CHEP Reusable Container Management System for TRW Automotive Seat Belts Drives Supply Chain Efficiencies
TROY, Mich.--June 17, 2003--TRW Automotive, the global leader in automotive safety systems, and CHEP, the global leader in pallet and plastic container pooling services, today announced the next step in the transition to the CHEP container management system for the delivery of seat belts to Ford Motor Company.
CHEP will deploy containers and will service two Ford Motor Company assembly plants in North America, on behalf of TRW Automotive. This is in addition to the containers currently deployed by CHEP for the new F-Series truck program. As part of this stage of the rollout, CHEP will expand its current Service Center centrally located to TRW's manufacturing facilities in McAllen, TX.
"TRW continues to look to CHEP to help lean out our supply chain processes by taking on responsibility for container management. In addition to container management for the Ford F-Series and the Taurus/Sable, we are asking CHEP to potentially assist TRW with sequencing and track/trace capability," said Mark Rausch, Senior Packaging Engineer for TRW Occupant Safety Systems. This will help to eliminate the capital costs for containers, improve warehouse space utilization, enhance efficiency, reduce handling costs and promote an environmentally friendly system of packaging," Rausch added.
The Ford program launches in August of 2003 and is the styling update to the current Taurus/Sable carlines. TRW previously used one-way packaging, most of which was cardboard that had to be disposed of at cost, for the shipment of seat belts to various assembly plants. TRW is now using CHEP containers and container management services to transport seat belts directly to the assembly line. Along with the containers, CHEP will provide field personnel to assist in training and customer service.
"With this additional contract, CHEP will provide all members of the supply chain with asset control through end-to-end visibility, and asset integrity through diligent container cleaning, repair and replacement. The expansion of our service center will optimize handling and transportation to ensure that the right number of containers are delivered to the right place at the right time," explains Gerry Giudici, Senior Vice President, CHEP Global Automotive Business.
"TRW's continued participation demonstrates the importance auto makers and suppliers are placing on supply chain efficiency, the quality of delivered parts, and concern about the environmental impact of their processes."
CHEP now provides dozens of OEMs and suppliers around the world with shipping platform and container management services. Giudici adds, "As more original equipment manufacturers (OEM) request returnable packaging from their Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, the company will grow its pool of containers and its network of service centers to support the effort."
About TRW
With sales of $10.6 billion in 2002, TRW Automotive Inc. ranks as the eighth largest automotive supplier in the world. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the company employs approximately 63,000 people in 22 countries. Its products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine valves, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. TRW Automotive news is available on the Internet at www.trwauto.com.
About CHEP
CHEP is the global leader in pallet and plastic container pooling services serving many of the world's largest companies. With its more than 7,700 employees in 40 countries, the CHEP global headquarters is located in Orlando, Florida. Combining superior technology, over four decades of experience and an asset base of more than 208 million pallets and 43 million containers, CHEP handles pallet and container supply chain logistics for customers in the consumer goods, produce, meat, home improvement, beverage, raw materials and automotive industries. With global partners that include Wal*Mart, Procter & Gamble, SYSCO, Kellogg's, Kraft, Nestle, Ford and GM, CHEP is known for "Handling the World's Most Important Products. Everyday." For more information about CHEP, please visit www.chep.com.