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Alliance to beef up
logistics software
Ford Motor Co. and Caterpillar Inc. are jointly creating a blueprint for a customized supply chain application that will be built around SAP AG's software and ultimately made available to manufacturers outside of the auto industry.
The software alliance, which was announced last week by the three companies, will develop a set of logistics applications designed to speed up the frequency and accuracy of spare parts deliveries while cutting inventory costs. The software will also let Ford dealers see parts inventories and the status of customer orders via the Internet.
That kind of real-time view is impossible now, according to Kristin Odeh, director of global consumer services at Ford. The applications will be based on SAP's supply chain and customer relationship management modules and will initially be used by only Ford and Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar's logistics subsidiary.
Caterpillar Logistics Services Inc. handles warehousing services for some of Ford's operations, and...