All Europe articles – Page 99
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FeatureMinda's journey from desi to dominance
From humble beginnings to a sprawling automotive network, Indian tier one Minda had to learn supply chain quality along the way.Automotive manufacturers used to build much of their supplies and equipment under their own roof in India. The number of blue and white-collar workers at Premier Automobile, makers of Fiat ...
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FeatureGiving investors safe harbour in Brazil
Brazil has passed legislation to loosen terminal concession rules and encourage more private investment. However, it looks unlikely to be plain sailing aheadBrazil is widely viewed as having insufficient port capacity, with bottlenecks often constraining imports and exports. The country’s major port of Santos, in São Paulo state, faces heavy ...
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FeatureGetting to the point of return
As China’s use of returnable packaging for automotive parts grows, the need for standardisation has become increasingly importantThe move towards wider use of returnable packaging is gaining momentum in China, although it still has a long way to go. Increasing the use of such equipment still depends largely on further ...
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FeatureSpare parts to keep the wheels turning
Rising competition has pushed OEMs to speed up spare parts delivery, but are they striking the right balance between service, inventory and cost? There is no such thing as a risk-proof spare parts operation. Despite supply systems that are more robust and reliable in dealer orders and delivery than a ...
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FeatureThis year’s Europe conference is streaming Live online!
This year's Automotive Logistics Europe conference, being held in Bonn, Germany, is now live streaming debate and offering those in direct attendance, and those with an interest abroad, the ability to participate online.Once again the conference has filled the stylish and spacious Kameha Grand Hotel on the banks of the ...
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FeatureHonda opens Celaya plant in Mexico
This article has been amended since publication on 26th February to include additional comment from Dennis Manns, Honda’s vice president of logistics and sales planning. Honda unveiled the latest development in its expansion projects for Mexico last Friday (February 21st) with the opening of its new $800m plant in Celaya. ...
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FeatureMazda officially opens Salamanca plant in Mexico
Mazda’s new assembly plant in Salamanca, Mexico, will open officially on Thursday this week, in a move that will significantly boost the OEM’s shipping capacities to the US market. The new facility will offer the company a low-cost production base from which the OEM can operate in Mexico, already one ...
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FeatureGetting launches off to a flying start
More frequent launches and longer supply chains are placing significant pressure on manufacturers and inbound and outbound providers. Having spent tens of millions of dollars promoting the autumn 2012 launch of its 2013 model year Lincoln MKZ, Ford had high hopes for the vehicle, which was the subject of a ...
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FeatureVolvo and Eicher expand beyond India
Volvo Group’s equal joint venture in India with Eicher Motors – VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) – has announced that it is targeting 15% of total sales to come from exports within the next five years.The Volvo distribution network in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia will be used to ...
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FeatureRo-ro lines “living in denial since 2008”
With ten months to go before new environmental restrictions come into effect in the Baltic and North seas, and the English Channel, many ro-ro carriers are still deliberating what method they are going to adopt to operate in the 0.1% sulphur emission control areas (SECAs).Most are choosing between three compliance ...
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FeatureNissan to end SKD assembly of Infiniti
The carmaker will start importing finished vehicles of Infiniti models from Japan later this year as its plant in St Petersburg switches entirely to complete-knockdown assembly (CKD), partly as a means to access valuable Russian subsidies.SKD assembly of the Infiniti model will stop in May this year when Nissan’s agreement ...
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Redrawing the line side
Carmakers are looking carefully at ways to simplify inbound logistics to assembly lines, including kitting operations and, in some cases, insourcing.After a number of recent visits to automotive plants I have noticed changes to the ways that carmakers are thinking about final deliveries to the assembly line. Manufacturers as diverse ...
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FeatureMunich-based BMW logistics centre sold to private firm
A BMW logistics centre near Munich has been sold to a private consortium for €44m ($60m). The centre had previously been owned by IM Properties, one of the UK’s largest privately owned property companies.The centre, located in Niederaichbach, is 98,500 square metres and used by BWM for parts distribution purposes. ...
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FeatureDB Schenker extends Moroccan networks to Europe
German logistics provider DB Schenker has announced an upgrade in its North African operations, to better facilitate logistics networks between Europe and Morocco. The group has invested in improvements at its branches in Tangier and Casablanca, through the national company Schenker Maroc, which will oversee daily operations with the company’s ...
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FeatureKeeping the supply chain afloat
As extreme weather continues to disrupt production, Mark Morley (left) writes that manufacturers need to take a closer look at how they are protecting their supply chains both physically and digitally. The current flooding crisis gripping much of the UK highlights how vulnerable global supply chain and transport networks ...
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FeatureSulphur limits: cleaning up shipping or going overboard?
With new limits on sulphur emissions coming into force for much of northern Europe and North America next year, shipping operators are trying to comply in ways as sustainable for costs as for the environment.Come January 1st 2015, parts of the shipping world will not be the same again. On ...
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FeatureTNT expands management team
As part of its reorganisation of domestic and international logistics management for later this year, TNT Express has announced a new top leadership team, which includes a number of former DHL executives. CEO Tex Gunning and CFO Bernard Bot will be joined by Marco van Kalleveen, who takes up the role ...
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FeatureTNT announces improved Q4 results and reorganisation
TNT Express has reported improvements to its business in the fourth quarter of last year, swinging back into profit for the quarter despite lower revenues. The company saw its profits fall for the full year 2013, but plans to accelerate its cost-cutting initiatives and reorganise its domestic and international logistics ...
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FeatureHansmann goes deeper in-plant at German factories
Hansmann Logistik has gained further work for in-plant logistics services at car plants in Wolfsburg and Osnabrück in Germany. The provider will take over operations that include sequencing, storage, empty container handling and line feeding.Although Hansmann declined to identify the carmaker, the Volkswagen Group has its headquarters and largest global ...
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FeatureJCB officially opens inbound logistics facility in UK
UK-based construction machinery maker JCB has officially opened its new logistics hub in North Staffordshire. The centre has been set up to receive inbound components for onward shipment to JCB's global manufacturing facilities, including those in Europe, the US, Brazil, China and India, as well as those local to the ...