Latest news with #AmericanAxle&Manufacturing
National Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- National Post
American Axle & Manufacturing Selects aThingz to Improve the Agility, Predictability, and Responsiveness of Their Global Logistics Supply Chain
Article content aThingz' DAKSA AI platform will power AAM's next-generation global logistics digital strategy Article content Article content SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — aThingz, a new generation Supply Chain as a Service (SCaaS) managed solution provider, announces that American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) has selected its DAKSA AI Platform to support its digital transformation strategy. aThingz DAKSA Platform was selected based on its first-to-market, unique range of AI-enabled microservices, architecture, process innovation, and ability to deliver the highest quality service and value to AAM. Article content The new digital capabilities will enhance network visibility, fortify in-week execution, and drive process improvements across all operational AAM segments. Activating aThingz DAKSA Platform will improve the speed, predictability, and responsiveness of AAM's supply chain and set the foundation for further digital transformation. Article content 'aThingz' next-generation AI-enabled forward-looking logistics planning solution will accelerate AAM's strategic supply chain digital transformation. With aThingz, AAM will significantly increase operational planning and financial visibility to accelerate cost efficiencies, explainability of variances, and to predict logistics spend accurately,' said Vijaya Neela, CEO of aThingz. 'This process innovation will help further optimize cost to serve.' Article content 'We are thrilled to work with AAM to deliver an innovative, collaborative and flexible AI solution that will provide them with a future-proof logistics operating platform,' said Kannan Ramachandran, Chief AI & Commercial Officer of aThingz. 'We look forward to collaborating on this exciting and important key initiative.' Article content AAM will leverage aThingz' autonomous master data management capabilities to continuously cleanse, harmonize, fortify, and standardize all data sources into a golden master data set required to drive AAM's cost improvement goals. Golden master data will fuel AAM's logistics planning by developing feasible n-week forward logistics plans to optimize inbound material supply management. aThingz logistics performance management capabilities will centralize management of network, partner, operational, and financial performance down to the part-piece level. The application of aThingz golden master data will fuel in-flight and future logistics efficiency opportunities. Article content 'The depth of the aThingz platform will enable AAM to combine our logistics master data management, spend management, and network optimization initiatives into a single unified key initiative,' said Ana Lucia Ochoa Lorenzini, AAM's Global Director of Supply Chain Management. 'This initiative is critical to the ongoing success of our business. We are excited at the opportunity, this strategic partnership with aThingz, and eager to get started.' Article content aThingz has deconstructed the logistics planning and execution software landscape down to its core elements and reassembled those core elements into a single technology-enabled solution. Instead of multiple systems integrated together in a sequential, linear fashion, aThingz simultaneously synchronizes and orchestrates planning, execution, finance, and performance management into a single continuous process, creating the very first S&OP framework for logistics and transportation. Article content As a leading global Tier 1 Automotive and Mobility Supplier, AAM (NYSE: AXL) designs, engineers, and manufactures Driveline and Metal Forming technologies to support electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles. Headquartered in Detroit with over 80 facilities in 18 countries, AAM is bringing the future faster for a safer and more sustainable tomorrow. To learn more, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contacts Mark Cosway Chief Marketing Officer (512) 800-9478 mcosway@ Article content Article content Article content
The Guardian
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
US rival agrees £1.2bn deal for British car parts firm in new hit to UK stock market
The British car parts maker Dowlais has agreed to a £1.2bn takeover by its US rival American Axle & Manufacturing, in the latest departure from the London stock market. The main operation of Dowlais, which has been listed on the FTSE 250 index since 2023, is GKN Automotive, which formed part of the GKN engineering business that was bought by the private equity group Melrose in an acrimonious £8bn takeover battle in 2018. American Axle & Manufacturing will pay £1.16bn in cash and shares for Dowlais as the two companies aim to weather the transition to electric vehicles. The deal is the largest US takeover deal for a UK company announced so far this year, and follows an exodus of London-listed companies during 2024. There was increased transatlantic mergers and acquisitions activity in 2024, according to analysis by the law firm A&O Shearman, which found that the relative strength of US equity markets made the UK an attractive hunting ground for potential bidders. The Dowlais takeover comes just months after the CEO of Dowlais said carmakers' switch to electric vehicles would take longer than expected, as several manufacturers scaled back their EV plans. The companies said that joining together would 'create a leading global manufacturer with the scale, product portfolio, technology and global diversification required to lead and innovate in a transitioning business environment'. Dowlais, which supplies 90% of the world's carmakers, employs about 30,000 people globally. Under the terms of the deal, American Axle & Manufacturing will acquire it for 85.2p a share, a premium of 25% on the UK firm's closing share price on 28 January. Dowlais shares climbed by as much as 11% on Wednesday, before falling back slightly. Dowlais's chief executive, Liam Butterworth, said the deal would create a company which could be a leading supplier as the world 'transitions to electrified mobility'. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Butterworth said last August that European sales of EVs were challenging because of changes to government subsidies and policies supporting the move away from petrol and diesel cars, as the company announced a slide in profits.
