All GM articles – Page 24
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FeatureMore sparks are set to fly
Despite being on somewhat familiar ground, Russia’s political climate and the status of the Lada brand call for Bo Andersson (pictured) to tread carefully while better aligning supply and demand at Avtovaz. Roger Stansfield reportsSince leaving General Motors as its global purchasing and supply chain chief, Bo Andersson has developed ...
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FeatureIs there still a place for leaders?
The ‘lead logistics provider’ concept may be undergoing its biggest ever changes. The question is whether or not it is still working for today’s automotive industry. Co-ordinated from a ‘control tower’ based on the customer's site in Solihull, England, an extensive European supply chain feeds the three British vehicle assembly ...
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FeatureWhen supply is a close run thing
Carmakers are showing a renewed interest in local supply networks, but do the benefits of supplier proximity balance the costs for both sides, or is there a middle distance to be found for a win-win? The evolution of automotive manufacturing has mostly been a story of dis-integration. Today’s car factories ...
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FeatureDressing for a hot market in a cold network
The 15th annual Automotive Logistics Global conference, held at the MGM Grand in downtown Detroit, brought senior OEM, tier supplier and logistics provider executives to discuss ways of coping with the current growth and changes across the North American network. Most anticipated growing complexity, an increasingly important Mexico, and the ...
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FeatureGlobal conference: Ford is buying more boxes ‘off the shelf’
Ford Motor Company is making a global push to reduce the amount of specialised, bespoke racking and packaging that it uses to move components and parts, in favour of more ‘off the shelf’, standard equipment. The carmaker is also looking to take more ownership of containers and racks, rather than ...
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FeatureGlobal conference: lessons from the polar vortex
During the Automotive Logistics Global conference in Detroit, executives in finished vehicle logistics looked back at the impact of the ‘polar vortex’, which hit North America last winter, leading to wide-scale transport disruptions. Some tough lessons were learned, not least by the rail sector, about how to avoid the same ...
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FeatureWebber takes over as head of GM Russia
General Motors has announced that Susanna Webber, vice-president of global purchasing and supply chain Europe for the last four years, is being appointed president and managing director of GM Russia with immediate effect. Her appointment is part of a restructuring of GM’s Russian operations that will include reduced production and ...
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FeatureRussian bans may not keep down imports for long
Some experts suggest that the fallout in the Russian market could eventually lead carmakers to close smaller factories, leading to a rise in imported vehicles. However, the government is launching support for sales and the supply chain The continuing Ukrainian crisis and subsequent economic sanctions and retaliations have already contributed ...
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FeatureIndian hopes return, problems remain
Automotive sales and confidence are returning, with Indian logistics executives seeing brighter days ahead. While many are looking to the Modi government for reforms, some companies most important improvements may still be internal.Excitement has pervaded the Indian landscape since the May national elections that swept Narendra Modi and his National ...
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FeatureGetting the North American network in ship shape
The inaugural Import Export North America conference, a joint AIAG and Finished Vehicle Logistics event, saw executives and lawmakers debate how best to prepare the region to meet the logistics challenges of changing import and export flows and rising production. Executives gathered at the port of Baltimore, Maryland The recovery ...
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FeatureKrathwohl takes up management role with Jack Cooper
Christine Krathwohl has taken up a new role at Jack Cooper Holdings as managing director on the company’s Strategic Advisory Board. Krathwohl was previously executive director of logistics and supplier diversity at General Motors, a position she left in May last year amid an executive reshuffle at the carmaker.She joins ...
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FeatureSAIC-GM-Wuling responds to high demand for Baojun people carrier
Chinese joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling has reported immediate demand for its Baojun 730 seven-seat family vehicle. According to GM the company received more than 10,000 orders for the people carrier within 52 hours of its launch.The joint venture announced its newest model simultaneously on its official website, and on China’s social ...
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FeatureGM starts work on Lansing Grand River logistics facility
General Motors has started work on a $44.5m logistics facility at its Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan. The 37,000 sq.m Logistics Optimization Center, which is adjacent to the plant, is expected to be complete by the end of the year and operations are due to begin in 2015. It ...
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FeatureFiat Chrysler's automotive melting pot
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here. For features on the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here.Mercedes Figueroa (below) has taken over Fiat Chrysler’s logistics at a time of supply chain and sales integration. ...
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FeatureSpecial outbound report: For the rápido go the spoils in Mexico
Logistics providers that don’t act quick could fall behind in the race to handle rising volume out of Mexico. Our special Mexico report continues by exploring the opportunities for vehicle logistics Reporting from south of the borderThe finished vehicle logistics portion of this multi-part report, written by editor Christopher ...
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FeatureDown Mexico way...and back again
*This article is part of a special focus on Mexico. For other features related to the automotive supply chain in Mexico click here; for more on finished vehicle logistics in Mexico click here.In the second part of this special Mexico report, we explore how huge amounts of automotive material crossing ...
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FeatureSpecial report: Many shades of Mexico
Logistics is part of what has helped carmakers succeed in Mexico’s historically difficult economy, but will it be an advantage or pitfall in future?Reporting from south of the borderThis special multi-part report, by editor Christopher Ludwig, explores Mexico’s historic and developing supply chain as well as the logistics challenges connected ...
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FeatureKeep coming up with the goods in the UK
Vehicle production in the UK is healthy, but requires agile logistics for its global and local supply chains and these can only evolve with investment in skills training and IT.Christopher Ludwig contributed to this reportFollowing the hard economic knocks felt throughout Europe since 2008, the UK has certainly surprised many ...
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FeatureRacking up the savings
The use of specialised metal racks is a common, albeit costly practice, but engineers are making them lighter and more modularAlthough automotive packaging continues to become more standardised on a global basis – especially plastic pallets, containers and totes – non-standard or specialised packaging is still an essential element in ...
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FeatureMoving towards integration in Southeast Asia
Potential customs harmonisation among the ten ASEAN nations could see Thailand at the centre of a global automotive powerhouse, with big implications for logisticsThailand continues to hold much promise for the automotive industry. Home to many of the world’s largest carmakers and tier suppliers, it should also receive a boost ...