Evolution Time Critical expands with new Slovakia office
Worldwide premium logistics specialist Evolution Time Critical has established a new logistics control centre in Bratislava, Slovakia. The country is the world’s largest producer of cars per capita, with automotive-related exports representing around half of Slovakia’s industry. The new office will be key in supporting customers with complex logistics challenges throughout Central Eastern Europe, including […]
Hong Kong opens: supply chains react to news
For two and a half years, Hong Kong has been extremely isolated under a strict quarantine policy. This has had a significant impact on the region, its citizens and the flow of goods through the Port of Hong Kong – one of the largest ports in the world. This has recently changed but one big […]
Unshipped Shanghai: world braces for impact of vast cargo backlog
Nestled on the Yangtze Delta, Shanghai is the world’s busiest port. Last year, the port handled the equivalent of 47 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalents), three times the volume of Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam. Each month, the Shanghai port receives 2,000 ship visits, loading and unloading everything from raw materials to vehicles, as a critical hub […]
Tremors in Japan and tragedy in Ukraine: global supply chain instability
Approaching midnight on the 16th of March 2022, residents of Fukushima, Miyagi and Yamagata were awoken by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Power was cut, buildings shook and a bullet train was derailed. The quake caused some 160 injuries and the tragic loss of two lives despite Japan and its people being prepared for, and accustomed to, […]
GVMS: Get up to speed and prepare for its impact
Once again, the UK is staring down the barrel of a significant logistics crisis. In just a few short weeks, on the 1st January 2022, another hurdle of the “Brexit” process awaits. With the potential to cause delays in Calais and grind imports to a halt, the introduction of the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) […]
20 incredible years: the evolution of ETC
When Evolution Time Critical – or as it was originally known, Evolution Logistics – was founded, the world was yet to hear of Facebook or use an iPhone. It would be hard to convey the passing of time and the significance of the business’s experience more clearly. Now, in 2021, we are celebrating our 20th […]
HGV driver shortage: the weakest link
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are a thoroughly established and critical element of the supply chain for almost every industry. From automotive to aerospace and supermarkets to healthcare, the world runs on trucks. So, it goes without saying that a shortage of around 400,000 HGV drivers in the EU is cause for concern. The impact of […]
Supply of plastic: not so fantastic
The global manufacturing, logistics and supply chain industries have had a challenging 18 months, to say the least. Now, another highly disruptive shortage is causing global manufacturing issues. Faced by raw material constraints in combination with surging demand, the plastics industry is struggling to keep up – particularly supplies of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and […]
Climate change: supply chains come face-to-face with extreme weather
This year started with record-breaking snowfall in Madrid, a ‘once in a generation’ storm in the UK and a category 5 cyclone hitting Fiji. This past summer, temperature records in the northern hemisphere tumbled with the US, Canada, the UK and Russia experiencing extreme heatwaves. This was soon followed by terrible flooding in Europe and […]
Weather woes: supply chains come face-to-face with the worsening climate
This year started with record-breaking snowfall in Madrid, a ‘once in a generation’ storm in the UK and a category 5 cyclone hitting Fiji. This past summer, temperature records in the northern hemisphere tumbled with the US, Canada, the UK and Russia experiencing extreme heatwaves. This was soon followed by terrible flooding in Europe and […]
Automotive industry: Work From Home challenges and the future of work
For many of us around the world we are now entering our second year with a large number of our colleagues working from home. While in some quarters this has been welcomed as an emancipation and a welcome boost to work-life balance, others have struggled with the situation, both professionally and personally. One thing is clear, […]
Lithium-ion challenges risk significant disruption
Pressure on the automotive industry continues to grow, with legislation and customer demand forcing vehicle manufacturers to aggressively cut emissions across their fleet. The result? Electric vehicles are expected to reach production volumes of around 31 million units by 2030 – a staggering figure when you consider global sales currently sit around 2.5 million for […]
Global microchip shortage forces OEMs to reassess their supply chains
After an extremely tough year for the automotive industry supply chain, suffering from Covid disruption, air-freight capacity shortages and a sharp pivot towards EVs a shortage of vital microchips across the industry is causing further challenges for OEMs and suppliers. The automotive industry saw a sharp decline in sales in the early stages of the Covid pandemic but […]
What does the next 3 months hold for automotive supply chains?
Coronavirus – April 2020 Update In a few short weeks, COVID-19 has spread on an unprecedented scale, touching every corner of the globe and impacting all walks of life. In our industry we have seen automotive supply chains ground to a halt as manufacturers shut down plants in order to prevent the spread. Of course, […]
What will the lasting effects be of Coronavirus on the automotive supply chain?
