A project will optimize Ford's relationship with its suppliers
Publication date:
01/31/2003
Published in:
E. Cones
V-Chain started in February 2001 and will conclude next August with a total budget of 4.7 million euros and with the participation of a total of 11 Spanish, Italian, German, English and French companies. This pilot takes place at Ford’s Valencian plant in Almussafes and involves the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Ford’s logistics operator (Exel) and multinational suppliers such as Johnson Controls, Dynamit Nobel and the Valencian group F. Segura.
V-Chain aims to improve service to the end customer by reducing time and meeting vehicle delivery deadlines. This is the response to a problem arising from the complicated global management of the supply chain that in this way aims to give participation to suppliers in decision-making in what has been called “collaborative supply chain”.
The initiative aims to extend to all the actors involved in the manufacturing of a vehicle (suppliers of suppliers) to achieve a cost reduction thanks to a “virtual company” that also involves the logistics operator. From now on, Ford must study its impact on overtime and its profitability to consider its application.
