All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 5
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FeatureMercedes-Benz USA: ‘One way or another, we always get the job done’
Rory Hepner, general manager of vehicle logistics and distribution at Mercedes-Benz USA, reveals the premium carmaker’s measures to cope with growing volumes through plant yards, ports and across the transport network, despite limited physical expansion – whether by ‘valet’ services for truckers or working more carefully with plants and logistics ...
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FeatureBrexit shockwaves go through the supply chain
For the automotive logistics sector, there was a cruel but telling irony in where the strength of the British vote to leave the EU on June 23rd first emerged. Around midnight, in one of the first areas to announce its results, the north-east city of Sunderland revealed that 61% of ...
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FVL North America conference: To ETA, or not to ETA?
In 2015, less than 5% of new vehicles sold in North America were built-to-order, compared to around 50% in Europe, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Given that the majority of vehicles are built-to-stock the need to give dealers estimated arrival times (ETAs) in North America appears less ...
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FeatureBrexit would hurt wider European automotive logistics sector
If the United Kingdom were to leave the EU, forecasts suggests that UK vehicle sales and trade would be hit, and the effects would be felt across European plants, ports and logistics providersA vote for the UK to leave the European Union in the June 23rd referendum could cause significant ...
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FeatureWolfgang Göbel takes over ECG presidency as confidence among European providers rises
The Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) has elected Wolfgang Göbel (pictured left) as its new president, succeeding Costantino Baldissara, who held the post since 2009.Göbel, who had been vice-president under Baldissara and a board member since 2003, is a long-time veteran of Germany’s Horst Mosolf, one of the largest ...
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FeatureSupply Chain Conference executive report: A connection worth more than the sum of its parts
The first Automotive Logistics Supply Chain conference explored the extreme complexity of production and service parts logistics across North America. Amid rising global and regional flows, opportunities for freight consolidation and new ways of collaborating across the industry emerged. Christopher Ludwig reports from Atlanta, Georgia.[sta_anchor id="1"]The growth in the automotive ...
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FeatureSupply Chain Conference: Mexican and intermodal shockwaves
Ryder's Juan Calvillo and FCA's Wendi Gentry-StuenkelThe rise in Mexican parts and production output is sending more material back and forth over the border, creating opportunities and challenges for intermodal services. However, Christopher Ludwig writes that manufacturers and 3PLs may need to change their organisations and approach to supplier ...
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FeatureSupply Chain conference: No less global than ever
While investment in regional supply in North America is real, supplier and platform consolidation means that the continent is not cut off from global logistics links across inbound and service parts supply chains, writes Christopher Ludwig in AtlantaDespite the significant increases in local and regional manufacturing in North America, and ...
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FeatureChina conference: local logistics providers go global… to survive
As Chinese growth slows, and the government encourages more market reforms, Chinese automotive logistics providers are increasingly looking beyond their own borders to offer international freight services and capture new clients, writes Christopher Ludwig. Contribution by Rachael Hogg.As vehicle production and sales growth accelerated in China over the past decade, ...
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FeatureChina conference: preparing for the new and the old, for growth and decline
The 11th annual Automotive Logistics China conference was held for the first time in the south-western city of Chengdu, a symbol of the automotive industry’s westward development and the centre of the revival of the old ‘Silk Road’ trade routes emphasised by the government’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ policy. Christopher ...
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FeatureIn-depth analysis: strong logistics and supply base central to Ford’s new Mexico plant
Ford is the latest carmaker to plan a new assembly plant in Mexico with the announcement that it will invest $1.6 billion in a factory in San Luis Potosi to produce compact cars from 2018.The plant is aimed at making the assembly of smaller cars more profitable for the company, ...
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FeatureCanada’s Metro Supply Chain buys emergency freight provider Evolution Time Critical
Canadian third party logistics provider Metro Supply Chain Group has acquired 100% of Evolution Time Critical, a UK-based emergency logistics company, for an undisclosed sum. The purchase is set to expand Metro’s presence in Europe, its premium freight services and its business in the automotive supply chain, which is Evolution ...
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FeatureUK-EU: Better connected
In the puzzle of EU membership, Britain and its supply chain would both lose out heavily by leaving the gameBritain’s referendum on EU membership this June has divided the country. Opinion polls suggest a close contest, with splits across the population straight up to the governing Conservative party.At first glance, ...
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FeatureFCA: Making hay while the sun shines
After six years basking in the glow of rising US sales, and now enjoying low fuel prices, Fiat Chrysler needs to improve productivity today before things change again, says Marc Brazeau, head of outbound and Mexico logistics in North AmericaA team on a long winning streak can build momentum that ...
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Brussels attacks raise further questions over Schengen zone
Cargo transport and freight operations started to resume today (March 23rd) following the terrorist attacks at Brussels Zaventem airport and on the city’s metro line on Tuesday – including the restart of production at Audi’s factory near the city (pictured).With heightened security across European airports, rail stations and a number ...
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FeatureEurope Conference: Planning for more than the Zeitgeist in the supply chain
The Automotive Logistics Europe conference set out to capture the Zeitgeist of logistics in terms of technology and skills – and it found that now may be a perfect time to invest in equipment, transport engineering and smart systems. Christopher Ludwig reports from in Bonn, Germany Additional contributions by Marcus ...
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FeatureVolkswagen trials smartwatch and RFID for parts picking at Wolfsburg
The Volkswagen Group has revealed that it is running a four-week trial at its plant in Wolfsburg, Germany to test the use of smartwatches and RFID armbands in order picking and material logistics processes. These two projects are on top of the current use of around 100 tablet computers in ...
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FeatureVideo interview: Volker Vossler, vice-president, operations, Mexico, Seglo Logistics
At the 2016 Automotive Logistics Mexico conference, Volker Vossler, vice-president of operations, Mexico, Seglo Logistics, talks to Christopher Ludwig, editor, Automotive Logistics Group, about how business is developing for Seglo in Mexico.
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FeatureVideo interview: Steve Tripp, vice-president, global strategy and execution, ICL Systems
At the 2016 Automotive Logistics Mexico conference, Steve Tripp, vice-president of global strategy and execution, ICL Systems, talks to Christopher Ludwig, editor, Automotive Logistics Group, about the possibility of developing short sea from Mexico, and any potential barriers or challenges.
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FeatureVideo interview: Peter Koltai, director of production control and logistics, Audi Mexico
At the 2016 Automotive Logistics Mexico conference in Mexico City, Peter Koltai, director of production control and logistics for Audi Mexico, talks to Christopher Ludwig, editor of the Automotive Logistics Group, about Audi's upcoming plant in San José Chiapa, which will begin production this year.