Ford and Cat enter software alliance

Dec. 5, 2001
Ford Motor Co. and Caterpillar Inc. have entered into a software alliance to develop a logistics information system for speeding up delivery of service repair parts. Ford and Caterpillar will jointly define the alliance's strategic direction and develop an operating blueprint for the future, with the new system and processes phased in over the next few years, they said. The new technology will support
Ford Motor Co. and Caterpillar Inc. have entered into a software alliance to develop a logistics information system for speeding up delivery of service repair parts. Ford and Caterpillar will jointly define the alliance's strategic direction and develop an operating blueprint for the future, with the new system and processes phased in over the next few years, they said.

The new technology will support Ford's expanded efforts to work with its dealers to provide improved service to the end customer, said Don Johnson, Ford’s director of global parts supply & logistics. It will also allow Ford and its dealers to share parts inventory information in real time.

The partners say the new logistics information system is being specially designed to accommodate the needs of global companies with diverse product lines, such as Ford and Cat, and will offer greater capability than service-parts logistics systems that are currently available.

Through its Cat Logistics subsidiary, Caterpillar will provide a wide range of aftermarket logistics services to Ford. In addition to implementing the new logistics information technology at Ford and Caterpillar, the alliance will also market the capabilities of the new system to other customers.

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Sean reports and comments on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry -- light and medium duty fleets up through over-the-road truckload, less-than-truckload, and private fleet operations Also be sure to visit Sean's blog Trucks at Work where he offers analysis on a variety of different topics inside the trucking industry.

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