Automotive

VW's Uruguayan Importer Uses RFID to Track Maintenance Tools

November 6, 2014

For the past four years, Julio Cesar Lestido S.A., the official Uruguayan importer of cars and trucks manufactured by the Volkswagen Group, has been employing passive ultrahigh-frequency RFID tags to track the metal tools it uses to maintain vehicles. The company says that it is now developing a plan to utilize the technology to record each vehicle's life history, including its date of import and sales information, as well as all maintenance provided.

With Ability to Use Metals, 3D Printing Will Be 'Game Changer' in Industrial Machinery Production

November 6, 2014

Automation World

Industrial machinery production - which represents $1.6tr of the $3.8tr global industrial capital expenditure spending in 2013 - is the area to be most dramatically affected by advancing 3D printing technology, says Alex Chausovksy, senior principal analyst, industrial automation, at IHS.

Stressing Cost Reduction Too Much, Car Makers Wreck Relations with Suppliers, Study Finds

October 29, 2014

IHS Automotive

OEMs' insistence on more and more cost reductions has caused painful friction in the relationship, according to the annual Global OEM-Supplier Relations Study conducted by IHS Automotive. The survey allows automotive suppliers to rate car makers on a variety of matters, including technology sourcing, profit-impacting factors, quality management and intellectual property protection matters.

Many Steer Clear of Analytics Solutions for Fear of Data Deluge

October 27, 2014

EBN

Analytics is good for business – as long as you can make sense of it.

China's Passenger Car Market Predicted to Continue Upward Swing, But Areas of Growth Changing

October 21, 2014

IHS Automotive

Analysis of the automotive market in China suggests significant growth opportunity continues in many of the country's provinces, though some will start to see growth rates change significantly, according to a detailed province-level forecast available from IHS Automotive.

Extending the Life of Your WMS

October 16, 2014

Bob Kennedy, DMLogic

World's 'Largest' Aluminum Recycling Facility Opens in Germany

October 3, 2014

Novelis

Novelis, a leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, has opened what it calls the world’s largest aluminum recycling center. Located adjacent to the company’s rolling mill in Nachterstedt, Germany, the $258m (€200m) recycling center will process up to 400,000 metric tons of aluminum scrap annually, turning it back into high-value aluminum ingots to feed the company’s European manufacturing network.

OnProcess Improves Inventory Recovery, Customer Experience for Global Med Device Leader

September 29, 2014

Challenge: Medical Device Customer had challenges directed to hospital part shipments for warranty and contract events in EMEA. Primary Goals: Increase velocity and overall rate of returns; Minimize pick-up attempts surrounding returns; Maintain customer satisfaction. Auxiliary Goals: Develop enhanced reporting; Provide increased visibility into return cycle; Develop escalation procedures to help customers overcome barriers to return; Decrease transportation costs associated with multiple pick-up attempts.

The 3D Printing Revolution: How It Will Affect Procurement Strategies

September 26, 2014

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

3D printing is one of the hottest technology developments in supply chain today. Is it for real?

Epicor Offers Update of Eclipse ERP, ListingExpert for Amazon.com

September 24, 2014

Epicor Software Corp.

Epicor Software Corp. has made generally available version 8.7.9 of Epicor Eclipse, its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for wholesale distribution.

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.