New Mini will create 100 drivers' jobs
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• by Guy GliuMuird
Up to 100 drivers' jobs are to be created delivering car parts to BMW's plant in Oxford after it launches the new Mini in July Rudolph & Hellman Automotive began a five-year contract to run the Cowley plant's integrated logistics' centre at the beginning of last month. The company, a joint venture between a German automotive sector specialist and Lichfield-based Hellman Worldwide Logistics, is expected to take over parts' deliveries from the plant's 200 suppliers later this year. A spokeswoman for BMW says this fits in with company policy: It allows us to minimise lorry movements and get deliveries when we need them in one go."
Cowley's logistics' centre opened three years ago when Exel handled logistics and distribution at the plant. Its contract ended last July when car production temporarily ceased with the transfer of production of the Rover 75 to Longbridge in Birmingham.
BMW says Cowley can produce 100,000 Minis a year but only 30,000 will be made there this year. Rudolph & Hellman was launched at the beginning of last year when it took over a similar logistics contract at Longbridge from TNT.
Director Paul Goldsbrough says the company has a different approach to transport and logistics from companies such as Exel and TNT. Instead of charging clients the on-going costs of the contract plus a management fee, it charges a set price for every item coming into a car plant. This has the effect of moving the risk away from the car producer to the contractor.