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Intermodal Transport-Based Supply Chain Developments in Turkish Automotive Industry: The Case of Ford Otosan

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Supply Chain Design and Management for Emerging Markets

Abstract

Although the literature about supply chain management has mostly focused on developed economies with highly improved intermodal transport systems, there is a need for the investigation of newly emerging markets such as Turkey in terms of intermodal transport and supply chains. Turkey’s strategic location, increasing international trade, especially following the Customs Union Agreement with EU, and the growing role of Turkey in trade with Central Asia, Middle East, Caucasus and Mediterranean regions make the focus on intermodal transport more profound for the companies operating in supply chains. Turkey has become a centre of global automotive production and a centre of excellence, and the automotive industry has become the country’s leading export industry in recent years. As all over the world, the automotive supply chain in Turkey is global and requires complex processes.

This study attempts to explore the new intermodal logistics solution of the Ford Otosan supply chain. Ford Otosan ranks among Turkey’s top ten exporting companies. Main activities of the company include the production assembly and distribution of trucks, pick-ups, mini-buses and cars under Ford license, as well as spare parts and accessories. This case study is focused on inbound logistics activities between the “Consolidation Centre” in Cologne (Germany) and Kocaeli plant (Turkey).

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Correspondence to D. Ali Deveci .

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Questions for Review and Discussion

Questions for Review and Discussion

  1. 1.

    How does the collection procedure in the consolidation centre work in Ford Otosan? What are the major contributions of this system?

  2. 2.

    What is the role of the intermodal transport system in terms of decreasing costs and increasing customer service?

  3. 3.

    What are the contributions of the current system in terms of environmental practices?

  4. 4.

    What are the main advantages achieved through the use of intermodal transportation in global supply chains?

  5. 5.

    What are the main impacts of recent developments in information and communication technologies on intermodal transport systems?

  6. 6.

    What are the main bottlenecks experienced in the case of automotive supply chains considering country-specific factors?

  7. 7.

    Discuss the advantages of the intermodal based supply chain system of Ford Otosan.

  8. 8.

    Discuss the opportunities and challenges of Turkey in terms of foreign direct investments in the automotive industry considering the economic, social, political and geographical factors specific to Turkey.

  9. 9.

    What are the lessons to be learned from the management of the Ford Otosan automotive supply chain system based on intermodal transport?

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Deveci, D.A., Şakar, G.D., Işiktaş, R., Tuna, O. (2015). Intermodal Transport-Based Supply Chain Developments in Turkish Automotive Industry: The Case of Ford Otosan. In: Piotrowicz, W., Cuthbertson, R. (eds) Supply Chain Design and Management for Emerging Markets. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05765-1_9

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