Nissan is consolidating its operations across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and aligning its supply chain management and logistics functions across the region more closely with manufacturing and purchasing.
Administration of the new alignment will now be managed by a streamlined team of executives across three committees who will make strategic decisions for the region.
The first – Management Committee-Americas – is responsible for strategic decisions. The other two –Operating Committee North America (US and Canada) and Operating Committee – Latin America (the rest of the hemisphere) are responsible for tactical decisions in their regions.
“At this point, firm processes and activities are in varying stages of development and implementation,” Nissan North America spokesman Fred Standish told Automotive Logistics. “This is focused largely, but not exclusively of course, on finding new suppliers [and] more efficient logistics providers. Establishing the two operating committees will enhance communications and opportunities to identify where our operations can improve.”
There have been a number of changes at a management level since the beginning of April across Nissan’s North and Latin American operations.
Julio Panamá, President and General Director, Nissan Mexicana, left the company on April 14 after 24 years with the company. He is being replaced by Jose Muñoz, currently Managing Director, Nissan Iberia, S.A., who will report to Carlos Taveras, Chairman of the committee.
In the US, meanwhile, Pat Doody, Regional Vice President, Nissan Southeast Region, has been named Director, Market Representation-Operations, based in Franklin. Wally Burchfield, Regional Vice President, Nissan Northwest Region, is named Regional Vice President, Nissan Midwest Region, based in Aurora, Illinois. And Fred Adcock, Regional Vice President, Nissan Mid-Atlantic Region, has been appointed Regional Vice President, Nissan Southeast Region, based in Atlanta.
In 2008, more than 1.3 million Nissan vehicles were sold in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, across the globe in India, last week saw exports of Nissan’s first consignment of the Pixo from Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone to European markets. The vehicles will arrive early in May aboard the Euro Spirit (owned by Nissan Motor Car Carrier) for distribution in the UK, the Netherlands and Denmark.
The vehicles reached Mundra from Maruti Suzuki’s plant in Manesar by a special double-decker container train of Adani Logistics. Nissan Motors plans to export 36,000 cars per annum from Mundra.
