All Feature articles – Page 63

  • 10C1051_12 lr
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    Mercedes-Benz: Taking an end-to-end approach

    2018-04-12T17:23:00Z

    It may have taken Mercedes-Benz around 120 years to reach 1m cars per year, breaching the mark around the turn of the 21stcentury. However, the recent surge in growth of the brand has seen it rise by around 1m units in sales and production in just five years, with passenger ...

  • AL Awards 18 - banner rotating - 300x200 YELLOW V2 with logo
    Feature

    Finalists for Automotive Logistics Awards – Europe 2018 revealed

    2018-04-11T14:51:08Z

    The shortlist of finalists for the inaugural Automotive Logistics Awards – Europe has been revealed, with 73 entries competing in 14 different categories. The shortlist forms a cross-section of the industry’s leading carmakers, suppliers and logistics providers (see the full list of finalists here).The finalists were chosen from a large ...

  • RandyBeggs_Proficient
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    Proficient Auto Transport appoints new president and CEO

    2018-04-11T12:01:03Z

    Randy Beggs (pictured) has moved from his role as COO at US-based finished vehicle haulier, Proficient Auto Transport, to become president and CEO. He will now handle the day-to-day running of the company.Beggs replaces Kirk Williams, who held the role since 2004 and has now become chairman of the board.Proficient ...

  • skoda-kodiaq-580934216-700
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    Skoda restores vehicle assembly in Ukraine

    2018-04-11T11:21:29Z

    Skoda is reintroducing volume assembly in Ukraine, making it the first foreign carmaker to produce cars in significant numbers there since 2014.The VW-owned company has boosted production at the joint-venture facility it set up with Atoll Holding Group subsidiary Eurocar back in 2001 at Solomonovo, just 2km from the borders ...

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    Slaughter takes over in purchasing at Ford of Europe

    2018-04-11T10:23:27Z

    Sue Slaughter (pictured) has taken over as director of purchasing, and team value management (TVM) strategy and business development, at Ford of Europe, following the departure of Alan Draper, who has retired from the carmaker. Slaughter moves from her role as COO at Getrag Ford Transmissions, a division of the ...

  • 2014_GETRAG_Slaughter_Sue_web
    Feature

    PSA Group reorganises supply chain roles

    2018-04-11T10:11:09Z

    Etienne Jacob (pictured) has moved to become senior vice-president of supply chain at Opel/Vauxhall, based in Rüsselsheim, Germany. He moves from his role as vice-president of supply chain transport and packaging at PSA Group, which now owns the Opel and Vauxhall divisions following last years’ buyout by General Motors.Jacob has ...

  • maersk-line_web
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    Maersk calls for industry-wide paperless platform

    2018-04-11T09:33:48Z

    Global shipping giant Maersk Group has begun piloting an industry-wide paperless platform in a joint venture project with IBM aimed at speeding up trade transactions. In its recently released North America Trade Report, Maersk Line, the global container division of Maersk Group, said the system would boost transparency for clients, ...

