One trip returnables – why don’t you just have a go?

The one thing that strikes me about the automotive supplychain is the reluctance to try something new for the first time.

There is a lot of talk around where logistics and the supply chain will move with technology and how savings are made. This was a topic of discussion at the Automotive Logistics Conference in Bonn last week, looking to what lies ahead and how they can improve.

It is all well and good talking about it but it is actions that will help the industry realise how they need to move forward in an expanding market.

This is where I encourage the automotive tier suppliers and OEMs to look at where they would like to go with returnable packaging and commit to doing a free trial.

A lot of people are put off when looking to make the shift from expendable to returnable solutions. There is the impression that you have to make your decision and stick to it. Stop using expendable one day and begin using returnable’s the next. This is far from the truth as you trial new returnable methods alongside the existing ones to give you a real flavour of the benefits of using returnable packaging.

One trip solutions are a great benefit of using returnable packaging. Irrespective of where you require your products all you have to do is rent the packaging, it is delivered to your desired destination and you don’t have to worry about the return journey. Then pooling companies arrange for the containers to be picked up after you have finished with them helping to reduce packaging costs. How easy it that?

All that is asked of the automotive industry who are looking to make the switch from expendable to returnable is to look into a free trial now so that you can experience the benefits first hand.

I encourage anyone who is looking into this or have any questions in how I can help to improve your supply chain to talk to me.

Communication is key, if I am where of your problems at the outset I can help you resolve them quicker, saving you time and money.

What will come out of the Automotive Logistics Bonn March 2014?

The purpose of the Automotive Logistics conference this year is to gauge where the automotive logistics industry has improved over the last year and to discuss where the industry is going in the next few years and beyond.

This will be the 12^th annual European conference held by Automotive Logistics Magazine and, like I mentioned above, it will be the same thing in terms of discussing the past, present and future. The obvious differentiation will be the content of the discussions.

After a difficult few years through the economic downturn the conference next week should be packed with exciting news and developments as the signs of growth appear to be flourishing.

During the downturn there have many cost down opportunities that have missed by tier suppliers and OEM’s , this appears to be down to being afraid to decisions. When it comes to returnable packaging solutions, a quick decision sanctioning a trial can prove to be effective in addressing issues you may have with your supply chain.

I would like to encourage better communication from tier suppliers and OEMs, if you have a problem then it is better to solve it now rather than later. This coming week at the conference there will be 350 people from the industry that all have problems and issues. It is a confidential event, so I would encourage people to communicate and then we can get on helping you.

“Exploration of Value” – logistics and the creation of a supply chain have always had value as a top priority. But now the issue has increased in importance due to other elements.

During economic difficulties when car sales plummeted the need to reduce costs was paramount to keep everything ticking over. Now there have been signs that an economic recovery could be in the pipeline, the need to keep those logistical costs down remains high. This looks set to continue as the automotive manufacturers will aim to recoup revenue to plug holes from poor economic performances over the last few years.

On the flipside, there has been an upturn in sales and production with manufacturers aiming to increase their margins, to capitalise on increased revenues and to prepare for what the future may bring.

Then there is the expansion of the global market. Investment in more models, investment in increased production and investment in new plants globally.

This all equates to large quantities of components and parts being required more often and in more locations. All of this heightens the competition and need to invest in logistics and supply chain solutions that provide maximum value for money.

All of these areas are then compounded by the increased expectations of quality by the customer.

Automotive Manufacturers – how are you looking to improve the performance of your supply chain and fulfil all expectations?

These are issues that need addressing at the present time but they will continue for the foreseeable future.

With all of these factors taken into consideration – Now there is No Reason to say No to Returnable Packaging.

All of the various elements of the issues facing the automotive industry and the supply chain can be catered for by using ReturnablePackaging.

I look forward to the discussions that the conference will bring up and delving into why all automotive manufacturers should shift to returnable packaging in order to enhance their business.