Freight / Cargo Management
Transport systems

Trucks, trains, planes and ships are all potential freight carriers for inbound transports. The most important means of transport is the truck due to the high flexibility in tour planning which it allows. Furthermore, it can guarantee high delivery frequency at relatively high speed. However, drivers' working hours, traffic density, interruptions due to weather conditions, limited transport volume per vehicle and political restrictions such as vehicle bans and environmental zones also have to be taken into account.
On the other hand, the use of rail transport offers the high reliability of train timetables, safety and a significantly higher transport volume. Using rail transport for large transport volumes and long distances can save 10 to 15% of transport costs compared to road transport. However, not many large-volume parts are required in the production of our cockpits Just parts like HVECs, glove compartments, steering wheels, etc. are suitable for delivery by rail. Of course, for this there needs to be a direct rail connection available at either the supplier's or SAS and ideally at both. Otherwise, this benefit is quickly negated again by multiple handling in broken freight transport..
The same applies to shipping which offers relatively low transport costs and a high loading weight, but which rarely comes into question – due partly to long reaction times and inflexibility in supplying our assembly lines. The only exceptions here are deliveries from and to works or suppliers overseas.
Air freight is the absolute exception. Transporting assembly parts by plane entails far too high costs. Prototypes, prototype parts and time-critical parts are examples of exceptions. Planes are only used if the benefit of the short transport time compensates for the disadvantage of increased transport costs, which is only the case for time-critical transports in special situations.
Overall, road transport is always preferred from a cost perspective. However, in the past the average distance to the supplier has continued to increase due to global outsourcing so that the permanent assessment of other means of transport is never neglected.