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All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 9
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ArticleAnalysis: European discord for logistics
Although Europe is considered to be a single market, differing laws and regulations surrounding wages, truck dimensions and weights are making it increasingly difficult for finished vehicle logistics providers. In the face of growing divisions between transport regulations in various European countries, finished vehicle logistics executives and European officials have ...
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ArticleToyota part 2: A complex stock-in-trade
Toyota’s warehouse network and operations are strategic to maintaining the costs and efficiency of its spare parts deliveries, especially considering the scale, volume and diversity of parts and order lines that they handleThe volume moving in and out of Toyota’s huge main parts centres each day is simply dizzying: the ...
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ArticleFaster forwarding
CEO Ed Feitzinger reveals how UTi’s recent decentralisation aims to offer a personalised, five-star service to customers in both forwarding and contract logisticsEd Feitzinger’s 15th floor office at UTi’s headquarters looks out toward the mouth of the Los Angeles River and the edge of the port of Long Beach. In ...
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ArticleToyota part 1: NAPO organisation and 'One Toyota'
Understanding how Toyota's service parts division in the US is organised, and looking to the implication of the carmaker's consolidation in TexasAs vice-president and general manager of Toyota’s North American Parts Operations, Neil Swartz (left) manages the full scope of the service parts and accessories supply chain across Toyota Motor ...
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ArticleToyota part 1: Cornerstone of a strong supply chain
Toyota’s unique ‘two-tier’ supply chain in North America is designed to smooth distribution and ensure fast, uninterrupted supply to dealers, distributors and export marketsThe view outside the Toyota parts centre in Ontario, 50 miles east of Los Angeles, is pure California. Palm trees line the road in either direction and ...
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ArticleAmerican vistas of the Toyota way: A report in five parts
As Toyota’s largest global market, maintaining a fast, reliable supply of service parts and accessories across North America is critical to the carmaker’s business model. Spare parts sales add incremental profit to dealers and to Toyota alike, while their availability is essential to the company’s brand promise, from supporting vehicle ...
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ArticleMazda's key to unlocking a continent
Michael Beyer (right), group manager of vehicle logistics at Mazda North American Operations, reveals how logistics for the OEM’s new Mexican plant will be crucial to its success in the US and in global markets The current decade has been a transformative one for Mazda in the US and North ...
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ArticleFuture visions of European automotive logistics
Delegates gathered in Bonn, Germany for the annual Automotive Logistics Europe conference, where senior executives discussed the role of technology, e-commerce and globalisation in the automotive supply chain. Some of the forecasts were scary, although many foresee increasing complexity and opportunity – if logistics companies can keep up with the ...
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ArticleMexico conference: Supply base set to grow and deepen
The automotive supply base in Mexico looks set to enjoy further growth and localisation as carmakers and tier suppliers increase production and sourcing in the country to take advantage of favourable labour costs, falling energy prices, as well as lower logistics and distribution costs for key markets in North America, ...
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ArticleMexico conference: US-EU deal without NAFTA 'doesn't make sense'
The North American vehicle industry could lose out on export market potential and manufacturing integration as a result of the exclusion of Mexico and Canada from the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. According to the Mexican Secretary of the Economy, ...
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ArticleConnecting the many Mexicos – conference report
The first Automotive Logistics Mexico conference saw more than 350 delegates discussing how best to manage the country’s vehicle production and export growth. Officials from the economy and transport ministries, the US ambassador, and senior executives pointed to economic and supply chain strengths, as well as weaknesses in infrastructure and ...
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ArticleEditor's note: Planung und Ordnung
No OEM can escape the need for reliable logistics in today’s competitive automotive industry. However, the function arguably has a more elevated status at some companies.At Audi, logistics and in-plant material flow are major if not defining features of its production system, as logistics directly influences output, worker movements and ...
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ArticleEditor's note: expect the unexpected
In the forthcoming issue of Finished Vehicle Logistics, we have something of a special focus on Europe, including reports from the ECG Conference, a feature interview with PSA Peugeot Citroën, with Audi, as well as the European carmaker's association (ACEA). This reporting comes as the European Union and economic area ...
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ArticlePremium plant logistics
Six months after Chery JLR’s Rui Zhu and Alex Holland gave an exclusive preview of their logistics plan to Christopher Ludwig, they invited him back into the plant shortly after launch to reveal the latest innovations for its complex material flowsA few weeks before visiting Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s new ...
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ArticleTaking a seat at theglobal negotiating table
The European manufacturer’s association, ACEA, is a strong voice in Brussels and abroad, particularly in shaping regulations and trade deals. Erik Jonnaert (pictured) talks to Christopher Ludwig about how he would like the EU to help unlock innovation and export potentialErik Jonnaert is arguably one of the European Union’s most ...
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ArticleImproved performance at a lower cost
PSA Peugeot Citroën’s director for finished vehicle supply chain Guy Lederer (left) describes how his goals to reduce stock and delivery lead times are at the heart of efforts to put the OEM ‘Back in the Race’The past year has been a transformative one for PSA Peugeot Citroën. Many parts ...
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ArticleChery JLR puts complex logistics plan into action
As Chery Jaguar Land Rover (CJLR) launches series production of the Range Rover Evoque in China, the joint venture carmaker is putting into action a complex and global supply chain that its logistics team has been planning for nearly three years, including the use of a diverse set of lead ...
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ArticleAudi special reports conclusion: Experts at managing change
Preventing unnecessary complexity can be just as important as managing it in Audi’s supply chain
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ArticleSymbols for better days ahead
The 2014 Automotive Logistics India conference, held in Gurgaon, revealed that despite years of lacklustre growth, the Indian automotive logistics industry has not lost its hope in its own potential. Buoyed by the reforms expected from the recently elected government, executives are now looking forward to ‘acche din’ Rachael Hogg ...