Supply Chain Innovation To Be Focus Of April CSCMP Europe Conference
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) will hold its eighth European conference, April 23-25, 2012, in Frankfurt, Germany at the Hilton Frankfurt Airport. Focusing on supply chain management innovation and best practices, the event will offer educational sessions and networking opportunities to global supply chain executives.
"Effective supply chain management requires innovative thinking and practical application and execution," said Georg Odenthal, conference co-chair and supply chain management consultant. "This conference covers all of the above. Attendees will hear new ideas and creative ways of improving supply chain processes, and examples from supply chain management professionals from leading European and other global corporations of how they implemented innovations that benefited the bottom line."
At CSCMP Europe 2012, thought leaders from around the world will discuss the supply chain management processes that attendees should master to ensure that their organizations remain competitive. Session topics include performance measurement, talent acquisition and management, collaboration, risk management, and customer-centric strategies.
Peter D. Gibbons, executive vice president, global supply chain operations, Starbucks Coffee Company, will be the keynote speaker. His session will explore the role that supply chains play in successful businesses, and how to use their influence to deliver results. Attendees will also learn how to transform their supply chains into sources of business innovation.
Conference sessions will include presentations from executives at leading companies such as CEVA Logistics, Fluke Europe BV, McKinsey & Co., Penske Logistics Europe, Procter & Gamble, and Vale, among others.
SMA Solar Technology AG's executive vice president of operations, Günther König, will explain how his company developed a technology-driven supply chain management model from the ground up, and how it will evolve to ensure long-term success for its customers. König's talk will reveal how his company manages demand volatility, and why they opted to keep manufacturing operations local.
Creating a best-in-class aftermarket services value chain through collaboration will be the subject of Hilde E. Scheers' presentation. Scheers serves as general manager at Cummins N.V. This session will focus on effective internal collaboration and why it is key to improving supply chain performance.
Building a successful supply chain management career will be the theme of the Talent and Young Professionals Panel moderated by Rick D. Blasgen, CSCMP president and chief executive officer. Recruiting and developing young talent will also be discussed. Panelists include Nicole Balken, human resources director, Penske Logistics Europe; Raoul P. Dubeauclard, supply chain practice senior expert, McKinsey & Co.; Britta Gammelgaard, professor, Copenhagen Business School; and David Gonsalvez, director, Zaragoza Logistics Center. This panel was one of the most highly rated sessions at CSCMP's 2011 Annual Global Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Fluke Europe BV executives Sarah Humphreys, senior trade compliance officer, and Address Valk, senior supply chain manager, will discuss the importance of developing a trade compliance strategy for an organization's supply chain, and John Patullo, CEVA Logistics' chief executive officer, will host the Leadership in Collaboration session. Patullo will explain why collaboration enables innovation and process improvements throughout a supply chain, and why it can result in significant cost reductions.
Interactive discussion forums are a part of the conference's agenda, providing attendees with the opportunity to share experiences and insights, ask questions, and learn from colleagues. Each forum will be led by a moderator, with topics that include collaboration, global trade, local versus global, and supply chain management strategies.
Other presentations include Supply Chain Innovation for a Sustainable Future: A Research Perspective from Procter & Gamble, Implementing a KPI Factory: An Innovative Model to Effectively Measure Your E2E Supply Chain Performance in a Cost-Effective Manner, and Breakthrough Strategies for Managing Talent in a Changing World.
On the last day of the conference, the Supply Chain Management Award will be presented to the organization that demonstrates the most innovative supply chain solution of the year, with an entire session dedicated to the award-winning case study.
CSCMP will hold its annual European Research Seminar on April 23 before the conference officially begins where members of the academic and research communities will present current research for consideration.
The conference's gold sponsors are Progress Software and Penske Logistics. Amber Road is the event's silver sponsor. Companies interested in becoming a CSCMP Europe 2012 sponsor should contact Chuck M. Martinez at +1 305.661.2896 or Chuck@AdelfiGroup.com.
For more information, visit http://cscmp.org/events/europeconference/ index.asp.
SOURCE: Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals