Browsing: Supply Chain

Supply chain costs have been falling consistently for many years, but now startling new survey evidence – from a major Europe wide initiative – reveals the specter of rising logistics costs. What can be done to mitigate the situation?

Although becoming the first truly pan-European operator has been on the agenda of logistics companies for some time, the record shows all still falling short. Here, we rank the firms that are racing to secure the top spot.

As data capture becomes more widespread in the supply chain, the idea of tracking is increasingly being seen as a way to boost service levels.

Though build to order continues to elude carmakers, technological developments such as RFID and web-based solutions are speeding up the auto supply chain.

We must ensure that what we tackle we can achieve,’ says Graham Ewer, the new president of the European Logistics Association

The spares and support supply chain has, until recently, been regarded as a painful cost rather than a profit centre. Now the management and technological tools to make the transformation are coming on line.

‘We are so poor in Europe, there is a complete lack of understanding of logistics,’ says the European distribution director for Columbia Sportswear Europe

The application may be large or small but the principle in order picking remains the same – keep it simple. Here is an analysis of how two different technologies have been used to best effect, one at German auto parts distributor, ATU and the other at UK