  • Feature

    - 马士基航运公司要求行业广泛推行无纸化平台

    2018-04-11T09:33:00Z

    全球运输公司 — 马士基航运公司与IBM合作,在合资公司项目中广泛实行无纸化平台,目的是为了提高买卖交易的速度。“北美贸易报告”最近刚刚报告,马士基航运公司认为该系统将会提高对客户的透明度,最终能节省数亿美元。 面对美国贸易进出口之间不断加深的缺口,供应链中的每一方,包括制造商、物流供应商及基础设施开发商都需要聚在一起商量,投资,促进出口。公司称,包括汽车业在内的所有人都在寻求最佳途径,比如建立联合行业标准,使用最新数字技术等。 据马士基报告称,由于今年高工资、低就业率及GDP稍有增长等因素的推动,2018年的美国市场将增长3-5%。去年,市场增长了6.8%。马士基报告称,在线零售增长成为影响商品需求的主要因素,因而上游供应链在上市速度和可靠性方面承受不少压力,而且还有可视性和控制等其他因素。 但与此同时马士基发现,美国与其他地区的贸易不平衡,尤其是亚洲,导致每两个向美国的进口国中,就有一个是出口空缺。这种不平衡会在今年越演欲裂。对马士基这样规模的公司而言,这意味着要出口很多空集装箱。 马士基航运北美公司贸易与市场部长Christian Pedersen说,“作为一家航运公司,我们认为自己并没有处于运输环境中,而愿意成为贸易开发的一部分。” 通过全球标准平衡贸易公司称,关键就在于立法和商业投资规划,从而促进出口和贸易分歧再平衡。这反过来需要供应链各方更强烈的意愿,为了更加平衡的贸易利益努力。 Pedersen对Automotive Logistics说,“供应链中的公司已经团结一致,开发和创造投资,促进全球贸易和出口。这就需要所有的公司逆流而上,投资生产厂,与码头经营商、铁路经营上和需要投资公司和其他基础设施的政府密切合作。” Pedersen说,这就是马士基与IBM合作的原因。 “如果你真想大范围改变供应链,提高效率,那就需要一个汗液方案,而不是供应链里某一个公司的方案。”他还说,与IBM的合作是建立在创造一个公开平台的基础上,供应链里所有供应商都能参与,建立一种能够改进效率的中间平台。 这在海洋运输业内是有先例的。马士基是参与不定期运输到固定班轮运输举措的首批海运服务供应商之一。今年是马士基建立固定班轮运输服务90周年;第一个业务就是为福特公司在美国和日本之间运输汽车零部件。 Pedersen说,“从不定期运输到固定班轮转变的意义在于其独有性,行业开始改变,基础设施也跟着调整。客户能够每周一次固定出航。” 采用航运集装箱是另一个创新举措,他说这需要整个行业都采用,才能真正提高效率。如果只有一个公司使用,那么全球的起始港口和码头不需要投资,也无法得到好处,而这将成为全球贸易标准化的途径。 马士基航线进行了很多实验,包括与物流供应商Agility合作调查中间标准化行业平台。公司正在研究如何提供临时可视性,不仅是在海洋,还有陆地上。 墨西哥海湾机遇据马士基公司称,地区出口贸易潜力开发有两个非常好的实例。两个都是在美国墨西哥海岸地区。页岩气出口是一个积极贸易来源,另一个是旧车部门。美国是全球二手车最大出口国,而马士基是海洋集装箱整车最大运输商。Pedersen预测,墨西哥湾地区港口存储中心有大约500,000辆二手车,并且表示二手车出口还有增长的空间。 这种趋势因为Harvey飓风的破坏而得到增强,去年对市场产生了巨大影响。虽然销账和保险索赔可能会推动新车销量增长,正如PwC分析公司在去年全球汽车物流会议上指出的那样,但是这些只有少许损坏的汽车非常适合在其他市场再行销。 Pedersen说,“很多这样的车出售很容易,在其他市场广泛使用,包括非洲、中东和印度。”迪拜阿里山港口可能会吸引大量的二手车,因为那里有一个全球二手车拍卖中心。东南亚也是二手车出口重点市场。 为了充分探索集装箱汽车出口的潜力,目前困扰二手车出口手续问题需要解决。这个地区对车辆处理的难度由于二手市场遭受飓风袭击而加剧,而且等待时间也加长了。 Pedersen: Global reach and global scale are key Pedersen说,“决定保险公司决策,以及如何回应一年全国个别紧急事件,这些都需要时间解决。” Pedersen说,作为服务供应商,以及二手车出口供应链合作商,马士基吸收流程中所产的影响对客户来说非常重要,所能做的就是采用数字工具。他说,二手车的清关和文书程序都是一些特殊要求,而且出口商还需要时将这些车运到港口。 Pedersen说,“我们发现我们的作用就是在与合作商完成程序中充当专家,为他们提供方案。而且,因为我们拥有海洋运输商及码头经营商的优势,我们可以很好地研究如何为二手车出口商设计方案。” 据Pedersen称,只需要预定一个出口集装箱,就跟在线购买运动鞋一样或披萨一样简单。信息流需要答复简化,而且Pedersen说就是物流加工信息流一端,技术和数字得以在行业和供应链中转化,成为促进全球贸易发展的关键。 对汽车业而言,马士基并没有限制二手车出口。汽车集装箱运输不断增长,而Pedersen称马士基想为客户提供一站式服务,包括装配厂的全散件装备运输,以及流程末端整车再出口。 Pedersen说,“这是否适用于新车,全球供应链是否已经准备好,或者二手车是否需要进入新兴市场玩过,关键因素是全球范围。全球无死角大范围的网络,以及建立地方机构,是这些领域真正极为需要的东西。”

  • FordParts_Kupplung
    Feature

    Ford targets independent workshops with new UK aftermarket service

    2018-04-10T15:12:04Z

    Ford has announced a new aftermarket service called Parts Plus that will make it the first OEM to offer a full range of parts directly to independent repairers in the UK. The direct sales channel for trade parts is also a first for Ford globally.The company is planning to establish ...

