Ford puts SynQuest in the driver seat for logistics effort

Ford Motor Co. has driven what it described as a multimillion dollar e-business software contract to for e-business software to SynQuest Inc. of Atlanta in an effort to help shorten order-to-delivery times and to improve supply-chain performance.

The exact value of the deal wasn't disclosed.

The companies said that Ford would use decision-support software made by the Atlanta company to help control Ford's transportation, distribution and inventory costs.

SynQuest said that its electronic-business products would allow the automaker to dynamically plan and simulate logistics processes to enhance precision and reliability in its supply chain.

"We plan to use the SynQuest software to tie our manufacturing and logistics together more effectively," Jerry Joyce, Ford's director of global logistics said. "Our goal is fulfill orders to customers faster."