The UK, Midlands based Amco Group have been appointed by Webasto Group to manage and provide the transport and logistics across their U.K. and European supplier base for their Automotive roofing system components collections.
The contract has been awarded on the strength of Amco’s extensive experience in the Automotive sector, and their abilities operationally, to provide a flexible transport network. Amco will use their vehicle fleet to collect components from Webasto’s 50 European ‘child part’ suppliers, providing FTL, LTL, ( Full Truckload, Less than Truckload) and ‘milk runs’ back into the Webasto U.K. assembly facility in Minworth in the West Midlands.
Webasto Group’s product portfolio comprises a broad range of roof and heating systems for every type of vehicle and all drive types as well as battery systems and charging solutions. Based in Stockdorf near Munich (Germany), the Webasto Group has a turnover of over 3.4 billion euros and over 13,000 employees in 50 locations. Webasto is the global market leader for automotive sunroofs, convertible and panoramic roofing systems.
Amco will take control of the existing transport schedules and as a result of benefit studies, will deploy new planning and scheduling and develop and implement plans to build and streamline the Webasto collections network, reducing lead time and achieving a reduction in inventory and improved accuracy in stock control.
Amco’s value adds proposition to Webasto includes managing the Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) process. Documentation that gives detailed information regarding a pending delivery and notifies the customer when shipping occurs and provides the physical description about the shipment before delivery. The benefit to Webasto is an early warning shortage notification and an extra step in the process to ensure supply requirements are fulfilled without disruption.
Ash Lovewell, Head of Supply Chain Management for Webasto in the UK said “We value strong partnerships with local service providers that can bring experience and a different way of thinking to the table. As part of the strategic project to completely redesign our sub-supplier transport network, I found Amco’s approach unique and fully customer focussed. Their ability to integrate with our existing business systems and processes makes it feel like we have our very own transport arm of the company, always working hard to ensure our freight is moved efficiently whilst keeping an eye on service and satisfaction levels.
Lovewell continues, ‘’in the fast-paced and unforgiving world of transport logistics, especially in the automotive sector, it is vital that Webasto found a partner able to deliver on both cost and performance. Having completed the implementation and launch period, we are confident we have made the right choice in our new network design and in the decision to select Amco to deliver the physical side of our new logistical operations”.
Amco has supported Webasto in realising savings through the process, including the migration of deliveries into their transport network, achieving significant cost savings compared to paying suppliers often expensive carriage prices. The contract has seen a seamless transition particularly through a period of well-published OEM volume instability.
“This is a significant business award for Amco and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Webasto as a global market leader,” said Sean Trainor, Amco’s Business Development Director. “This contract is a clear indication of the problem-solving abilities we have in Amco Group. Developing true partnerships, innovative thinking and practical logistics solutions for international customers of this size and scale is a major part of our customer-focused objectives.
Trainor added, “We were successful in this contract win because of our 35 years of proven experience in Automotive logistics and warehousing; our transparency in supply chain management and our ability to provide tracking elements, sophisticated management information and the planning tools required to manage the time-critical nature of the automotive industry.”
Amco has a proven and successful track record in international supply chain management and logistics, currently providing logistics services to many major automotive OEM. 1st and 2nd tier customers including Webasto Group, Sertec, Futaba, DENSO JLR, BMW, FORD, GM, Nissan, Toyota, Morgan Motor Company, Lear Corporation, MAGNA, Grupo Antolin, Komatsu and Brose.