cargo ...
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Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz will build together in Mexico
The rush to Mexico continues apace, with the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler the latest to announce plans for a joint-venture factory in the country. The carmakers, which have had a global alliance since 2010, will divide investment of €1 billion ($1.36 billion) for a new assembly plant in Aguascalientes, in ...
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Fiat Chrysler's automotive melting pot
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here. For features on the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here.Mercedes Figueroa (below) has taken over Fiat Chrysler’s logistics at a time of supply chain and sales integration. ...
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The home frontier
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here. For features on the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here.Mexico’s domestic market has been stagnant and yet it is complex, including a high number of used sales ...
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Special outbound report: For the rápido go the spoils in Mexico
Logistics providers that don’t act quick could fall behind in the race to handle rising volume out of Mexico. Our special Mexico report continues by exploring the opportunities for vehicle logistics Reporting from south of the borderThe finished vehicle logistics portion of this multi-part report, written by editor Christopher ...
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All systems ‘go’ at Nissan
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here; for more on finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here.In fifth part of our Automotive Logistics Mexico special, Nissan Mexicana's logistics specialists explain how the carmaker, together ...
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Nearby and nimble
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here; for more on finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here.In the fourth part of this special Automotive Logistics report, we discover that while Mexico’s OEMs rely on ...
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Right at the heart of it all
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here; for more on finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here.Part three of our Automotive Logistics special report on Mexico: the rise of ‘global’ products means the country ...
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Down Mexico way...and back again
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here; for more on finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here.In the second part of this special Mexico report, we explore how huge amounts of automotive material crossing ...
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Special report: Many shades of Mexico
Logistics is part of what has helped carmakers succeed in Mexico’s historically difficult economy, but will it be an advantage or pitfall in future?Reporting from south of the borderThis special multi-part report, by editor Christopher Ludwig, explores Mexico’s historic and developing supply chain as well as the logistics challenges connected ...
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Warehouse excellence at Robert Bosch
Extensive research and testing of lean principles have elevated tier one supplier Robert Bosch’s warehousing practices alongside the highest OEM plant standards. The supplier is trying to replicate these lean standards globallyFew terms are used as ubiquitously throughout automotive production as ‘lean management’, a concept of continuous improvement and manufacturing ...
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Case study: Bosch Diesel in China goes lean
The Warehouse Excellence model is applied in China to ensure Bosch’s supply chain is fast and flexible enough to meet a very different type of demand to that in Europe. A compelling case for the potential of improving warehouse performance with lean management can be found at Bosch Automotive Diesel ...
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Russia at a standstill
The market continues to fall, while transport capacity is exiting the market at an alarming rate. Even with prospects for long-term growth, the lack of investment could mean Russia will struggle to move the goods again when customers return to show rooms. We report from the Automotive Logistics Russia conference ...
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Russia moves toward flexibility in customs regime
The Russian Federation has been experimenting with a more light-touch customs clearance procedure for certain importers, including a number of carmakers and tier suppliers. The benefits of this status include a significant shift to ‘post control’ customs clearance, which means that manufacturers could import material directly to factories and defer ...