All Inventory management articles – Page 28
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Volvo Cars China: A system built for growth
[sta_anchor id="1"]Few carmakers have been moving as quickly as Volvo Cars to develop and expand their industrial footprint in China. In less than five years, the carmaker has launched two assembly plants and an engine factory, while ramping up production and more than doubling sales in the country. It has ...
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Volkswagen OTC: Sea king of the Kassel
[sta_anchor id="1"]In many ways, the heart of Volkswagen Group After Sales – the OEM’s service parts and aftermarket division – is its massive Original Teile (Parts) Centre (OTC) in Baunatal, near Kassel, central Germany. This impressive storage and shipping centre serves destinations across the world, including European dealerships as well ...
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Volkswagen Group Logistics: Come together, right now
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 ...
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Air charter services for the automotive sector are flying high
The use of airfreight to move automotive parts over expanding global supply networks is on the increase. A recent analysis of shipments across IAG Cargo’s global network shows that over the past year it has seen a 22% increase in shipments of automotive parts by air. Consignments made up one ...
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Europe conference: No easy way to the digital supply chain
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, ...
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Europe conference: Data sharing could ease port constraints for finished vehicles
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 ...
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ECG calls for better OEM forecasts as stocks build amid slowing growth
The outlook for the European finished vehicle sector remains positive, with growth still forecast for the short to medium term, according to figures presented at the Spring Congress of the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) in Malta last week. But a slower growth rate is beginning to lead to ...
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Plant yards & systems: Allowing space to grow
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 ...
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Making a success of collaboration
Greg Brady is CEO and founder of multi-party business network provider One Network EnterprisesThe automotive industry is in the midst of massive change. From ride-sharing services, advances in mechanical innovation and autonomous vehicles, and shifts in fossil fuels and hybrid power, these disruptions are helping to fuel some amazing ...
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Supply Chain Conference: The future is already here
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. ...
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Supply Chain Conference: Service parts get closer to production logistics
After years in which their service parts and inbound logistics have been almost entirely separate, a number of carmakers, including Toyota and BMW, are now making specific efforts to combine more channels between production and aftermarket supply chains in North America. Their efforts include sharing standards, management resources, systems and ...
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Supply Chain Conference: Service parts logistics try to keep up with e-commerce
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 ...
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Supply Chain Conference: Subaru transforms to lean at Indiana plant
Carmaker Subaru has successfully transitioned to a lean process flow at its production plant in Indiana, in the US, in a major project with third party logistics provider Venture Global Solutions, ahead of the launch of the new Impreza model.“We needed to be able to change our production methods at ...
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Materials handling: Machines on the move
[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, ...
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The end of the line?
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 ...
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China conference: Fast lane to the future
Looking to 2025 and beyond: (left to right) Automotive Logistics' Louis Yiakoumi; CFLP's Ma Zengrong; Continental's Andreas Subbe; Volvo Cars' Magnus Ödling; Automotive Logistics' Christopher LudwigThe Chinese automotive industry continues to climb to new heights both in quantity of volume and in quality of service. After a red-hot year ...
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China conference: Looking ahead to a more multimodal future
According to industry forecasts from China’s State Information Centre, the country can expect vehicles sales to hit 40m by 2025.However, the 28m vehicles that were moved between the factory and the dealer last year – a 14.5% increase on the previous year – and the parts being moved into the ...
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Daimler, VW and BLG Logistics recognised in ‘elogistics’ awards
German automotive industry body AKJ Automotive has recognised Daimler and Volkswagen in its annual elogistics awards for digital-based initiatives.In addition, BLG Logistics has been given AKJ’s Tool Award for its work on the use of drones in the logistics space.AKJ Automotive is made up of a group of industry experts ...
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Seat holds second logistics innovation event at Martorell factory
Spanish carmaker Seat held a two-day logistics innovation event last week at its Martorell factory in Spain at which ten suppliers presented the latest in robotic and drone technology for inventory management, handling and delivery to the assembly line.The event, held at the carmaker’s logistics innovation centre at the factory ...
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Changes at the top for Renault-Nissan Alliance supply chain
Frans Kroon (pictured) has been promoted to deputy alliance global director of strategy and planning for global alliance supply chain management at Renault Nissan, moving from his position as vice-president of Alliance Logistics Europe. Marc Dardanelli has succeeded Kroon in the logistics function.Kroon’s position is a renewed role across the ...