All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 16
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FeatureUK relaxes cabotage restrictions for car transporters
While the UK will lift restrictions of EU-operated trucks during two peak periods each year, the new law does not appear to open the door to a further liberalisation of controversial cabotage restrictions. The UK government will relax restrictions on car transporters from other European Union member states operating in ...
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FeatureSuzuki, Daihatsu to join Toyota in Indonesia expansion
Suzuki Motor and Daihatsu have both joined the ranks of Japanese manufacturers expanding in Indonesia, with both announcing plans for new or expanded production in the country. Suzuki plans to open a new passenger car plant, while Daihatsu will increase add a new line at an engine plant. Reuters reported that a ...
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FeatureGM to cut costs with supplier locations, rail and logistics centres
General Motors’ top purchasing executive, Grace Lieblein, has revealed specific plans to reduce logistics costs for its plants in North America, including bringing suppliers and stamping operations closer to plants, extending rail lines and investing in logistics centres. The plans are part of a company objective of reducing material and ...
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FeatureAPL’s logistics profits rise as container revenue sinks
Container shipping and logistics firm NOL Group reported 12% lower second quarter revenue and a $50m drop in earnings before tax and interest compared to 2012 as difficult trading in container shipping continued to hit the company’s financials. However, the group’s logistics arm, APL Logistics, saw strong profit growth, driven ...
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FeatureDHL reports mixed financials, but auto is a bright spot
Deutsche Post DHL reported mixed financial results for the second quarter, with a settlement and gains in the German parcel and mail business largely offsetting declines in its express, freight forwarding and contract logistics divisions.However, a small rise in contract logistics revenue was attributed to growing business in Asia Pacific ...
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FeatureThomas Vernier takes over Renault’s spare parts logistics
Renault has appointed Thomas Vernier (left) as its new director of logistics for spare parts and accessories. Vernier replaces Francesca Gamboni (lower, right), who is taking on a new role at a non-automotive company this autumn. Jean-Marc Carlicchi has filled Vernier’s previous post as general manager for outbound logistics operations ...
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FeatureLevent Yuksel leaves Toyota for logistics role at Jaguar Land Rover
Levent Yuksel, who has previously held senior roles in logistics and production control at Toyota in Turkey, Japan and Europe, is now group plant manager at Jaguar Land Rover. Yuksel has responsibility for integrating the inbound supply chain from a logistics perspective between JLR plants, as well as supporting the ...
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Russian regulations risk delivery days and production
Over the last three months, from the beginning of April to the end of June, Russia’s Ministry of Transport has had in force regulations on truck axle weights that have restricted the normal operating limits of ten tonnes and reduced them to between three and four tonnes.According to the Ministry, ...
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FeatureDHL strike could hit Jaguar Land Rover plants
Logistics workers from the Unite union have voted in favour of strikes over a pay dispute with DHL Supply Chain across all of Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) manufacturing plants in the UK, a move that could severely disrupt production. DHL and JLR have said that contingency plans are currently in ...
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FeatureLondon Gateway could boost flows of components by rail
Rail services for automotive parts in the UK could grow with the launch of services this year by DB Schenker at DP World London Gateway, a new port outside London that starts operations in the fourth quarter of this year.According to Adrian Fleming, head of sales and marketing at DB ...
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FeatureHigher parts exports could change JLR’s logistics network
Jaguar Land Rover could see changes to its parts export and import flows into and out of the UK and Europe in the coming years as it expands production in overseas locations, notably China. Growing exports of components could mean more balanced material flows in and out of the UK, ...
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FeatureToyota's total supply chain vision
Toyota’s North American Logistics Control division is taking a more centralised approach to managing its inbound logistics network in an effort to influence the carmaker’s purchasing decisionsThe Toyota Production System (TPS) demands similar processes for logistics wherever they may take place in the world. The emphasis on heijunka – the ...
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FeatureThe rise of near (and far) sourcing
There is currently much discussion about the re-shoring of manufacturing ‘home’ to the US, with reports of companies bringing back production of products ranging from high-tech gadgets to garments.The automotive industry has been no exception to such anecdotes, with both American and foreign manufacturers investing in US-based manufacturing. The disruptions ...
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FeatureGefco changes organisation and strategy
The changes at Gefco over the past year have been among the most closely watched in the automotive logistics sector, notably with RZD RussianRailways buying 75% of the company from PSA Peugeot Citroën, and General Motors outsourcing its logistics management in Europe to Gefco as a fourth party logistics provider ...
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FeatureEditor’s note: seeing the big picture
Investment is rising for North American car manufacturing; production here is at its highest level for a decade, with more coming online. Most new factories will be in Mexico, but there is expansion across the region’s supply chain. Toyota is spending more than $2 billion to increase capacity, mainly in the ...
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FeatureIT updates: global platforms move to the cloud
Across several articles, we explore how IT systems are being used to integrate data, visibility and cost in the supply chain. First, carmakers are increasingly turning to cloud computing across global platform engineering In these articles...Global platforms in the cloudMapping the supply chainCost modelling supply chain costsAutomotive companies ...
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FeatureIT updates: cost modelling the supply chain
Across several articles, we explore how IT systems are being used to integrate data, visibility and cost in the supply chain. In this final part, we look into why Tofas and Iveco are turning to cost-modelling software to help improve their manufacturing and supply chain decisionsaPriori provides automated cost analysis ...
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FeatureSupply chain risk and reward for Malaysia
Global carmakers and suppliers are investing more in Southeast Asia, eyeing a growing middle class in Indonesia, a developed production hub in Thailand, and low-cost opportunities in countries such as Vietnam. Toyota, Honda and General Motors have increased production across the region, particularly in Thailand, while GM will open a ...
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FeatureEditor's note: Renault Nissan's centralised logistics
A theme of ‘centralisation’ runs through both our features this summer. Along with the Toyota feature on integrating North American inbound logistics in Automotive Logistics, the latest issue of Finisehd Vehicle Logistics features executives from Renault Nissan, including vice-president of Alliance Logistics Europe Colin MacDonald, discussing the impacts of having a ...
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FeatureLogistics’ guiding hand for Faurecia
Logistics design and purchasing strategies; Faurecia and the PSA Group Network consolidation; Returnable packaging;Global growth. Faurecia Interior Systems has a decentralised approach to managing the supply chain, but is trying to take a more complete view for logistics and packaging purchasingFrance’s Faurecia Group is an interesting case study in comparing ...