All features articles – Page 23

  • AstridLuehring1
    Feature

    Volkswagen Group Logistics: Come together, right now

    2017-06-29T01:53:00Z

    All carmakers are [sta_anchor id=”1”]grappling with how to plan and respond to the technological, social and economic changes that are expected to affect their products and businesses. Manufacturers must simultaneously manage rising demand for both traditional and alternative fuels, while exploring new models for mobility that might, in future, change ...

  • Russia Rail
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    Russia: Ready for a recovery?

    2017-06-28T11:44:08Z

    Vehicle sales in Russia have shown modest rises in recent months, raising hopes that this year will finally return to growth and kick off a longer-term recovery. Following several months of increases, sales of new light vehicles in the first five months of the year had risen by 5.1% compared ...

  • SMMT Hawes_opt
    Feature

    Momentum builds for post-Brexit transition period to avoid ‘cliff-edge’

    2017-06-21T15:26:50Z

    A prominent UK government minister and the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) were among those that this week called for interim arrangements to be put in place after the two-year Brexit negotiation deadline, as the chances of a new trade deal being in place by then seemed unlikely ...

  • Session_4_panel
    Feature

    Europe conference: No easy way to the digital supply chain

    2017-06-13T18:15:09Z

    The 2017 Automotive Logistics Europe conference reminded delegates that, despite a better economy, the industry is under pressure. However, new technology looks set to offer the supply chain as much opportunity as disruption, if companies are able to keep up. Marcus Williams, Christopher Ludwig and Gareth Tredway report from Bonn, ...

  • Ford Heinrichs
    Feature

    Europe conference: Data sharing could ease port constraints for finished vehicles

    2017-06-13T11:56:05Z

    Strong growth in vehicle numbers moving into and out of Europe over the past few years has created capacity constraints and bottlenecks at the continent’s ports. While the scope to significantly expand physical space might be limited, executives from carmakers and logistics providers have suggested better visibility and sharing of ...

  • Frank_Schlehuber_CLEPA
    Feature

    Europe conference: Using logistics to compete across a digitalised aftermarket

    2017-06-13T10:00:28Z

    Consolidation among parts retailers and changing consumer habits are transforming Europe’s aftermarket, with logistics services both at risk and able to provide a competitive edge, writes Marcus WilliamsThe European automotive aftermarket and service parts business is in the midst of tremendous change, prompted by consolidation among major suppliers and distributors, ...

  • Union Jack_divided
    Feature

    Analysis: Hung parliament casts doubt and hope over Brexit

    2017-06-12T12:22:20Z

    This article is being updated regularly.The UK general election on June 8th, in which the governing Conservative party lost its parliamentary majority, has cast uncertainty over investment and policy in terms of the country’s automotive industry and supply chain – most notably over pending negotiations to leave the European Union.There ...

  • IMG_1661
    Feature

    Plant yards & systems: Allowing space to grow

    2017-05-18T17:05:59Z

    The effective management of plant yards is an important component of finished vehicle supply chains because of the constant flow and high volume of products such manufacturing plants typically handle. As a number of OEMs re-examine the balance between in-house labour and outsourced providers, many have begun to devote more ...

  • afterglow_lowres
    Feature

    Supply Chain Conference: The future is already here

    2017-05-16T17:04:51Z

    A drone demonstration by Venture highlighted the potential of new technology for inventory management at plants and warehousesThat the automotive industry will see [sta_anchor id="1"]exponential change is something that many, if not all, experts and executives predict – even if they disagree about the pace and scale of change. ...

  • Alexander Kovalenko
    Feature

    Russian imports: Forecasting a fragile recovery

    2017-05-15T11:44:09Z

    [in_this_story align="right" border="yes"]In August last year, imports of finished vehicles in Russia rose 5.3% year-on-year, bringing an end to a decline that had lasted for 35 consecutive months. Meanwhile, during the course of 2016, several carmakers, including SsangYong and Honda, unveiled plans to start importing finished vehicles into the country ...

