For Toyota Motor Europe, an organisation heavily reliant on just-in-time logistics, unexpected disruptions in the supply chain posed a significant challenge. With a production process in which every minute of downtime costs nearly EUR 1 million, it was necessary to find a solution that not only provided real-time visibility into logistics operations, but could also react quickly to deviations.
The traditional approach, where routes were tracked manually and communication took place via phone and e-mail, did not provide sufficient overview. Logistics controllers used Excel data to make decisions, which was not only inefficient but also led to a lack of uniform processes and transparency. This situation made it difficult to adequately inform stakeholders and proactively respond to deviations in the supply chain.
An integrated Freight Tracking System
To address these challenges, competence centre Refleqt developed an innovative Freight Tracking System (FTS). This system centralises data from more than a thousand routes and nearly a million production parts per month. The FTS can process huge amounts of data daily and provide real-time insight into the status of shipments. Thanks to advanced geofencing functionalities, the exact location of transports is continuously monitored via GPS signals, allowing early detection of anomalies.
Another important aspect of the system is the implementation of role-based access and hierarchical approval flows. This ensures that only authorised users can access crucial information and initiate appropriate actions. This combination of data-centric insights and controlled decision-making enables Toyota Motor Europe to manage logistics processes efficiently.
Collaboration and development process
During the development of the Freight Tracking System, Refleqt worked closely with TME’s stakeholders. Through iterative workshops, business needs were translated into a clear scope and design. Wireframes provided visual insight into the intended user experience, while behavioural acceptance scenarios ensured a validated approach.
The system was extensively tested to ensure both functional requirements and performance standards. This took into account the large amounts of data the FTS has to process on a daily basis. Functional and performance tests confirmed that the system remains stable under heavy loads and meets TME’s high requirements.
Results
With the successful implementation of the Freight Tracking System, Toyota Motor Europe has a future-proof solution that not only optimises the supply chain, but also significantly reduces the cost of disruptions. The new system provides real-time insights, reduces the need for expensive rush shipments and also improves internal cooperation within the logistics team.
Xploration
Toyota Motor Europe needed a central, real-time solution to optimise their just-in-time logistics processes and efficiently avoid downtime due to disruptions.
Our solution
Competence centre Refleqt developed an innovative Freight Tracking System (FTS) that centralises data from more than a thousand routes and nearly a million production parts per month.
Result
The Freight Tracking System has enabled Toyota Motor Europe to optimise their supply chain, proactively address logistics disruptions and significantly reduce production downtime costs.
