Industry News 600Minutes Supply Chain in Munich: Just where is the supply chain headed? Munich once again played host to a successful event that serves as a very good platform for cross-company business discussions.The 600Minutes Supply Chain conference at The Charles Hotel in Munich brings together specialists from production companies and relevant service providers once a year. The event gives them an opportunity to hear addresses and, above all, have one-on-one discussions (similar to speed dating, naturally with a different goal in mind) about the latest logistics and supply chain developments. (more…)
Industry News · Technology Supplier master data remains an issue in the automotive industry Automobile manufacturers were as conspicuous as never before at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Yet the focus was not on the industry’s traditional attractions, such as design or performance, but on infotainment systems that are integrated in the interior and implemented in the form of flat screens fitted in the cockpit: “The car is the ultimate smartphone on wheels and as such rightfully deserves a place at the world’s largest electronics show,” said Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of CES, in Las Vegas.For IT departments at automobile manufacturers, as well as at suppliers, that means: Interaction with service providers is a growing focus alongside traditional tasks. That’s a challenge that begins with long-familiar issues such as supplier master-data management. (more…)
SCM Insights Are you collaborating already, or do you just exchange data? In spite of the continuing spread of the Internet and the associated improvements to companies’ electronic networks, business processes are still largely based on the exchange of unstructured data by e-mail or even fax.This may well surprise us, particularly as the fourth industrial revolution, ‘Industry 4.0,’ was proclaimed some time ago, (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…)
Industry News Trends from the SpeedNews aerospace fair in Toulouse – brief and to the point More than 80 delegates, primarily decision-makers from OEMs and tier-1 suppliers, met at the 15th SpeedNews aerospace suppliers’ fair in Toulouse from September 15 to 17, 2014. The organizer, Joanna Speed, welcomed Matthias Gramolla, Head of Procurement Strategy and Services at Airbus, as keynote speaker. Similar to previous SpeedNews conferences, there was a effectual mix consisting ofProduct and forecast presentations by OEMsPresentations by major engine manufacturers and noted tier-1 suppliersAssessments of the industry’s current trends given by consultancies and banksPlus a panel discussion on the last day of the fairFrom the various presentations and discussions I was able to discern the following trend topics: (more…)