All GM articles – Page 22
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ArticleRacking up the savings
The use of specialised metal racks is a common albeit costly practice in the automotive sector. Packaging engineers are working on making them lighter and more modular. The use of specialised metal racks is a common albeit costly practice in the automotive sector. Packaging engineers are working on making ...
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ArticleThe backlash over Ukraine stifles vehicles flows
*This story has been updated from an earlier versionFalling currencies, blocked supplies into Crimea and Sevastopol, confusion over new border and customs, and uncertain taxes are making the situation for production and distribution volatile across Russia and Ukraine.It has been a tumultuous year in Ukraine and Russia following widespread protests ...
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ArticleThirsty for pressure
Gefco’s chief executive, Luc Nadal (pictured), has ambitious plans for global expansion under Russian Railways ownership. But as an avid seaman, he knows it won’t always be smooth sailing. Few logistics providers have seen as much change as the Gefco Group in just two years. The major trigger was PSA ...
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ArticleWhat’s keeping US outbound executives awake in the middle of the night?
A severe disruption to rail capacity this year has left thousands of vehicles stranded in North America, leading some carmakers to look more carefully at their road and short-sea shipping options. Executives discussed their long-term plans at this year’s conference in California . The prospect of modal shifts for finished ...
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ArticleWaiting to ride the Chinese waves
Domestic ro-ro shipping on China’s east coast and along the Yangtze River has seen solid growth, but is still treading water relative to the overall market. Transporting vehicles by water for the Chinese domestic market would appear to make a great deal of sense. Around 95% of Chinese production of ...
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ArticleToyota move will unite supply chain management in Texas
Toyota’s decision to build a new headquarters in Texas for its North American corporate functions will bring together for the first time much of the region’s top management for inbound, outbound and spare parts logistics. Toyota’s chief executive and logistics managers expect that this proximity will allow for better collaboration ...
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ArticleChina’s new growth comes with old stories
Speakers at this year's conference in Beijing revealed that manufacturers and logistics providers are well on their way to further growth in China, but many are still struggling to shift towards higher-value services, as well as fix familiar problems. Additional reporting by Marcus WilliamsFull-length videos of the main sessions are ...
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ArticleImpasse over cost versus quality in China
Logistics providers in China have complained that carmakers are squeezing their rates despite rising transport and labour costs across the country. However, officials and executives point to dishonest practices and the need for greater transparency. Speaking at the Automotive Logistics China conference in Beijing, Chen Gang, vice-president of Changjiu Logistics ...
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ArticleOpel to leave China; plans Europe production of US Buick model
General Motors has announced its Opel brand’s official removal from the Chinese market, effective in January 2015. At the same time, it has said that it plans to build two new models for the US market at its plant in Rüsselsheim in Germany. Opel will build a new Buick ...
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ArticleWith solid financials, Gefco looks to acquisition and growth
The Gefco Group has announced positive results for 2013, including higher revenue and net profits, although difficult automotive markets in Europe and costs weighed on its operating profit and margin. While Gefco is facing risks over the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the company has charted an aggressive growth plan, which is likely ...
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ArticleEight logistics providers among GM Supplier of the Year winners
General Motors has announced its 2013 Supplier of the Year award to 68 suppliers, including eight companies working specifically in logistics for the carmaker.Only 1% of GM’s 24,000 global suppliers are selected for the awards, which are chosen by a group of purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives. “Our ...
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ArticleAiming for end-to-end control at Opel/Vauxhall
Michael Scholl , Opel/Vauxhall’s director of supply chain, d iscusses parallel planning, in-plant logistics customisation and complexity with Automotive Logistics When carmakers make changes, be it launching a new model, adding or shifting a supplier location, or selling in a new market, they reverberate across the supply chain, either ...
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ArticleOpel intensifies ‘total enterprise cost’ efforts
General Motors European division, Opel/Vauxhall, has intensified its efforts at planning supply chain flows and logistics in an effort to improve ‘total enterprise cost’, including more focus on localisation, stable flows and new information technology. Speaking at the Automotive Logistics Europe conference in Bonn, Marzell Bandur (pictured left), director ...
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ArticleWill Russian investment be left out in the cold?
Troubles in the Russian market and the crisis with Ukraine could be discouraging some investment by the automotive and logistics industries. However, production and localisation plans in the country don’t yet appear to have changed. During an interactive voting survey conducted at Automotive Logistics Europe, delegates were asked in ...
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ArticleGM could increase exports to Australia
General Motors has confirmed it is considering increasing exports of finished vehicles built in South Korea to Australia. The carmaker has said that potential exports would help boost production declines, following Chevrolet’s decision to pull the brand off the European market but a spokesperson for GM Korea said the company ...
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ArticleArriving at the moment of truth in North America
In this story... Honda's multimodal exports S hort sea rises and flows Railroads respond V W's strategic savings Stretching capacity After years of anticipation about growth in North American production and potential logistics bottlenecks in Mexico, this is the year when hopes – and possibly fears – will become ...
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ArticleCovering all the bases in damage protection
With quality expectations higher than ever, OEMs have to consider the cost and general effectiveness of damage avoidance solutions, including full body covers. In this story... Cost versus protection Wrapped up in film Opting for full coverage Targeting risk If there is one thing that carmakers, logistics providers, dealers and ...
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ArticlePSA Dongfeng and logistics – dealing in reality
The deal to rescue PSA signifies both risk and reward for its logistics providers in Europe and China. The deal to rescue PSA Peugeot Citroën between Dongfeng Motor Group, the French government and Peugeot family will transform the carmaker’s global strategy over the coming years as the brands look to ...
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ArticleePOD – Delivering the future of proof
Chrysler’s decision to mandate the use of electronic proof of delivery systems from this year has brought the process to the fore, but an industry standard may be required before everyone follows suit.At the beginning of February 2014, a new transport management system went live at Mobile Services, a UK-based ...
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ArticleGetting to the point of return
As China’s use of returnable packaging for automotive parts grows, the need for standardisation has become increasingly importantThe move towards wider use of returnable packaging is gaining momentum in China, although it still has a long way to go. Increasing the use of such equipment still depends largely on further ...