Browsing: Supply Chain Analysis

‘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 major car manufacturers rely on a business model unsuited to today’s mature car markets – demand is no longer greater than supply. Clearly, a new strategy to make and supply is required if manufacturers are to pull out of the red.

Though still cost-obsessed, the auto industry’s inbound supply chain has slipped from its pre-eminent position and could now learn a few things from other sectors. Perhaps the delivery standards of supermarkets could apply?

With little sign that the automotive industry is going to solve its overcapacity problems anytime soon, supply chain efficiency will remain one of the prime areas for maintaining margins – and that means a focus on information visibility.

Manufacturers are going to have to do more to earn a crust from the lucrative auto after-market with the lifting of block exemption. Dealers will be flying their own flags.

The internet could play a bigger part than you think in the car of our dreams. The networked car could soon be a reality. If you’re a manufacturer, dealer or supplier, take a look into the future, imagine this…

Traditional distribution hubs in western and central Europe are soon to face stiff competition. Expansion of the European Union in May 2004 is expected to have a significant affect on Europe’s distribution site ‘hot spots’. But many factors come into play

With manufacturing moving East, storage requirements are shifting from ‘goods for manufacture’ to space for a growing flow of imported products. Patterns are changing, but the trend is for ever more space. Can the developers keep up with demand?

With warehouse management systems increasingly expected to contribute to the velocity and visibility of items in the extended supply chain, the boundaries between WMS and ERP are blurring. It’s clear, the warehouse can no longer operate in isolation.