Switch to 24-hour vehicle production highlights potentially hazardous knockon effects for Tier 1 and

Feb. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- Intensifying production schedules are highlighting the potentially hazardous knock-on effects for the automotive supply chain, warns emergency logistics specialist Evolution Time Critical. One major European OEM in particular recently announced an increase to 24-hour production, which puts heightened pressure on Tier 1 and 2 suppliers to meet demand and can be exacerbated by unexpected factors that can jeopardise existing contingency plans.

“Logistics managers operate with a degree of in-built contingency, but the amount of leeway is becoming much tighter as production runs increase, deliveries are required more frequently and when the unexpected occurs to jeopardise continued service,” says Evolution Time Critical managing director, Brad Brennan. “The margin for error becomes tighter and the cost of failure to meet demand increases, which means overall supply chain efficiency is crucial: unpredictable variables such as freak weather or sudden strike action can place added pressure on suppliers already nearing peak capacity due to increased manufacturer demand.

“As ongoing supply has the potential to become more fraught, emergency logistics is required to not only facilitate last-minute deliveries to avoid a breakdown of the supply chain, but identify and analyse less robust working practices to help avoid reoccurrence of similar issues,” continues Brennan.

Increasing demand from vehicle manufacturers tests Tier 1 and 2 supplier lead times and physical capacity limitations, placing an added strain on the supply chain and helping highlight any potentially fractious links. To manage short-term supply while companies increase tooling capability and work to replenish buffer stocks, the availability of a reliable, robust emergency delivery system is indispensible. This expertise is vital in ensuring fluid delivery throughout the supply chain and avoiding costly production stoppages just at a time when manufacturers are seeking to optimise outputs.

www.evolution-timecritical.com

About Evolution Time Critical

Evolution Time Critical is the world’s leading specialist in emergency logistics for the automotive industry. Analysts are available 24 hours a day, ready to develop and implement solutions in any part of the world within a 15-minute response window, calling on a vast range of techniques, skills and contacts to ensure that goods reach their destination on time.

The skills of Evolution’s team are also available for consulting projects, helping clients to achieve additional savings in their supply chains while also strengthening and improving manufacturing efficiency. Increasingly, Evolution has found that emergency logistics is playing an integral role in lean strategies as the automotive industry returns to higher production volumes, allowing further inventory reductions while maintaining the reliability of deliveries to manufacturing plants.

The expertise and techniques developed by Evolution for the automotive sector are also benefitting the aerospace and marine industries, where the company helps clients to release capital trapped in spare parts by facilitating urgent parts deliveries, and return aircraft and ships to service more quickly.

Press Contact

Gareth Charlton at Market Engineering
+44 (0)1295 277 050
gareth.charlton@m-eng.com

Sales and Marketing Contact

Brad Brennan at Evolution Time Critical
+ 44 (0)1332 814 914
bbrennan@evolution-timecritical.com

Illustrations

High-resolution images are available at www.autopresspoint.com or from leanne.barton@m-eng.com