Automotive

Taking Supply-chain Management to the Next Level

February 1, 2000

Few companies have moved from internal excellence to true supply-chain integration with suppliers and customers, but progress is being made.

Canadian Tire Keeps Stores Rolling With Replenishment Program

October 1, 1999

Jean V. Murphy

Canadian Tire is perhaps Canada's most widely recognized and well established retailer, but in the early 1990s the company realized its aging stores and out-of-date replenishment system were costing it business. A major renovation of stores and re-engineering of the supply chain yielded impressive results.

For Logistics Providers, The Bar Is Being Raised

July 1, 1999

Never mind the thriving economy. U.S. manufacturers and distributors are more demanding of service quality - and less tolerant of failure - than ever before.

Despite Obstacles, Shippers Score Successes in Asia

July 1, 1999

Partnerships are the key to introducing supply-chain innovations, reducing inventory and coping with a shortage of modern infrastructure.

Lean on Automation, Mazda's Spare Parts Center Covers Europe

March 1, 1999

The Japanese car maker, which once held almost eight months' worth of aftermarket parts at its Belgian logistics center, is well on its way to keeping only a little more than two months' of spares on hand. In doing so, it has relied on surprisingly little in the way of information technology.

Frans Maas Keeps Parts Flowing to AutoEuropa

November 1, 1998

A thriving logistics partnership between Dutch frieght forwarder Frans Maas and a Portuguese auto plant is giving new meaning to the term "just in time."

Mercedes' Finely-Tuned Supply Chain

May 1, 1997

Kurt C. Hoffman

When Daimler-Benz decided to tap into the growing demand for sport-utility vehicles with an all-new design, it relied on innovative manufacturing and supply-chain efficiency to bring the product to market at a reasonable cost.

Harley-Davidson's Road Trip to Kansas City

April 1, 1997

Paul Conley

When once-ailing American icon Harley-Davidson decided it had to build a new plant to meet increasing demand, many locales wanted the nod. In the final round, Kansas City's air links to Harley headquarters and its "common culture" theme carried the day.

Automotive

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the automotive industry — which consists of companies that produce automobiles, utility vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and heavy trucks. Learn how automotive companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.