All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 21
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FeatureAgility required
Continental is bouncing back in China, but is aware that the country’s bureaucracy and lack of visibility present particular challenges to a supply chain that requires a flexible approach.A need to lower inventory;Complex and growing opportunities;Keeping up with logistics demand;The Japan crisis;Sticking to current contracts.The story of Continental in Asia ...
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FeatureGroup dynamics at VW
As the head of VW Group Logistics, Thomas Zernechel is keeping logistics innovation at the forefront of the carmaker’s global expansion, particularly with the rollout of its ‘new logistics concept’.Capacity planning down the tiers;Moving towards crossdocks;Letting the train take the strain;Rolling out hubs for outbound;The role of C02 reduction;A return ...
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FeatureThe business case for premium freight in the routine supply chain.
For many years, the automotive industry has set the standard in lean supply chains. The motivator for this level of efficiency is necessity; automotive manufacturers are in a challenging position, producing a highly advanced product at a low cost considering the technology content. Car prices have not increased in real ...
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FeatureGeodis going further and deeper in automotive
Geodis Wilson is emerging as a major player on the global automotive logistics stage. Part of the Geodis Group, 100% owned by the French railways, SNCF, the company is expanding rapidly on every continent for automotive, from expansion of its airfreight facility in Atlanta to being a full 3PL to ...
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Japanese exports washed away
The full impact on vehicle exports of Japan’s devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami off its north-east coast near Sendai was still being assessed at the time of going to print, but already signs point to significant damage to certain ports and production stoppages of at least three days to ...
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Speaking 30 Customs languages
The latest in the EU’s long line of supply chain security legislation is the introduction of the Import Control System (ICS), which requires the provision of advanced shipment information to Customs authorities.ICS is a transactional program requiring up to 30 data elements for EU Customs filings on each and every ...
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Measures to mitigate risk
Maintaining a standard of performance for materials that flow across extended supply chains is critical to maintaining a thriving global automotive industry. One way to ensure that flow is by assessing an enterprise’s best practices in logistics.The Materials Management Operations Guideline/Logistics Evaluation (MMOG/LE) is one such established method for making ...
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The business case for outsourcing supply chain management
Growth requires focusFast path out of the crisisSeeing the futureSimplifying the complexOutsourcing supply chain operations is not a new concept; for nearly as long as there have been supply chains, there have been opportunities to reap the benefits of outsourcing. What is new is the extent to which outsourcing provides ...
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FeatureSupply chain aftershocks
The devastating earthquake in Japan has led to widescale production stoppages at the majority of plants in the country, and has threatened global production with supply shortages, the extent to which was unclear at the time of going to print, particularly as the crisis unfolded at Japan’s nuclear power plants. ...
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FeatureKeeping it well covered
Damage superhighwayPrevention is better than cureInsurance and recovery processes in the finished vehicle supply chain are designed to ensure that the responsible party pays for any damage, but they can also help drive up quality, as Jonathan Ward reports. Additional reporting by Christopher Ludwig.The fact that a new car rolls ...
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FeatureGlovis America: the next generation
Expansion plans for the US Assets to have and to have notThe Hyundai and Kia networkConsolidating ports will continueBetter planning for port processingGlovis America is not simply an offshoot of the Korean giant Hyundai; it is a lean logistics company ready to work across the automotive sector, from vehicle processing ...
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FeatureGrowing deeper roots
Different strategies, similar networksLow volumes encourage good supplier relationsThe capacity situationScheduling around capacity shortagesTransplant brands in the US are facing pressure from currency fluctuations and resurgent domestic OEMs, putting more pressure on the bottom line, including maintaining lower inventories and meeting stricter delivery times, writes Christopher Ludwig.The strength of import ...
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FeatureTurning the tide at Toyota
Doing it in-houseThe US distribution networkImproving ETA accuracyKeeping an eye on capacityFuture projectsTurning to growth againChristopher Ludwig meets Nancy Davies and discovers someobe unfazed by the challenges the last few years have thrown at Toyota’s finished vehicle distribution in the US, and who has big plans for streamlining the company’s ...
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Rising Subaru adjusts US network
Subaru of America is making important investments and additions to its US port and rail network following its recent growth. Subaru has been the most resilient carmaker throughout the downturn in the US, growing 15% in 2009 and 22% in 2010. The Japanese carmaker registered another 20% in growth year-on-year ...
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Protective films and covers to the fore
Vehicles in transport will always face a small but significant chance of damage that can have a large impact on costs, whether related to weather or vehicle handling issues, rust from rail transport or vandalism.While the LSPs pay for handling-related damage, it is the carmakers who pay the ultimate costs ...
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Fuelling more provider failures?
The past quarter has seen a spike in oil prices following the Middle East protests, with the Brent Crude index surpassing $100 a barrel in late January and hovering above $110–that is about 20% higher than it was on January 1st and more than 40% higher than six months ago. ...
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FeatureLogistics in the (i)fast lane
Paola Petrone is revolutionising Fiat’s supply chain management with state of the art IT and the development of an in-house freight forwarder to pull together flows across the group to improve efficiency and reduce emissionsPaola Petrone was appointed senior vice president of Supply Chain Management at Fiat Group Automobiles less ...
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FeatureIn Profile: PSA's Guy Lederer
PSA’s Guy Lederer is responsible for linking the carmaker’s parts supply chain from one continent to another, including engineering for packaging, material flow and global platforms, as well as focus on parts ordering and forecasting. Lederer manages a team of about 100 employees that are at the forefront of PSA’s ...
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FeatureEuropean ports emerge from the darkness
The world’s largest carportsEmden close to all-time highRelative strength in the UKScandinavian recovery and privatisationPort reforms at Piraeus and Le HavreQuality in the NetherlandsBaltic prospectsAfter devastating drops in 2009, European ports saw recovery for vehicle volumes in 2010, although most are still far from their peaks. Chris Lewis investigates current ...
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FeatureThe export engine on the peninsula
As South Korean carmakers watch their sales rise across the globe their logistics providers have been adjusting strategy to keep pace. Marcus Williams reports on the diversification and investment being made to meet demand for faster shipping and greater capacity. Additional reporting by Christopher LudwigCapacity advantagesSpeed of deliveryTwo-basket approachTransit time ...