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Mercedes goal: More flexible and efficient supply chain; Slicing lead time is main challenge.

Publication: Automotive News
Publication Date: 14-MAY-07 		Format: Online
Delivery: Immediate Online Access
Full Article Title: Mercedes goal: More flexible and efficient supply chain; Slicing lead time is main challenge.(New American Manufacturers)(Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. manages mass production)

Article Excerpt
Byline: April Wortham

Mass producing custom vehicles for a worldwide market is no easy task. Add two products, offer gasoline and diesel versions of each, and the job becomes even more difficult.

That was the challenge facing Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. in 2005 when the Alabama plant was in the final stages of a $600 million expansion to add production of the R and GL classes alongside the M class.

Three SUVs, each with a catalog of options to suit customers of discerning tastes in 135 countries, meant an exponential increase in variants and a host of new suppliers with which to coordinate just-in-time, just-in-sequence delivery.

What did Mercedes do? It immediately set an...

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