28.02.2020 UPDATE: As the Coronavirus spreads further and human cost of the virus worsens, as does the impact on supply chains. Italy has the largest number of cases outside of Asia, with more than 400 confirmed cases, mostly in the north of the country. The Northwest of Italy is a highly industrial region and local authorities […]
New marine regulations could impact supply chains without proper planning
New marine regulations could impact supply chains without proper planning The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 Regulations, which cut the maximum allowable sulphur content in fuel by more than 85%, officially come into force on 1st January, but could start to impact operations as early as Quarter 4 this year. Graham Little, managing director of […]
AEO ACCREDITATION
Evolution Time Critical extends ability to simplify high-speed global logistics New Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) accreditation demonstrates robust customs compliance and supply chain security standards that are critical in a changing global regulatory environment. Enhances speed and predictability of logistics as global automotive supply chain faces increased political uncertainty. Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) facilitate access […]
Evolution continues to move forward by creating a new advisory board and appointing a new managing director
Emergency logistics doyen Brad Brennan strengthens newly-formed Evolution Group advisory board; Graham Little appointed Evolution Time Critical MD Evolution Time Critical managing director Brad Brennan to join the Group’s newly-formed advisory board, complementing and further reinforcing world-class executive team. Deputy managing director Graham Little to become MD at Evolution Time Critical after spearheading successful US […]
Greater use of virtual prototyping compresses vehicle manufacturers’ development cycles
Review of 2018 reveals drive to digital vehicle development must remove logistics roadblocks Vehicle manufacturers will be able to release additional time and cost benefits from evolving virtual development tools if they integrate a new approach to the manufacturing logistics challenges these techniques can create for Start of Production (SOP). The new insight into this […]
Move from diesel to gasoline vehicle production increases pressure on European and North American OEMs
Evolving buying patterns results in need for accelerated production switchover as diesel sales continue to fall, increasing premium freight demand. Latest figures published in a report by ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, showed a global 17% drop in diesel sales over 2017 figures, with gasoline vehicles increasing their share by 14.6%1. Electrified powertrain also […]
Deadline for extended real-world emissions testing and move away from diesel vehicles heightens automotive industry premium freight dependence
New WLTP standards and new car buying patterns result in perfect automotive supply chain storm The rise in prominence of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in major cities and the future banning of older diesel vehicles is driving a downturn in diesel sales and a sharp rise in the popularity of gasoline and electrified vehicle powertrains. […]
Emergency logistics mitigates automotive production risk posed by industrial strike action and unrest
Multi-modal logistics partnership helps vehicle manufacturers assess supply chain threat and deliver suitable contingencies The ongoing strikes in Brazil and a period of industrial disruption in Nicaragua are threatening the supply chains of several major vehicle manufacturers. Delays to the supply of parts from the locations could impact production globally and are the latest in […]
New recruitment drive part of further expansion for leading global emergency logistics supplier
New deputy managing director appointment for Evolution Time Critical, plus opportunities for operations and sales staff in Europe and North America Following a period of sustained business growth, emergency logistics expert Evolution Time Critical has appointed Graham Little as deputy managing director. The promotion of Little, who previously held the position of head of business […]
New threat to US automotive supply chain averted by agile emergency logistics response
Factors combine to create perfect storm threat to North American automotive supply chain robustness Emergency logistics expert Evolution Time Critical has been working with automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to move vital components from Europe and China as a result of cargo being delayed at North American ports. A number of factors are combining to […]
Sustained US freight volatility poses new automotive supply chain concern
Emergency logistics expertise safeguards automotive production amid limited driver availability and rising costs A number of factors are conspiring to encourage rising US freight prices, which could impact the automotive supply chain. Limited truck driver availability, the introduction of a new Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) mandate and the ramping up of vehicle production due to […]
Fast-track electrified powertrain development increases automotive supply chain pressure
Emergency logistics expertise safeguards production, provides advantage by enabling last-minute manufacturing specification changes A series of fast-paced development programmes are being phased in by manufacturers seeking to accelerate the time to market of innovative electrified powertrain as a response to stringent future global emissions regulations. These contracting timescales, imposed by a headline 2020 integration goal, […]
Agile emergency logistics eases pressure on global manufacturing in face of new air cargo capacity crisis
Transatlantic airfreight shortfall threatens vehicle production The seasonal peak in demand for air cargo space has far exceeded traditional levels, increasing the shortfall of air freight capacity and inflating prices. Prominent long haul intercontinental routes are among those most severely affected, which has led to major automotive component suppliers experiencing increasing booking difficulty as available […]
US new car sales peak tests automotive supply chain resilience
Post-hurricane sales increase may lead to further knock-on effects as impacts of natural disasters emerge The need for US residents to replace vehicles lost during recent hurricanes has helped boost September car sales in North America to an unexpected high. Major vehicle manufacturers experienced a year-on-year sales increase of up to 12% and the seasonally […]
Natural disasters spark new automotive supply chain uncertainty
Past experiences help provide OEMs with tools to recover from latest hurricane devastation The natural disasters to have hit internationally in 2017 could have far-reaching ramifications for global supply chains, which are not always immediately apparent, advises emergency logistics expert Evolution Time Critical. The breadth and reach of turbulent factors cannot be accurately forecasted for […]
Emergency logistics specialist announces further North American expansion
Emergency logistics specialist Evolution Time Critical has further expanded its North American office. Since its Atlanta, GA control centre was established late last year, early demand for its premium freight services has exceeded expectations and resulted in the recruitment of additional operations and senior business development staff. The increased demand for Evolution Time Critical’s services […]