Get a worldwide view at CSCMP's 2010 Annual Global Conference
CSCMP's Annual Global Conference will live up to its name with a keynote address focusing on the future of global trade. The Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and former chief executive officer and chairman of the board for Kellogg Company, will kick off the conference on September 27 in San Diego, California, USA.
Gutierrez started his career at Kellogg's by selling cereal to small grocery stores in Mexico City and eventually worked his way up to be the youngest CEO in the company's 100-year history. In 2005, President George W. Bush appointed him to be the 35th secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In that position, he played a key role in the passage of CAFTA-DR, a trade agreement that expanded opportunities for U.S. exports throughout Latin America. Gutierrez now is the chairman of Global Political Strategies, an international consulting firm that focuses on geopolitics, global economics, and helping companies expand their international market opportunities.
The conference's focus on global trade continues the following day with a general session called "The Impact of the Panama Canal on Global Shipping." The presentation will be given by Alberto Alemán Zubieta, CEO of the Panama Canal Authority, and Professor Yossi Sheffi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The closing session will feature scientist and futurist Jack Bacon, speaking on "Nonlinear Thinking for the Nonlinear World."
In addition to the general sessions, the conference will offer 20 educational tracks on topics ranging from "Accelerating Supply Chain Transformations" to "Best Practices in Manag ing and Optimizing Inventory" to "Third-Party Logistics—Getting the Strategy Right." Attendees can opt to participate in small-group discussions moderated by topic experts. The conference will also provide the opportunity to tour near-by logistics facilities, check out leading-edge technology and equipment at the "Supply Chain of the Future" exhibit, offer training at new pre-conference workshops, and more. For more information, visit cscmpconference.org.
Directory of executive recruiters is now online
You thought the recession would make it easier to find the perfect candidate to fill that important supply chain position ... but you're still looking. Or maybe you're the one searching for a new job in the "jobless recovery." Either way, working with an executive recruiter may help you find the right person or position sooner than you could on your own. But how do you find a recruiter who understands the needs of supply chain managers?
CSCMP's new online directory of executive recruiters is the place to go for that information. Located on CSCMP's web site under the "SCM Careers" tab, the directory lists global executive recruiting firms that specialize in customer service, inventory management, logistics, materials and information management, traffic and transportation, and warehousing. CSCMP does not endorse any of the recruiters but only lists firms that devote at least 80 percent of their time to supply chain management and logistics positions.
The directory, updated twice yearly, is available at no charge. Users who are not CSCMP members, however, must register before they are able to download it. Recruitment firms that are members of CSCMP or have used the Council's Career Center Services qualify for a free listing. Those that do not meet those criteria pay US $350 for a six-month listing. To be in the directory, firms must fill out a form. The deadline for submission for the next edition is August 9, 2010.
"State of Logistics Report" can help you move forward
For many, it may be a little painful to look back on 2009. But understanding where we were can often help us assess where we should be. For this reason, CSCMP's "State of Logistics Report" offers valuable data and analysis.
Released annually in June, the "State of Logistics Report" looks at the overall performance of the U.S. supply chain. The report tracks all costs associated with moving goods through the United States, such as transportation and inventory-carrying costs.
Not surprisingly, economist and report author Rosalyn Wilson found that logistics costs dropped considerably last year, falling from 9.3 percent in 2008 to 7.7 percent of U.S. gross domestic product in 2009. But the news is not all bad. The data also show improvement beginning in the fourth quarter, pointing to the recovery that is now under way.
This big picture can provide practitioners with a context for understanding their own organizations' performance and improve their own operations, said Rick Blasgen, CSCMP president and CEO. "This research presents data for company leaders to be able to capitalize on the recovery as it occurs, such as restructuring their distribution networks to maximize efficiency and minimize miles, investing in technologies to facilitate 'green' transportation, and improving real-time data flows to increase visibility and enhance productivity," he said.
CSCMP members can download the report for free at cscmp.org/memberonly/state.asp. Nonmembers can purchase the report for US $395.
Journal of Business Logistics announces two new editors
Dr. Stanley E. Fawcett of Brigham Young University and Dr. Matthew A. Waller of the University of Arkansas have been named co-editors of CSCMP's peer-reviewed academic journal, Journal of Business Logistics (JBL). Their terms will begin on January 1, 2011, and will run until December 31, 2015.
The primary responsibilities of the JBL's editors are to maintain the journal's academic integrity, identify and solicit manuscripts consistent with its objectives, manage the publication's review process and physical production, and identify and implement improvements.
