All Policy and regulation articles – Page 51
-
FeatureEDITOR’S NOTE: Gefco/GM; pressures on free trade
Automotive logistics, by definition, always moves. From sorting material at crossdocks to loading in ports, sailing, trucking or flying, the supply chain is in constant flux. So too is the automotive logistics industry itself. A struggling European market brings not only painful cuts, but also changes in logistics strategies. GM’s decision ...
-
FeatureThe Mexican parts rush
With car production jumping across the border to Mexico, manufacturers are making increasing use of the country’s developing intermodal services, writes Anthony Coia.Mexico is resurgent as a manufacturing and export base for the automotive industry. While the country has suffered from violence and security issues relating to drug crime in ...
-
FeaturePremium logistics for a premium US service
Christopher Ludwig talks to Mercedes-Benz USA about the carmaker’s delivery and inventory management challenges in maintaining an efficient spare parts network.A different kind of dealer in the US;Why not three times a day?;The NAFTA project and sharing truckloads;In-house versus 3PL parts warehouses;Packaging standards and returnable loops;Can't just throw money at ...
-
FeatureA price to pay for premium success
Balancing cost with growth;Very similar networks;Diversity makes the difference;The NAFTA project;Comparing the VW Group;A study in VPC management;Return of the capacity question;A rewarding culture.German OEMs like BMW and Mercedes-Benz find themselves in a difficult yet enviable position as they work to match strong US sales growth with the necessary outbound ...
-
FeatureWith the clock ticking, take sulphur out at source
Moving cars and equipment on the ocean is arguably the least environmentally damaging way of doing it. The good news is that it is about to become even less polluting with the introduction of emission control areas (ECAs) around the coasts of the Baltic and North Sea in Europe and ...
-
FeatureNorth American vehicle imports on the rise
Recent figures from industry analysts and regional manufacturing associations show that North America is seeing significant growth in demand for imported vehicles, boosting volumes for vehicle carriers serving the market. Data from Autocorp and Reuters show that sales of imported cars were up 17.7% in March to 246,522 against the ...
-
FeatureGateway to a new era for GAZ
Bo Andersson has been leading a remarkable turnaround and a tough restructuring at Russia’s GAZ Group, with a significant focus on improving supply chain management and logistics. Christopher Ludwig presents a pertinent example of how logistics can provide a competitive advantage in Russia.
-
FeatureAnother second chance in Detroit
Expanding the distribution networkExport growthFind ways to collaborateOcean capacity–a move towards global tenders?Rail wagon shortages Doing well on the road With fast growing volume in North America, and surprisingly strong exports, the Chrysler Group’s resurgence under Fiat’s control has been one of the industry’s best tales of turnaround. Efficient, global ...
-
Feature
Breaking up is hard to do
With some worst-case scenarios moving frighteningly closer to reality in the eurozone, Europe may already be in recession. GDP growth was anaemic (but still up) in the third quarter in France, Germany and the UK, but forecasts have been cut further. The installation of ‘technocratic’ governments in Italy and Greece ...
-
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 ...
-
FeatureStaying afloat on shifting seas
Shipping lines reign in capacityA more complex networkA quick recovery from earthquakeTough market for European short-seaCould emission regulation benefit road transport?From financial crises to environmental disasters, the ro-ro market has weathered an almost perfect storm in the last few years. With tougher emission rules in the offing and new-building at ...
-
FeatureTreading on new ground
While focusing its North American logistics efforts on more lucrative, higher premium products, tyre manufacturer Pirelli is opting for a ‘local for local’ philosophy as it expands into emerging markets. Tony Danby looks at the company’s LSP selection criteria and its investment in new plants.Trimming costs;All-round expertise;Outsourcing;Mexican factory.Pirelli, one of ...
-
FeatureSurprise departures as Fiat reorganises
The widespread organisational changes at Fiat that were announced at the end of July have now taken effect and not without some surprise departures from the supply chain and commercial departments, namely Paola Petrone (pictured left), who was senior vice president of Supply Chain Management, and Andrea Formica (pictured right), ...
-
FeatureChanges from coast to coast
The rise of exports and the spectre of JapanIncreasing competition on the East CoastNew players on the West CoastRichmond on the rise againWho will emerge next?As imports recover and exports grow through North American ports, a complex mix of factors from currency appreciation to the Japanese earthquake is forcing change ...
-
FeatureAgility required
Continental is bouncing back in China, but is aware that the country’s bureaucracy and lack of visibility present particular challenges to a supply chain that requires a flexible approach.A need to lower inventory;Complex and growing opportunities;Keeping up with logistics demand;The Japan crisis;Sticking to current contracts.The story of Continental in Asia ...
-
FeatureGrowing deeper roots
Different strategies, similar networksLow volumes encourage good supplier relationsThe capacity situationScheduling around capacity shortagesTransplant brands in the US are facing pressure from currency fluctuations and resurgent domestic OEMs, putting more pressure on the bottom line, including maintaining lower inventories and meeting stricter delivery times, writes Christopher Ludwig.The strength of import ...
-
FeatureChrysler FIRE raises Fiat stake
Chrysler’s production of a fuel-efficient engine for inclusion in the Fiat 500 minicar at its Dundee plant in Michigan was recognised on Monday as meeting one of the three key performance targets outlined in the company’s operating agreement with the Italian carmaker. As a consequence Fiat has now increased its ...
-
FeatureDaimler grows amid a divided Europe
A growing gap among logistics providersThe great capacity debate resumesA time of tender opportunityGrowth at seaGetting back to greenDaimler’s 11th annual European Carrier Day came at a time when the carmaker is accelerating globally in sales and logistics development, and often well ahead of its many vehicle logistics providers in ...
-
FeatureGlobal news in brief
Swedish truckmaker Scania marked the centenary of its export activity in Russia last week with the inauguration of a delivery centre in St Petersburg for final assembly and bodywork on trucks adapted for the Russian market. “This facility enables us to move the factory gate closer to the customer, shorten ...
-
FeatureGlobal news in brief
Last minute efforts made to appease carmakersTalks between trade ministers from the US and South Korea continued this week as the countries try to resolve issues raised by US carmakers ahead of Thursday’s proposed approval of the free trade agreement between the two countries. Both hope to reach an agreement ...