From Staff & Wire Reports
AKRON, OHIO — Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Engineered Products division has announced the opening of a new global distribution center in Moberly, Mo., that will be operated and managed by third-party logistics provider Exel.
Goodyear had previously been shipping belt products from a distribution center in Lincoln, Neb.
Susan O’Keefe, director of supply chain at Goodyear Engineered Products, said the new facility is part of the tiremaker’s plan to improve order cycle times and accelerate product deliveries.
“The new distribution center positions our products closer to the center of our industrial and automotive power transmission belt customer base, shortens shipping times and uses order-processing systems that improve on-time deliveries and fill rates,” said O’Keefe.
And, according to Dale Wellman, Exel’s general manager at Moberly, operations at the plant have reduced order cycle time by half for a majority of shipments.
“The shorter delivery windows from Moberly allow Goodyear’s dealers to have fewer inventories on hand,” said Wellman. “This reduces their costs while providing them with the confidence that they can meet the service expectations of the end customer.”
“Geographically, we were looking at a 50 mile radius around Moberly, and it all kind of came together in Moberly,” said O’Keefe after a brief grand-opening ceremony. “We are looking at market expansion and considering adding other product lines.”
Exel will ship belts and hoses from the 286,545 square foot facility, which employs more than 100 workers. More than 14,000 sizes and specifications of Goodyear’s industrial and automotive belts and hoses – including the company’s Gatorback – are stored at the faci lity.
Exel also manages logistics for industrial hoses and hydraulics at a Goodyear facility near Columbus, Ohio.
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