Description: The customer relationship management process provides the structure for how relationships with customers will be developed and maintained. Management identifies key customers and customer groups to be targeted as part of the firm’s business mission. Important is your supply chain strategy that sets the direction and roadmap to where you want to be over a multiyear time horizon. That strategy must be responsive to the market and recognize the company’s core competencies and resources. 

Scope of session: This session could cover any aspect of the development, implementation and performance measurement of the supply chain and logistics strategic plan. This session also could cover any aspect of the development, implementation and performance measurement of the supply chain and logistics strategic plan. 

Topics to be discussed: Topics could include: methods of segmenting customers; how to build effective cross-functional, cross-firm teams; tools for developing a joint plan that leads to the co-creation of value; developing measures of success; and, guidelines for sharing benefits. Specific topics could include:

alignment of supply chain strategies with those of the firm and its customers, and across supply chain functions, conducting timely environmental scans to maintain/enhance competitiveness, keeping supply chain complexity from undermining strategy, using metrics consistent with strategy, coordinating supply chain functions, recognizing megatrends impacting strategy, assessing supply chain capabilities, impact of mergers and acquisitions, supply chain transformation, and accounting for supply chain risk.

Who should attend: Professionals with responsibilities for the following areas should consider attending this session: Sales, Marketing, Logistics, Purchasing/Product Supply, Production/Operations, Finance, Research and Development, and Sustainability. Managers of one or more supply chain functions such as Transportation, Logistics, Distribution, Operations, Sourcing and overall Supply Chain who have input into the strategic direction of the supply chain or its components.

Description: The effective management of distribution facilities is a critical component to overall supply chain performance in order to optimize cost and provide excellent service. Scope of this peer focus group includes the full range of activities within distribution centers, from order processing to order fulfillment and all the functions in between. One of the major battles being fought today by employers for operations effectiveness is in the area of talent management and leadership.

Scope of Session: The session will provide insight into critical areas needed to succeed in a competitive global market, such as: customer focused innovation, talent recruitment, development and retention, staff that can handle systemic continuous improvement programs such as lean, change management in implementing new initiatives and programs, tying the corporate vision and values into the workplace for maximum communication, understanding and buy in by the employee health and wellness resulting in productivity and satisfaction gains

Topics to be discussed: This peer focus group supports important areas by evaluating and/or recommending distribution management practices, facility design (including “green”), material handling equipment, automation, technology, and operating procedures, including lean practices and KPIs. The topics could include  leading such projects as: SC Talent Gap and how to overcome it, Management Development Programs, Succession Planning Processes, Training and Development Activities, Competencies Skills Assessment and Development, Recruiting Best Practices, Change Management, Corporate Goal Alignment, Managing your Hi-Potentials and Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y people, and How to leverage Universities in this important strategic initiative. 

Who should attend: Professionals from the following functional areas should consider attending this session: Warehousing and Distribution/Logistics Management, Industrial Engineering, Sales & Marketing, Operations Management, Fulfillment & Delivery, Customer Service, Inbound & Outbound Transportation, Lean/Six Sigma, Quality/Process Improvement, Inventory Management, and Information Technology. Senior SCM Leadership, Senior Human Resources Leadership, and any SCM executive that is interested in increasing productivity in his/her organization. 

Description:  Transportation and demand planning have come to the forefront due to the rapid shifts in demand and the many capacity constraints resulting from the COVID pandemic.  As companies attempt to increase the resiliency of their supply chains, transportation and demand planners will confront new challenges as near- or reshoring strategies are employed and new suppliers and sources are developed.  These strategies will have a significant impact on inventory levels and transportation costs.  Renewed attention will be placed on visibility and collaboration across the supply chain as logistics and supply chain managers attempt to main customer service levels while containing costs.  Skilled labor and driver shortages will continue to affect product availability and transportation capacity.  The transportation and demand planning peer group will explore the different strategies being employed to address these challenges as well as new concepts and approaches for improving performance.

Scope of session:  peer group discussion focuses on exchanging approaches and best practices to address the challenges confronted in demand planning and the transportation marketplace from upstream and downstream supply chain perspectives.

Topics that will be addressed:  topics submitted by peer group participants have addressed topics including improving demand planning and forecasting, use of different strategies and software, managing inventory levels across multiple tiers in the supply chain, handling rapid shifts in demand between product categories,  improving shipper-carrier relationships, managing transportation spend more effectively; navigating uncertain capacity in the transportation market; changing consumer buying patterns and increasing last-mile deliveries, mitigating the effects of regulatory changes and driver shortages through joint shipper-carrier actions; negotiating and bidding of transportation requirements from both the shipper and carrier perspectives; and the effects of near-shoring strategies.

Who should attend:  individuals influencing or making key transportation decisions; having responsibility for demand planning, inventory management, and forecasting; having responsibility for managing transportation operations or budgets; or managing relationships across the supplier-customer interface in the supply chain.

Description:  When properly organized with the right people and leadership, procurement and inventory management will create a “real” competitive advantage for the firm. This is accomplished by focusing on delivering value and savings, building strong strategic supplier relationships and driving innovation, improving quality and reputation, and reducing assets and time to market. In addition, responsibilities for executing day to day product fulfillment activities will be discussed such as providing superior customer service (i.e. ensuring the supply chain is in stock for the customer), inventory efficiency, and implementation of new technologies are the key areas of focus for this peer group. 

Scope of session: The session will cover both issues related to planning and managing inventory to support business and customer needs using information technology and current challenges and the current challenges and opportunities in procurement and inventory management.

Topics to be discussed: Specific topics include best practices for procurement effectiveness (such as Strategic Sourcing Strategy, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Global Procurement (offshore and near shore)) as well as Inventory Best Practices for managing inventory, new processes, forecasting demand (models and collaborative approaches), cycle and safety stock levels, all designed to support superior customer service in current and post Covid-19 world. 

Who should attend: Professionals from the following functional areas should consider attending this session: Procurement/ sourcing, Supply management, Logistics, Planning, Inventory Management, Warehousing, Fulfillment, Information Technology, Supply Chain Management