All Feature articles – Page 288
-
FeatureRoom for improvement
Backlogs and bottlenecksA need for optimismNo need for pessimismDaimler’s outbound logistics providers were told that they needed to improve their performance and invest in new transport equipment to support the carmaker’s ‘best or nothing’ credo at this year’s European Carrier Day, writes Marcus Williams.Das Beste oder nichts. The best or ...
-
FeatureLatin's America's export engine
Northbound networkOcean exportsVehicle processing connectionsThe domestic networkOverland challengesZero-damage mindsetMexico is the fastest growing region for vehicle production in North America. While its benefiting from some recovery to its main market in the US, it is also expanding its links to the south in Latin America, reports Anthony CoiaMexican automotive production ...
-
FeaturePartners in search of partnership
Shared tenders means shared providers Combining the port network Lowering inventory with lead times Outbound has not caught up with inbound Is the best yet to come for rail? Close and fair relationships Renault Nissan has converged more of the outbound logistics planning and operations for the two brands across ...
-
FeatureSeat mulls virtues of rail link
In November last year Seat undertook a trial involving the despatch of 224 new cars from its plant at Martorell, near Barcelona, to Fuersterhausenin Germany, using a standard gauge block train. The potential economical benefits are clear if existing disadvantages can be overcome according to Manuel Medina, Seat’s logistics director. ...
-
FeatureSkoda invests in logistics training
Czech carmaker and VW subsidiary, Skoda Auto, has invested €600,000 ($760,000) in three new training centres at its Kvasiny plant, which will be used to train employees in logistics, vehicle body assembly and paintshop. The investment falls within the remit of the Skoda Growth Strategy, by which the carmaker aims ...
-
FeatureVIDEO INTERVIEWS: Why is India's infrastructure lagging?
Why is India's infrastructure lagging behind growth?Dr Manoj Singh, transport adviser for the Indian government's Planning Commission, talks to Automotive Logistics Editor Christopher Ludwig about the role that the government is seeking to play in improving the logistics for India's automotive production and exports, as well as why the country ...
-
FeatureGlobal round up
Newly-established shipping company North Sea RoRo will begin a service between the port of Gothenburg in Sweden and Killingholme port in the UK on 24th January. Headed by CEO Mårten Carlquist, the new service aims to provide an alternative to the service currently operated by DFDS and will offer three ...
-
FeatureWhat are the costs of bringing Chevy to Europe?
Current speculation concerning how GM’s loss-making Opel division will not only sustain its annual €265m cost-saving target but meet the ambitious targets of €1 billion profit by 2016 (from Q3 operating loss of 202m in 2011) is expected to end when a new plan for making the division profitable again ...
-
FeatureParanagua boosts vehicle turnover
The Brazilian port of Paranaguá handled 230,000 finished vehicles in 2011, which was 27% higher than in 2010. The performance has attracted the attention of technicians working for the local subsidiary of Nissan and, as a result, managers from plants in Japan have visited the port to study the logistics ...
-
FeatureBaltimore hits record auto throughput
The port of Baltimore has surpassed throughput at its automotive terminals for 2011, recording the loading and unloading of 403,679 vehicles through to November, a figure it says puts it ahead of every other US port for the first time. The value of those vehicles was $10.1 billion according to ...
-
FeatureGlobal round up
Ford establishes Dubai PDC with HellmannFord has set up a parts distribution centre at the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, United Arab Emirates that will be operated by Rudolph Logistics Group & Hellmann Automotive. The carmaker is reported to have invested $53m in the 29,500m2 depot, which will handle ...
-
FeatureExecutives on the move
Emergency logistics specialist Evolution Time Critical has appointed Jan Gerhard as business development manager for Germany targeting the automotive industry. “We are delighted that Jan Gerhard will be contributing to this exciting phase in our development,” said Brad Brennan, managing director Evolution Time Critical. “This is the fifth appointment we ...
-
FeatureChrysler opens Mopar centres in China/UAE
Chrysler’s service parts and customer-care brand, Mopar, has opened distribution centres in Shanghai, China and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to facilitate its expansion plans in Asia and the Middle East. As well as serving aftermarket parts for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram brands, Fiat will also use the ...
-
FeaturePanalpina hub in China supports Bosch
Swiss freight and logistics provider Panalpina has opened a 10,000m2 logistics centre in Tianjin that will serve as a hub for services in northern China. The company said the new centre would advance its partnership with parts supplier Bosch Automotive Diesel Systems as well as extending its value-added logistics offering. ...
-
FeatureVehnet phases in AMT at Cartagena
The Colombian port of Cartagena is now implementing a terminal management tool from software specialist Vehnet for vehicle movements through its Contecar terminal following a successful testing phase. The Advance Marine Terminal technology will manage the lifecycle of all vehicles coming into the terminal, which handles up to 5,000 vehicles ...
-
FeatureDaimler and Alliance agree on US engine supply
Daimler and Renault-Nissan took another step forward in their collaboration last week with the announcement that they will produce engines together in the US from 2014. Nissan’s plant in Decherd, Tennessee (pictured) will build Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder engines for Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles, with installed capacity of 250,000 units per ...
-
FeatureLean logistics on the rise in the East
Ellen Hua looks at how China’s OEMs and logistics providers are bringing more sophisiticated services to warehouses and assembly lines.Adding value to the supply chain;Inbound logistics sourcing;Container management control;Supplier parks in the Chinese context;Building IT capabilities;China's 3PL, 4PL and 3.5PL;Global 3PLs look westward;The lean journey.Sustained high growth in China’s automotive ...
-
FeatureAn almost endless potential
With BMW’s production at full speed, logistics has become critical in maintaining record profits. But Dr Karl May, head of logistics, tells Christopher Ludwig that there have been service failures and he’s looking for reliable partners to share BMW’s considerable growth.The sound of opportunity speeding through;The necessary preassure of logistics;The ...
-
Feature
In Profile: David Panjwani at John Deere
David Panjwani is passionate about how logistics should be handled for high-and-heavy brands like John Deere.Unlike shipping consumer goods or raw materials, Panjwani refuses to see this sector as a commodity. Not only is the equipment and material specialised, but so too must be the providers.That’s one reason he has ...
-
Feature
An EC-funded supply chain link
Cologne-based Alfah is typical of many smaller businesses in the automotive supply chain. A regional spare parts distributor with 12 employees, its business consists of sourcing parts from wholesalers and then selling them to small repair shops.Until recently, the company had to check the availability of a given part by ...