Describes the use of a decision support system (DSS) in part of a strategic supply chain initiative of an international automotive aftermarket organisation undertaken in 1996-97. The strategic initiative consisted of four distinct stages; a review of the current state, definition of the future vision, development of the operational blueprint and its implementation. A simulation based decision s…
Introduces a supply chain “health check” procedure successfully applied in the European automotive sector and presents the results for the analysis of 20 trans‐European value streams covering a wide range of first and second tier suppliers. The health check procedure is activated via a quick scan methodology (QSM) requiring execution by a multi‐disciplinary team working on‐site. The d…
Describes a two‐ and, later, a three‐dimensional view of supply chain dynamics within a theoretical framework derived from research carried out in the UK automotive industry. However, the authors believe that the models developed have a far wider applicability than this narrow sectoral and geographic focus. The research has been developed within two research programmes. The first programme,…
Real world supply chains differ not only in their current standard of performance, but also in the most effective actions required to move each towards world class supply. A generic approach for the identification of the appropriate re‐engineering programmes based on the uncertainty circle principle is presented. A total of 20 European automotive supply chains have been analysed via a “quic…
Argues that the design of the Volvo Uddevalla plant may be described as a process with an “internal logic” in which design options were eliminated through irreversible design decisions until only one alternative remained ‐ an unorthodox alternative comprising, for example, long cycle time work never used before for full‐scale production of automobiles. Contends that the most innovativ…
The purpose of this paper is to observe how the Euro Car Parts (ECP) academy is helping the expanding business to recruit trained and willing employees.
Exel Logistics’ experience in a number of industry sectors, product profiles, operational techniques and technology suggests that the outputs of cross‐docking can appear magical, even though they result from fairly standard operational inputs. Explains the origins of cross‐docking and explores the operational aspects of switching from a traditional stockholding supply chain system to a cr…
The sources and consequences of schedule instability at an automotive assembler producing two models on the same assembly track are described. One model was produced under conditions of relatively lengthy stable schedules, the other under more unstable schedule conditions. The two logistics processes were compared, and measures of schedule uncertainty identified. The relative impact on human …
In a system where two material flows with sequence dependency are matched, the use of real‐time information to monitor and control the sequencing buffer improves the system′s ability to schedule many different models, compared with a system with no information at all. In the latter case, the system is upset considerably when more than four different models enter the system. Shows how the …
The challenge facing manufacturing today is one of providing the customer with greater product variety deliverable in ever shorter lead‐times, while minimizing development and operating costs. Presents an integrated logistics and manufacturing process implemented in an automotive environment designed to address some of the key issues arising from this challenge. Uses a combination of stabiliz…