8 Photo: Daimler AG
ROAD SERVICES | 9 INTELLIGENT LOGISTICS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY For decades <strong>the</strong> <strong>Geis</strong> Group has been providing <strong>logistics</strong> services to <strong>the</strong> <strong>automotive</strong> <strong>industry</strong> and its suppliers. Now one of its large area freight <strong>for</strong>warder contracts has been extended and expanded. Did you know? A car nowadays consists of no less than 12,000 individual parts. And because car manufacturers have <strong>for</strong> years focused on core manufacturing, <strong>the</strong> remaining production processes are increasingly handed over to suppliers. As a result, around 80 per cent of all car parts, from airbags to spark plugs, are today produced by external suppliers. As an area contract freight <strong>for</strong>warder <strong>the</strong> <strong>Geis</strong> Group ensures that <strong>the</strong>se are transported securely and on time to <strong>the</strong> respective manufacturer‘s production facility. “We have been active as an area contract freight <strong>for</strong>warder in <strong>the</strong> <strong>automotive</strong> sector and taking care of procurement <strong>logistics</strong> <strong>for</strong> renowned car manufacturers <strong>for</strong> almost 20 years,” says Klaus Stäblein, Managing Director of Hans <strong>Geis</strong> GmbH + Co. “Screws, engine components, driver’s cabs – we supply plants and external warehouses throughout Germany with products such as <strong>the</strong>se, on time and from a clearly defi ned area.” On time in this case means that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Geis</strong> Group supplies <strong>the</strong> goods on <strong>the</strong> day after <strong>the</strong> order is placed. GROUPAGE, MILK RUNS AND DIRECT SERVICES. <strong>Geis</strong>‘ service begins with <strong>the</strong> punctual collection of <strong>the</strong> goods from <strong>the</strong> supplier – usually between 10am and 8pm. The way in which delivery is subsequently carried out depends on <strong>the</strong> cargo volume: “First of all we consolidate classic groupage consignments up to around 2,500 kg – as well as based on volume – at our hubs in Bad Neustadt and Nuremberg, be<strong>for</strong>e <strong>for</strong>warding <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> plants,” explains Klaus Stäblein. “Exceptions include directly-driven partial consignments, so-called milk runs, and container loads, which our drivers take directly from <strong>the</strong> suppliers to <strong>the</strong> respective car plants.” Delivery takes place on <strong>the</strong> day following pickup, and in <strong>the</strong> case of just-in-time delivery within <strong>the</strong> timeframe agreed with <strong>the</strong> plant. Klaus Stäblein: “Generally <strong>the</strong> timeframe <strong>for</strong> receipt of goods is between 5am and 8pm. The individual timeframes <strong>for</strong> our shipments are usually between 30 and 60 minutes – <strong>the</strong>re‘s no room <strong>for</strong> hitches of any kind.” <strong>Geis</strong> utilises all types of commercial vehicles to transport goods – from short-haul trucks to megatrailers. “The choice of truck is determined entirely by requirements,” says Klaus Stäblein. “What collec- tion facilities does a supplier have? Which sites are to be supplied? Are we transporting bulky or heavy goods?” Successful area contract freight <strong>for</strong>warding <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e calls <strong>for</strong> intelligent planning. CONTRACT EXTENDED. One example of a well-run area freight <strong>for</strong>warder contract is <strong>the</strong> <strong>Geis</strong> Group‘s long-standing collaboration with Daimler AG. On 1 July this year this contract was extended and expanded, so that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Geis</strong> Group now covers an even larger area <strong>for</strong> Daimler. Additional suppliers in Thuringia, Hesse and Lower Saxony are now serviced from Bad Neustadt, with Nuremberg servicing additional suppliers in Upper and Lower Franconia. A total of around 560 suppliers now belong to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Geis</strong> area. Klaus Stäblein: “We are very pleased that <strong>the</strong> areas have been extended and volumes increased. 14 employees now work on this contract at Bad Neustadt, and twelve at Nuremberg.” A THOUSAND TONNES EACH DAY. <strong>Geis</strong> now supplies vehicle, truck and bus parts to 14 Daimler sites from Bad Neustadt and Nuremberg, as well as to various warehouses and affi liated companies. Freight volumes currently stand at 1,000 tons a day, requiring <strong>the</strong> use of around 65 vehicles on a daily basis. A project of this scale has certain challenges. Klaus Stäblein: “The widening of <strong>the</strong> area means that distances to suppliers inevitably increase. Of course what we have to do is to comprehensively process customer orders as economically and as environmentally-friendly as possible, whilst also taking into account time and quality parameters. Daimler have <strong>for</strong> years put <strong>the</strong>ir trust in us, and we aim to live up to it each and every day – it’s no good resting on our laurels.” —
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