Welcome to Automotive Logistics Global 2009
and this year's theme: Everything has changed
Sharp changes in demand; re-structuring and sell-offs at GM; Fiat ownership for Chrysler; questions about the true benefits of globalisation; the electric car; government involvement; even a new role for Bo Andersson: these factors have dramatically changed the landscape for automotive logistics.
There has never been a more important time for logistics professionals to meet and listen to customers, suppliers and partners across North America. Automotive Logistics Global is the conference where the most senior executives responsible for purchasing and delivering logistics services come together.
2009 sees our 10th anniversary event, and arguably our most important ever. Over the last decade more than 2250 leading automotive industry professionals have attended this annual event. It has a brilliant track record as a forum for interaction and doing business.
Register now to be a part of the future. See the Yr 2000 programme
Automotive Logistics 2008 conference report
Detroit 28th-30th September
Over 200 executives came together as dark clouds gathered over the automotive industry, just a week before the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers triggered a potential collapse of the global banking system.
They were from OEMs, including Frederiek Toney from Ford, GM's David Dudek, Peter Weiss from Chrysler, Denny Lewis from Toyota, Richard Portillom of Nissan and Honda's Dana McBrien; and from Tier 1s including Patrick Baeur from Visteon, Delphi's Sylvia Hill, Todd Pronger from Robert Bosch, Jim Romine from Yazaki and Cooper Standard's Michael Silvio.
They were joined by senior executives from LSPs and transportation companies including Ryder, Panalpina, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Hoegh, Norfolk Southern, Navistar and UPDS, plus systems, packaging and many other service supplies.
It was a significant meeting, as our Editors report...
| Weathering the economic storm It was neither a secret nor a surprise to hear during the 9th annual Automotive Logistics Global conference that the North American industry is facing a tough year. With sales at their lowest point in decades and costs dramatically high, more than 250 industry leaders from carmakers, Tier suppliers and logistics service providers met in Dearborn, Detroit to reflect on these challenges and the impact they are having on logistics. | |  |
While 'collaboration' has long been an over-used word at conferences, and an under-used idea in the marketplace, Ford's Frederiek Toney and Chrysler's Peter Weiss emphasised that this is a market environment that demands innovation and partnership to drive waste out of the supply chain...