The automotive industry is dramatically aligning itself with customer demands like electric cars or digital guidance technology. These trends are propelling the automotive industry toward change, making logistics in the automotive industry more important than ever. With billions invested in existing plants and production processes, how do you adapt to these changes?
Here are our top six best practices for managing logistics in the automotive industry:
1. Proper planning
The capacity of each plant, as well as all production resources, tools, and associated equipment must be deliberately allocated. A lack of capacity can result in bottlenecks. By planning the shifts of machine operators, you can arrange to have enough skilled operators available to maintain sufficient capacity. Digitizing your production flows can also increase transparency and provide a better picture of your total logistics capacity.
2. Consider automation and new technology
Examine the way your automotive parts are moved around the production line. By carefully looking at your production process, you can find ways to optimize and make the process leaner. With customized software, you can reliably track your materials from the time it’s received in the facility to when it’s shipped out. With new technology, you can avoid the inconvenience of untrackable inventories or poor fulfillment processes.
3. Value talent
Finding the right people is the key to success in logistics. With skilled engineers, you can quickly move to align with industry demands. Invest in your team with training and development. Demand employees of the highest quality with technical knowledge and experience.
4. Warehouse management
Consider moving to a “just-in-time” system for a more flexible production environment and a responsive supply chain. When you run out of space, use an offsite facility for warehousing or storing your automotive parts and raw materials. The parts are then delivered to you on a “just-in-time” basis, using as much or as little space as you need.
5. Efficient transportation
If you can’t move your auto parts or materials efficiently, you can miss out on the benefits of your production system. With aging fleets and driver shortages, there are many opportunities to increase transportation efficiency. New technology in truck cabs can predictively manage a truck’s route, transmitting data to the plant to alert them if components are late. If a truck is running behind or a problem arises, you need to know immediately. With this data, you can react to quickly manage and resolve the issue, avoiding a plant shutdown.
6. Measure and improvise
The way people work together and communicate is just as important, if not more so, as the equipment and technology. The systems and analytics they provide have a significant role to play in logistics. Find the right people and providers to analyze the data and make decisions to stay ahead of further evolutions.
To beat out your competitors, you must adapt and innovate. By prioritizing strategic automotive logistics solutions, BR Williams can keep your supply chain operating efficiently and effectively. Our goal is to improve the efficiency of your operations, ensure customer satisfaction, and increase productivity. Whether you’re looking for storage and distribution services or automotive sequencing and automotive kitting, BR Williams has the resources and experience needed to get the job done right.
