Schuon Takes Over Inventory Monitoring for Automotive Manufacturers

The Alfred Schuon GmbH is further expanding its automotive service area. For a premium automotive manufacturer, the logistics service provider from Haiterbach is taking over the inventory monitoring of the Completely-Knocked-Down production (CKD), where vehicles are delivered in components and assembled only in the importing country.

(Haiterbach) From its location in Wildberg, an eight-member team from Alfred Schuon GmbH checks the timely ordering and pickup from suppliers, the established lead times and deadlines, as well as the delivery of components to consolidation centers. Additionally, Schuon organizes the reshipment of parts that did not arrive on time via air freight.

“Many automotive plants overseas do not have their own manufacturing technology. Instead, these CKD plants rely on prefabricated kits, which are also more cost-effective in terms of customs than ready-to-use vehicles,” explains Oliver Schmid, project manager at Alfred Schuon GmbH. Since autumn 2021, the logistics service provider has been coordinating the inventory monitoring of CKD production for a leading automotive manufacturer. “After an onboarding phase on-site, we took over the management in our own premises in Wildberg and have already significantly increased efficiency,” says Schmid.

Assembled in the Destination Country Plant

The CKD models are planned in Germany, shipped in components, and assembled in the destination country’s plant. They are standardized in coordination with the served branch and meet national preferences for car purchases. Schuon checks all processes from ordering to handover to a service provider that transports the goods by truck or ship to the destination country. “If there are delays somewhere, we act as ‘firefighters’ and look for a solution to ensure that deliveries still arrive on time,” says the project manager.

Strictly Adhere to Delivery Deadlines

To this end, a traffic light system signals where there are temporary impairments. “Every dispatcher deals with a four-digit number of item numbers. Good project management is essential here,” reports Schmid. In consolidation centers, the shipments are finally prepared for container stuffing and shipping. “We must strictly adhere to the delivery deadline to ensure there is enough time to transfer all parts from series to special packaging for sea freight. The current global supply chain disruptions are increasingly complicating this task,” says Schmid. For goods that do not arrive on time, Schuon coordinates the reshipment via air freight.

Photo: © Schuon / Image caption: Oliver Schmid, responsible project manager at Alfred Schuon GmbH