Ford looks ahead: Automotive Manufacturer optimizes Spare Parts Logistics with AX4 Report

The automotive manufacturer Ford improves the controlling of spare parts logistics using AX4 Report – a new module of the logistics platform AX4. The cloud-based application allows the company to coordinate its European spare parts program which includes 230,000 parts and 1,600 suppliers dead on spot.

Using a combination of delivery call-off and shipment data the analysis tool will enable a more exact planning of staffing, required packaging material and capacities at important hubs for Ford.

In order to let ordered spare parts arrive at the dealer´s location as early as possible it is essential to have a smoothly functioning delivery chain in Ford of Europe´s procurement process. This includes the provision of the right packaging material, for a large number of spare parts shipments coming from suppliers are repacked into packing units suitable for sales and storage before storing them in the Ford warehouse. If the required packaging material was out of stock the delivery process would stall and Ford would have to wait for re-stocking of packaging material in order to continue delivering. Early information – about the arrival and quantities of spare parts as well as about the required packaging material – reduces safety stock and makes sure the customer receives his goods on time.

Ford has been using the logistics platform AX4 for the controlling of procurement transports for spare parts for many years. Now the solution has been enhanced by the new module AX4 Report. The cloud-based management tool continuously provides Ford with the most recent data and figures related to their flow of goods. Places of unloading and contract packagers will now use this information for an improved dispatch of their resources.

Since all incoming Ford shipments are mapped via the logistics platform AX4 the company´s most important data is already available on the platform. This includes, among others, profile information like packaging types and the size of the goods. By merging the data from various sources Ford receives the actual total of required packaging data and is able to predict times of arrival, expected volumes and required packaging material. Due to the clear layout of all data deviations from the normal volumes are easy to recognize and timely action can be taken, e.g. by ordering new packaging material.

This is why Ford staff receive two groups of reports via AX4 Report: a long-term forecast of incoming shipments per place of unloading and contract packager which are expected to be above the normal volumes and projection for the volumes of the next 14 days with a short-term planning horizon. Due to the long-term forecasts the staff is able to plan necessary stock and resources better. The short-term statements based on the same data in AX4 enable Ford to have a more precise and more flexible controlling of spare parts logistics.

In 2011 Ford has controlled more than 171,000 spare parts shipments through the logistics IT platform AX4.

About AXIT
Today´s supply chain is a dynamic flow with delicate processes and enormous data volumes. How do you enable communication and process controlling which integrates all partners around the globe? How do you need to set up your Logistics IT to make cross-company processes quicker and safer? In which way can supply chain management software simplify and perfect processes?

AXIT AG has developed a flexible scm it solution which is already successfully in use with over 95,000 users in more than 100 countries. When will your logistics world meet on our central IT logistics platform AX4?

AXIT AG
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67227 Frankenthal

http://www.axit.de

Saskia Arnold
saskia.arnold@axit.de

This release was published on openPR.