Logistics specialist works with vehicle manufacturers to overcome Calais problems
A MIDLANDS logistics specialist is working with major automotive firms to help them ensure continuity of supply during the disruption caused by the ongoing migrant difficulties at the Port of Calais.
Evolution Time Critical said the delays were increasing demand for emergency logistics expertise from manufacturers worried about meeting shipping deadlines.
The impact and extent of the ongoing disturbances has led the firm to devise a new, bespoke solution that will enable vehicle production to continue despite disruption to deliveries.
Brad Brennan, managing director, Evolution Time Critical said the industrial action at the port combined with the increased migrant activity was a “worst logistical nightmare” for the OEMs.
The situation prompted his firm to work with a number of major vehicle manufacturers to devise a logistics strategy capable of beating the delays.
“In the first instance, we analysed our OEM customer’s supplier network, positioned a private chartered aircraft into a central location in Europe, liaised with several of its suppliers across the continent, and collected the necessary parts for direct road transfer to our aircraft, which was then flown in to the OEM production location to enable ongoing assembly,” said Brennan.
“The success of this delivery has already inspired similar, repeat operations. Other resolutions have included cross-border airfreight movements, where we have trucked components across Europe in order to connect with suitable onward flights with sufficient capacity to bypass port-based troubles and delays.”
Air charter enquiries to Evolution Time Critical spiked early on in the prolonged disruption, as vehicle manufacturers investigated the possible extent of delays before working to implement the most effective resolution.
“OEMs prefer to know the extent of potential delays before committing to a contingency plan: the benefit of working hard to plug a supply chain gap is quickly undermined when that gap later emerges as being just one of many. You can put up an umbrella in a rainstorm, but in a flood you will still get wet feet,” added Brennan.
“The ability to understand the knock-on effects throughout a supply chain of delivery delays is a vital part of enabling ongoing production.
“OEMs and their suppliers can work with Evolution Time Critical to establish which parts are caught where, which are fine to remain on their original journey and which need to be prioritised for interception or replacement by ultra-time sensitive deliveries. In some instances, production focus can be altered temporarily to allow time for a manufacturer to pull parts from buffer stocks or fly in from alternative sources.”