  • Anu Goel
    Feature

    Supply Chain Conference: Service parts logistics try to keep up with e-commerce

    2017-05-12T19:45:33Z

    The service parts sector is among the first distribution channels in the automotive market to feel disruption from the digital economy, as consumers increasingly buy goods and services online.Indeed, within the wider aftermarket, including the large share of the market held by independent distributors, consumers already make significant use of ...

  • Toyota NAPCC-Ontario, Ca.
    Feature

    Education and training: The hard line on soft skills

    2017-05-12T15:25:28Z

    [in_this_story align="right" border="yes"]General Motors’ executive director for global supply chain, Todd Scott, meets frequently with the faculties of several universities. At Cranfield University School of Management – ranked number one outside the United States in Supply Chain World’s annual Top 100 Universities survey – senior supply chain executives from industry, ...

  • DHL 1504016-073_opt
    Feature

    DHL in the UK: staying ahead of automotive change

    2017-05-11T12:20:48Z

    Despite uncertainty surrounding the UK’s departure from the EU, planned investments in new models and manufacturing should keep the country’s vehicle production networks competitive and growing.Overall investment has fallen since the ‘Brexit’ vote last June, but volume has, at least until very recently, grown strongly. Light vehicle sales reached record ...

  • 05_Autonomous tugger trains Dingolfing
    Feature

    Materials handling: Machines on the move

    2017-05-08T16:08:36Z

    [in_this_story align="right" border="yes"] Advances in automated technology and robotics have already transformed many aspects of automotive manufacturing, with the sector taking a lead in plant technology and automation investment, from stamping equipment to precision welding robots. In the context of increasing digitalisation, manufacturers are looking to go much further, ...

  • pilot_hall_porsche_plant_leipzig_2017_porsche_ag
    Feature

    The end of the line?

    2017-05-03T13:04:00Z

    As the vehicle industry and market moves towards higher levels of electrification and connectivity, production experts anticipate a change from the traditional assembly line layout that has dominated the industry for nearly a century. Instead, OEMs are expected to increasingly orientate their plants and supply chains around more flexible, digitally ...

  • christianWill
    Feature

    Looking for the human-machine touch

    2017-05-03T11:26:37Z

    Digital technology is fast changing the way vehicles are built, with labour, data and engineering management set for new levels of automation, according to experts speaking at the recent automotiveIT Forum Production and Logistics.But while automotive plants and their supply chains adapt new concepts and equipment, including for logistics and ...

  • 2017-Chevrolet-BoltEV-016
    Feature

    EV supply chains: Shifting currents

    2017-04-28T16:32:55Z

    Mass-market electric vehicles are coming. Global plug-in sales grew 42% in 2016, reaching to 773,600 units.Today, electric vehicles account for only about 0.1% of the global vehicle stock and less than 1% of sales; volume growth in SUVs and trucks, while lower in percentage terms, has had a bigger impact ...

  • AL website screenshot
    Feature

    A new look (but it’s what’s inside that counts)

    2017-04-26T10:25:00Z

    Whether you’re a regular or new visitor to Automotive Logistics, I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to some changes and new features on our website that we hope you’ll enjoy. We think that they both improve our layout and will help you better access and choose from ...

  • Feature

    Reinventing itself to keep abreast of changing demand

    2017-04-25T14:10:31Z

    Despite uncertainty surrounding the UK’s departure from the European Union, carmakers in the country have announced a number of investments in the past 12 months that should, in the medium term at least, keep the country’s vehicle production networks competitive and growing.According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers ...

  • Brad-Brennan-new
    Feature

    Evolution Time Critical opens new office in Atlanta

    2017-04-19T23:40:19Z

    Emergency logistics services provider, Evolution Time Critical, has opened a US office in Atlanta, Georgia. The company said it had decided to put an office there in response to increasing demand from the automotive industry for its services and cited North America’s high vehicle production levels, which are expected to ...