SCM Insights · Use Cases Transportation Control Tower: A powerful tool for industrial companies The concept of a transportation control tower carries many positive connotations. A control tower has everything under control by maintaining an overview of all that’s going on—or, stated more precisely, a control tower makes it possible to intervene in transports at any time in order to adapt processes and steer them in the right direction. (more…)
SCM Insights Has the aerospace industry outdistanced the automotive industry? This seems to be a valid question: The figures reported by aerospace market analysts and managers can only seem a dream scenario for the automotive sector. Annual growth rates of approximately 7 per cent for commercial aircrafts with 150 seats – subsequently doubling the projected number for the next 10 years.The automotive sector, on the other hand, is struggling with over-capacities: The core markets are saturated and where rapid growth is present, particularly in China, new competitors are emerging. These will certainly get their share of the pie simply due to the fact that European manufacturers must engage in joint ventures, paying the price with precious know-how. Then add to the equation the growing expectations of end customers: Which end customer is willing to wait 6 months after ordering his individually customized dream-vehicle when the competitors can deliver a comparable, self-configured vehicle much faster? (more…)
SCM Insights Volatility hinders logistics planning – more responsibility for forwarding companies? In its survey entitled "Market volatility in transport and logistics", the BME predictably noted at the end of 2013 that it is more and more difficult for forwarding and shipping companies to plan their warehouse and fleet capacities owing to the growing volatility resulting from increasing globalization.In my opinion, the most important findings of the survey were as follows: (more…)
SCM Insights · Technology Increasing supply reliability for critical bottleneck parts Given the increasing need for manufacturing companies to take on a global orientation, supply reliability is becoming ever more important. In this context, the term "supply reliability" refers to the sound, realistic planning and coordination of demands and capacities across the entire value added network.At the same time, it means the ability to identify and eliminate disruptions in the supply chain early on in order to avoid production downtimes and costly special measures. As globalization progresses and increasing shares of value added are shifted to suppliers, ensuring a smooth supply of components for production becomes more and more complex. (more…)