  • Aachen_Inform_WiKI
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    Inform survey highlights deficiencies in IT provision

    2018-04-10T14:53:32Z

    Bad experiences with new IT systems and budget constraints are hindering the introduction of more digitalisation in logistics for the automotive sector, according to a survey carried out by optimisation software expert, Inform.“At least one in three [respondents] has had negative experiences with implementing an IT system in the past ...

  • VW_Taubaté_plant_web
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    VW cancels contracts with Prevent Group after supply problems

    2018-04-10T10:17:33Z

    Volkswagen has cancelled the majority of its contracts with parts and material supplier Prevent Group following a series of supply problems affecting production in Brazil between 2015 and 2016. The carmaker said the problems had cost it a total of €250m ($307m).Since the 1990s, Prevent Group, based in Bosnia, has ...

  • Graham Little_ETC
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    Graham Little takes up new role at Evolution Time Critical

    2018-04-09T14:51:00Z

    Graham Little has been promoted to deputy managing director at Evolution Time Critical, the emergency logistics provider. He moves from his role as head of business development at the company. Little joined Evolution Time Critical in 2007. The company said the move comes as part of a company-wide expansion following ...

  • signingNYK_Oyak
    Feature

    NYK and Oyak form joint venture to build car terminal in Turkey

    2018-04-09T14:16:22Z

    Turkish conglomerate Oyak has set up a joint venture with Japan’s NYK Line to invest a combined $110m in a new finished vehicle terminal at Yarimca port in Turkey’s Kocaeli region.Oyak Port, which is 90km south-east of Istanbul, will be owned jointly between Oyak (55%) and NYK (45%).The facility will ...

  • FindNewRoadsTrip45
    Feature

    GM calls for dialogue as US-China trade war looms

    2018-04-09T12:37:13Z

    General Motors has called on the US and China to pursue long-term, lasting trade policies in the face of threats by each country to impose a total of $50 billion in import tariffs on each other’s goods. China has said it would impose a 25% tariff on 106 US products, ...

  • Jack Cooper Transport Silverado 1
    Feature

    Jack Cooper: The wheels of revolution

    2018-04-05T17:14:00Z

    At the FVL North America conference, you said we were experiencing a technological revolution rather than an evolution. What do you think are the biggest changes happening now?I think we’ve got to look at it in our business from both sides: what’s happening in the actual vehicles and with the ...

  • Ningbo_VDC_China
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    BMW Brilliance opens VDC at Ningbo

    2018-04-05T14:42:05Z

    BMW’s joint venture with Brilliance Automobile in China, BMW Brilliance Automobile (BBA), has opened a vehicle distribution centre (VDC) at the Meishin (Meixi) ro-ro terminal in Ningbo-Zhoushan port, the world’s busiest port in terms of cargo tonnage.The facility, which BBA refers to as a decentralised distribution area (DDA), is being ...

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    Volvo Cars: Outbound evolutions

    2018-04-05T12:02:00Z

    The vehicle yard at Torslanda, at Volvo Cars’ global headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, is just one part of the OEM’s growing global logistics operations, but it is a good place to glimpse some important changes and innovations. For example, the global shape of the Geely-owned carmaker’s expanding production footprint ...

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    Koopman Logistics trials blockchain in the Netherlands

    2018-04-04T16:09:26Z

    Koopman Logistics Group has successfully completed a shipment of finished vehicles using blockchain digital technology to accurately track each unit in real time and automate administrative transactions.In an ongoing trial involving its Dutch customer PON Logistics, Koopman is moving vehicles from the PON compound in Leusden to dealers across the ...

  • PenskeLogTruck
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    Penske Logistics puts the focus on driver behaviour

    2018-04-04T11:47:34Z

    Third-party logistics provider Penske Logistics has announced the introduction of onboard cameras to improve safety across its North American fleet of more than 2,800 heavy-duty trucks. The event-triggered cameras will capture footage both inside the cab and out through the front windscreen, and are being introduced along with a new ...

  • Terminal_Tampa
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    Asset management firm buys Amports

    2018-04-04T10:53:13Z

    InstarAGF Asset Management has bought North American automotive port logistics processor Amports from Lincolnshire Management for an undisclosed sum.Amports, based in Jacksonville, Florida, directly owns around half of its land portfolio and provides carmakers with portside vehicle processing services that include rail loading and unloading, inspection, storage, repairs and accessorisation. ...