The automotive industry is entering a period of calm before the storm, according to Evolution Time Critical, a Europe-based automotive emergency logistics specialist. Production traditionally slows as the summer shutdown period approaches, but this can herald a complex and testing period for its supply chain. While shutdowns may represent the quietest periods of automotive production, they can also raise the most troublesome problems that require expert knowledge to overcome.

The hardest problems to counter often emerge during summer shutdowns, partly due to the skeleton staff operated by the industry during this period. Premium freight and emergency logistics expertise are vital provisions to ensure that previously robust supply chain links are not fractured, or production restart jeopardised, according to Evolution Time Critical managing director Brad Brennan.

“During the period around shutdowns, demand for Evolution Time Critical’s services peak immediately before and after,” he said, “as vehicle manufacturers aim to optimize inventory levels and bridge any potential shortages in their supply chains. Issues during shutdown can be exacerbated by reduced access to stocks, locations, and manufacturers’ in-house expertise.”

This year has been hectic for automotive production, with time contraction and a greater number of new model launches placing increased pressure on the supply chain to adapt. Summer shutdowns provide an opportunity for suppliers to catch up and reinvigorate the supply chain, and also offer an essential window for production relocation, tooling repair or replacement.

“We have worked with vehicle manufacturers to safeguard production around the shutdown period, helping to analyze supply lines and identify potential difficulties,” said Brennan. “If stocks are prepared and manufacturers ready, the shutdown period provides a window of opportunity for the automotive industry beyond simply stopping for breath. However, problems can be increasingly difficult to overcome so it is vital that manufacturers and their suppliers prepare well for the period of reduced activity.”

Evolution Time Critical has carried out a range of innovative projects during past shutdowns, from time-critical shipment of tooling, ultra-time sensitive deliveries, and movement of production between continents, Brennan noted. “The automotive industry,” he concluded, “is now acknowledging the production benefits of supply chain clarity, and proactively managing operations with a third-party expert.”