All Supply chain management articles – Page 74
-
FeatureContinental Automotive: Systems, staff and supply chain excellence
Continental can trace its roots in the transport sector back to 1871, with the founding of a rubber products factory in Hanover, Germany. Among the original products of the Continental Caoutchouc und Gutta Percha Compagnie were solid rubber tyres for carriages and bicycles. By 1892, the company had expanded into ...
-
FeatureA supplier renaissance
At the tail end of the 20th century, the automotive supply sector was a tough business to be in. The world’s carmakers had long since decided that the sprawling, vertically integrated manufacturing models of the past should be abandoned. Major OEMs spun out their component divisions as separate entities, narrowing ...
-
FeatureLiving in interesting times
With the shadow of a hard Brexit hanging over the UK, the question of how it will maintain a competitive automotive sector into the next decade is harder to answer than ever…
-
FeatureVolkswagen Group part 2: Talking ‘then and now’ with head of group logistics, Thomas Zernechel
The group’s head of group logistics talks about the major changes seen over the past two decades – and why he is optimistic about the future of logistics
-
FeatureVolkswagen Group part 1: Present and prepared for the future
Volkswagen Konzernlogistik (group logistics), the carmaker’s central logistics steering and purchasing organisation, has taken on new dimensions in managing the group’s complex and expanding supply chain
-
FeatureFord of Europe: A system of strength and complexity
Dirk Willmann’s 25-year career with Ford has made him witness to the changing arc of the company’s supply chain in Europe and further afield, including more complicated material flows, new locations and footprint changes, as well as advances in technology.
-
FeatureLive poll results from the UK: present and future disruption
Live polling conducted at this year's Automotive Logistics UK summit revealed that delegates are anticipating major changes to the automotive supply chain as it relates to the UK and the wider sector. While most executives participating in the survey are optimistic about the industry's prospects in the short term, including ...
-
FeatureMini plant, huge complexity
BMW’s Mini factory in Cowley, near Oxford in southern England, is a striking example of managing high levels of supply chain and production complexity, set against space constraints and long lead times for inbound parts delivery and exports of vehicles.However, thanks to well-defined supply and logistics processes, along with strong ...
-
FeatureMexico rail vs sea: No easy route for exports
Figures from the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA) show that between January and June this year, more than 85% of the passenger cars and light trucks made in the country were exported to the US and Canada – equal to almost 1.3m units out of a production total of nearly ...
-
FeatureUS car carriers: Driven to deliver
The US car market is forecast to contract slightly over the next two to three years, with sales set to fall from a high of 17.8m this year to around 16.3m in 2019, according to figures from industry analyst PwC. As OEMs cope with swelling inventory, the car carrier sector ...
-
FeatureUK logistics industry cuts emissions with innovation funding
The freight, utilities and logistics industry in the UK contributes 31% of the total emissions polluting the environment and threatening the health of country's population but the good news is that trials are already underway on low emission goods vehicles, thanks to £24m ($32m) in funding through the government's innovation ...
-
FeatureGeneral strike in Catalonia hits assembly at plants around Barcelona
This week’s general strike in the Spanish region of Catalonia has disrupted vehicle production in the region and distribution networks across the modes.Strike action began on Tuesday (October 3rd) in protest at the police violence that hit the region’s independence referendum on October 1st. Hundreds of people were injured as ...
-
FeatureJLR brings agreement for the supply of engines from Ford to an end
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed it will bring a long-standing agreement with Ford for the supply of six- and eight-cylinder petrol engines from the latter’s plant in Bridgend, Wales, to an end in 2020.In a statement, JLR said: “In line with its contractual agreement established in 2008, Jaguar Land ...
-
FeatureScania vows to appeal against EC's €880m fine for price-fixing
Volkswagen-owned commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania has said it will appeal against a European Commission fine of just over €880m ($1.04 billion) for its role in an alleged truckmaking cartel that is said to have lasted 14 years.In late September, the EC said its long-running investigation had found that Scania had ...
-
FeatureBrexit casts shadow over outlook in automotive and logistics sectors
A new report out this week from global law firm Baker McKenzie has suggested that annual revenues from UK automotive exports could fall by nearly £8 billion ($10.6 billion) if negotiations with the EU follow a ‘hard Brexit’ line. At the same time, a separate report from Barclays Corporate Banking ...
-
FeatureGM Canada’s Ingersoll site still in paralysis as Unifor strike continues
Production of the Chevrolet Equinox at GM Canada’s CAMI site in Ingersoll (pictured) remains suspended as a strike by members of the Unifor union there continues, GM Canada has confirmed.The strike, which began on September 17th, revolves around the expiry of the collective bargaining agreement between the OEM and the ...
-
FeatureToyota ends car production in Australia
After making nearly 3.5m cars there over more than half a century, Toyota has ceased vehicle production in Australia.The carmaker held a ceremony on Tuesday to mark the closure of its Altona plant, near Melbourne, where the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion models have been made. At the event, which ...
-
FeatureAn aftermarket network rebuilt for rapid response at BMW
An interview with Wolfgang Baumann, vice-president of parts logistics management and responsible for the global supply of service parts for the BMW Group
-
FeatureBMW contains fire at Spartanburg plant
BMW has confirmed that a fire that broke out at its Spartanburg plant in the US last Friday had minimal impact on production and was dealt with promptly by its own on-site fire department.The fire started shortly before 07.00 in an air handling unit used to regulate and circulate ...
-
FeaturePer Christian Mørk joins UECC as chief operating officer
European short-sea ro-ro operator UECC has appointed Per Christian Mørk (pictured) as its new chief operating officer (COO). He replaces Erik Jensen, who has moved to Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) in an as yet unspecified role.Mørk moves to UECC from his previous position as head of sales for Europe, Middle ...