All articles by Christopher Ludwig – Page 22
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FeatureAudi special report: Strong at the core
The complex nature of Audi’s German production requires highly planned and coordinated in-plant logistics processes and infrastructure
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FeatureAudi special report: A fast, flexible network
Audi’s inbound logistics depends on tight planning and delivery adherence, while the carmaker is also exploring more consolidation within the Volkswagen Group
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FeatureAudi special report: One crossdock, many brands
The Volkswagen Group’s European transport network is well engineered, however there is ambition for even deeper freight consolidation within it. After synchronising in-plant processes, the next stage in the NLK is to use crossdocks based close to supplier locations, which then feed multiple group plants in high frequency, full truckloads.
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FeatureAudi special report: Outbound delivery accuracy
The concept of Liefertreue, or delivery reliability, is central to Audi’s customer promise and consequently crucial in every aspect of the supply chain right up to the point of receipt at dealers, says Dr Michael Hauf, head of brand logistics (pictured)
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FeatureAudi 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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FeatureSymbols 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 ...
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FeatureIndia Conference: Ford switches to LLP model for inbound and export logistics
As it prepares to open its second Indian plant next month, Ford has switched its inbound logistics outsourcing in the country from the use of a third party logistics provider (3PL), which managed transport through a mix of its own assets and other carriers, to a ‘lead logistics provider’ concept ...
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FeatureIndia Conference: picking up speed on dedicated rail freight corridor
Indian Railways (IR) has begun work on its long-planned dedicated freight corridor for rail, with expectations that large sections of the network could be operational by 2019. The corridor, which will eventually cover India’s ‘golden quadrilateral’ between the regions of Delhi and Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, is expected to ...
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FeatureIndian government to overhaul road safety bill and integrate multimodal planning
The Indian government has approved a draft bill that would overhaul much of its road safety legislation, while creating a central authority that would be responsible for planning multimodal logistics and improving road planning.Should the bill become law, as is likely, India could see more coordinated planning for its road ...
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FeatureMagna puts more in providers’ hands
As tier suppliers take over more content and engineering in the automotive supply chain, the scope for logistics providers to increase their services and value to companies such as Magna is growing.For decades, the automotive supply chain has seen considerable product development and engineering spread from OEMs to the supply ...
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FeatureAnalysis: logistics in China still needs to shift from big to strong
Automotive logistics providers in the world’s largest market might be saying the right things but the industry lacks transparency in many areas. Christopher Ludwig provides a résumé of the market following an important industry gatheringExecutives at Chinese automotive and logistics companies speak a remarkably similar language when it comes to ...
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FeatureEnforcing the law in China could cripple vehicle carriers
After years of routinely using trucks and trailers that exceed the official width and length requirements, the Chinese vehicle logistics industry could face a rude awakening after the central government toughens its enforcement of road safety rules, according to Zheng Yuqian, vice general manager at one of the country’s largest ...
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FeatureSouth America: Where logistics can hurt you
The 2014 South America conference proved that inefficient logistics can not only disrupt production, but can hurt long-term growth. OEMs in Brazil are looking for ways to improve the supply chain and avoid falling further behind other countries. During previous Automotive Logistics South America conferences, executives worried about Brazil’s logistics ...
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FeatureSouth America Summit: High logistics costs put Brazil behind Mexico
Brazil’s poor logistics infrastructure and tax bureaucracy are contributing to higher costs and declining competitiveness for the automotive industry, with the country losing out on investment in production and the supply chain, notably to Mexico. “Brazil is facing economic uncertainty, but it also needs to address high labour costs, logistics ...
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FeatureLogistics and delays hampering Honda in Mexico
Honda has reportedly faced issues with production at its new Celaya plant in Mexico because of problems affecting both the quality and supply of parts. A consultant speaking to Automotive News has also cited vandalism and hijacking for finished vehicle rail shipments as an issue.According to US Honda dealers in ...
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FeatureChange on the horizon
More than 200 delegates at this year’s ECG Conference in Amsterdam heard that sales and production in Europe are on the rise, but that both the economy and the industry suffer from considerable fragmentation.A market growing, but with wide variation, inconsistency and divergence; an economic region integrated, yet with conflicting ...
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FeatureSustainability and packaging dominate Magna Europe awards
Magna Logistics Europe has recognised six companies in its 2014 Innovation Awards, with solutions addressing supply chain complexity, carbon reduction and packaging efficiency taking top honours.An RFID tracking device for air freight by technology provider TAGnology took first place in the ‘Supply Chain Innovation’ category, while Virtual Vehicle won the ...
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FeatureAudi geo-fencing project takes top VW Group logistics prize
A pilot project at Audi to 'geo-fence' trucks and further automate their check-in for delivery of inbound material at the carmaker's Ingolstadt factory in Bavaria has won the 2014 Volkswagen Group Logistics Innovation award. The prize was given out during a group-wide logistics conference held in Kassel, Germany, which featured ...
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FeatureEditor's note: good problems to have
If they could choose, most managers would probably prefer having more demand for a product than supply. It may stress plants, and increase delivery times, but growing sales and profits usually speak louder to top management than dealer complaints over delivery.However, if not managed properly, having more cars than customers ...
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Feature
Delivering a new world of order
Carlos Lahoz (left) reveals how Kia is honing its forecasting and supply chain process across Europe, including improving vehicle allocation and material forecasting. Glovis Europe also discusses its ambitions for Hyundai-Kia’s logistics and beyondA company selling more cars than it has capacity to build can be a ‘good problem’ to ...