‘One stop shop’ allows clients to focus on core activities

JOY ORLEK
FOUR YEARS since the launch of its specialist automotive division, Hellmann Automotive Logistics has diversified into production logistics and is fast realising its vision of becoming a one-stop service to the automotive industry.
“The initial focus was on consolidation loads out of Germany,” general manager – sales, marketing and automotive Keith Domoney told FTW, “but with the increased benefit of co-loading, the synergies expanded into other countries and by 2003 HAL was consolidating in Germany, Spain, Brazil, Mexico and the USA.”
The division’s further diversification into production logistics involves the supply of parts, assemblies and kits to production areas in sequence, allowing the customers to focus on their core activities.
“It is our vision to become a lead logistics provider to the industry and provide our clients with a ‘one stop shop’ for their specific needs,” says Domoney. ” We are finding that more and more of our customers are being pressured by OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to reduce direct operating costs, which means we need to be more innovative and dynamic, continuously responding to changes in the industry.”
In the interests of fostering cross-pollination of ideas throughout the network, HAL holds annual conferences in different countries, the most recent of which took place in Pueblo, Mexico. “It allows HAL colleagues to share ideas and strategies with their respective counterparts throughout the world and continually process new concepts,” says Domoney.
“Our motto is thinking ahead and moving forward,” he said on his return from the Mexico get-together. “From a technical standpoint, as service is a given in the automotive industry, we have invested heavily in our HIT (Hellmann Information Tool) internet portal and will be spending more time on training this year, not only with our customers but also internally.”