Penske Logistics has earned additional business with Ford Motor Company. Penske now operates a new warehousing and cross-dock facility in Coldwater, Michigan, adding 70 new jobs to the area. The facility began operation on June 2.
“We’re pleased to have expanded our relationship with Ford and support their business growth,” said Penske Logistics president Marc Althen. “The workforce here in Coldwater is skilled and experienced and we look forward to being a part of the community. We also appreciate the cooperation of the local officials who helped make re-opening this facility a smooth and easy process.”
The 114-door facility has 93,850 square feet of loading-dock space and 7,320 square feet of office space. When operating at full capacity, the site is expected to process millions of pounds of freight on a weekly basis to support Ford’s assembly, powertrain, stamping, service parts, and reverse logistics operations.
By “Move Ahead” Staff
Penske Logistics received a silver award meaning the company’s performance ranked in the top 15 percent of all qualifying suppliers.
Innovative Concept Helps the Environment
“Simply excellent” were the words the European Logistics Association’s judges used to describe the project. “Redesigning a spare parts supply chain is not an easy task, but combining this with the acquisition of other brands to be included in the logistics network in Europe is a true challenge. This supply chain is particularly complex, due to the high number of unique items to be managed, the heterogeneity of those items, and the extremely short lead times that dealers require. The industrywide cooperation makes the Network Integrator a state-of-the-art example. This excellent concept produces excellent results in cost reduction, increased customer service and advantages for the planet through deep collaboration. On top of that it delivers several exemplary models for the future,” the case study judges wrote.
Spare parts logistics has become more challenging for the automotive industry in Europe due to the increasing number of spare parts as a result of increased vehicle complexity. Ford collaborated with Penske Logistics and co-developed the Network Integrator concept into a best-in-class model in industry collaboration.
“Our goal is to continue expanding the concept and encourage other companies of the automotive industry to join the Network, and further leverage economies of scale – to the benefit of each partner participating in the Network and to the environment," Damerow continued. "Last but not least, the customer benefits as well, as we can provide the highest service level through a stable network."