Attendees learn about the "cornerstones" of supply chain success
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) 2014 Annual Global Conference featured more than 120 sessions organized into six disciplinary specialties called "Cornerstones."
More than 2,600 supply chain professionals packed the halls of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, USA in late September for the 2014 Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Annual Global Conference.
Attendees could choose from more than 120 sessions in 20 tracks devoted to current and future hot topics for supply chain professionals. For the first time, the track sessions were organized into six disciplinary specialties called "Cornerstones": Talent and Career; Economic Forecasts, Benchmarks, and Surveys; Thought Leadership; Manufacturing, Planning, and Sourcing; Transportation, Distribution, and Warehousing; and The Customer.
CSCMP's conference offered inspiration as well as education. Keynote speaker Guy Kawasaki, a venture capitalist and former Apple software "evangelist" and special advisor at Google, outlined 11 ways companies and individuals can develop, produce, and market innovative products and services. Among them: Innovative companies understand the reason they and their products should exist. Apple, for example, wanted to "democratize" the use of computers, which the company considered to be its principal motivation, he said.
On Day Two, Daymond John, founder, chief executive officer, and president of the clothing company FUBU and star of ABC Television's reality business show, "Shark Tank," shared his honed-on-the-street ideas for business success in a straight-talking presentation about how he worked his way up from driving taxicabs to building a $4 billion fashion empire without any formal business training. And motivational speaker Judy Carter brought her unique mix of humor and encouragement to the closing session, where she kept her audience laughing while explaining how to take a more productive view of personal and professional challenges.
The conference included numerous special events, including the annual Educators Conference and Donald J. Bowersox Doctoral Symposium, the annual meeting of roundtable officers, the presentation of the annual Supply Chain Innovation Award to Flextronics and runner-up Sears Holdings Corporation, a "Women at Work" panel and reception, events for young professionals, and a student recruitment day. Additionally, the Supply Chain Exchange exhibition showcased cutting-edge technology, equipment, and services.
Following CSCMP's annual business meeting, the organization announced this year's elected officers. Theodore (Ted) P. Stank was elected to the office of chair. Heather L. Sheehan was named immediate past chair, and Kevin F. Smith was named board chair elect. Mary C. Long was elected to the office of board vice chair. Remko van Hoek was elected secretary and treasurer.
Mark your calendar now for the 2015 annual conference, to be held September 27-30 in sunny San Diego, California, USA. For more information, go to cscmp.org/annual-conference.
Michael Regan receives 2014 Distinguished Service Award
CSCMP recognizes the founder of TranzAct Technologies Inc. for his contributions to the logistics and supply chain management professions.
If you're at an industry conference and there's a burning question that must be asked, then it's a good bet Michael P. Regan will be the one to ask it. Regan, the founder and currently chief of relationship development at the consulting firm TranzAct Technologies Inc., has long been an energetic and indefatigable presence at logistics and supply chain educational events. In addition to offering thought-provoking questions and commentaries from the floor, he often can be found on the podium, giving motivational presentations on career development designed specifically for logistics and supply chain professionals. Additionally, his video commentaries and analyses of industry developments have a loyal following.
Regan's contributions were formally recognized when he received the 2014 Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) at its Annual Global Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The Distinguished Service Award is bestowed annually on an individual for outstanding, long-term contributions to the logistics and supply chain management professions.
Regan's supply chain career spans nearly four decades. He co-founded TranzAct in 1984 to help shippers plan and control transportation expenditures. By 2000, TranzAct had become the largest privately held freight-payment company in the United States.
In addition to being involved in CSCMP's educational efforts, Regan has served on the boards of such industry groups as the American Society of Transportation & Logistics, the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), and NASSTRAC.
A certified public accountant (CPA), Regan earned his bachelor's degree in business administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
2014 Doctoral Dissertation Award awarded to William Schmidt
CSCMP recognizes the Cornell scholar's research on supply chain disruptions for excellence.
Dr. William Schmidt, assistant professor of operations in the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, was presented with the 2014 CSCMP Doctoral Dissertation Award for his research paper titled Supply Chain Disruptions and the Role of Information Asymmetry.
Schmidt's dissertation examined how the supply chain decisions that companies make influence and are influenced by "information asymmetry," or the uneven understanding of information between two parties involved in a transaction—in this case, organizations and their investors. His broader research investigated the relationships between a company's operational decisions and its value and risk. The paper's findings focused on the factors that moderated these relationships and identified strategies that companies could adopt to better manage them.
Schmidt received a doctorate from Harvard Business School, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering, also from the University of Florida.
CSCMP accepting applications for mentoring program
A new program seeks to develop rewarding relationships between experienced supply chain professionals and those who are ne to the field.
Being involved in a mentoring relationship can have profound professional and personal benefits, and not just for the person being mentored. Through this relationship, both parties can improve their communication skills, gain new perspectives, and learn new skills and industry expertise.
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' new mentoring program strives to create just these sorts of relationships by connecting people who share the goal of personal and professional development. All CSCMP Student and Young Professional members are eligible to sign up and request to be matched with a mentor.
To be considered as a potential mentor, you must be an experienced professional who is interested in helping to develop supply chain talent. The goal of this partnership is to help young people improve their skills and position themselves to advance their careers. Mentors strive to support and encourage their mentee by offering suggestions and sharing their knowledge as needed. Each partnership should be based on mutual trust and respect.
The one-year program requires mentors and mentees to meet for a minimum of one to two hours a month, either in person, over the telephone, or online.
CSCMP is now accepting applications for the 2015 program. For more information, visit cscmp.org/career/mentorship-program-young-professionals. To learn more about how to be an effective mentor, read "Mentoring: A big commitment, with big rewards" by Timothy Stratman, in the Q2/2014 issue of Supply Chain Quarterly.
Supply chains today are facing an onslaught of disruption and change from geopolitical events to technological advances to economic shifts. Supply chain partners that successfully navigate those changes together will seize a competitive advantage that will win them market share and increase profits.
The “2025 Third-Party Logistics Study,” spearheaded by Dr. C. John Langley of Penn State University and developed in collaboration withNTT DATAand Penske Logistics highlights the crucial role that change management plays in the relationship between third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and their customers. Unveiled today at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) EDGE conference, the study delves into the dynamic nature of relationships between shippers (companies that manufacture goods or provide services) and third-party logistics providers.
“While users and providers of 3PL services continue to report successful relationships, they find themselves having to deal with an increasingly wide range of challenges,” said Dr. C. John Langley, Professor, Supply Chain & Information Systems, Penn State University. “While examples include economic concerns, geopolitical unrest, and changing markets for supply chain services, they also are taking advantage of change management processes to benefit from new and improved capabilities such as artificial intelligence (AI) and direct-to-customer proficiencies.”
The survey found that both shippers (61%) and 3PLs (73%) agree that supply chain change management is vital. Respondents from both groups indicated that the top factors that are driving the need to change their operations were shifting customer demands, economic factors, and technological advancements. In particular, both shippers and 3PLs believe that improvement and change is needed in supply chain visibility, with 69% of shippers and 68% of 3PLs citing it as an area of concern.
AI as change agent
One technological advance that is enabling change in supply chain operations, according to survey respondents, is AI. Both shippers and 3PLs agree that AI can be pivotal in automating data analysis, identifying patterns, solving problems, and automating repetitive tasks. Top implementation areas for AI cited by respondents include supply planning and demand forecasting (33% of shippers and 19% of 3PLs) and transportation and route optimization (27% of shippers and 22% of 3PLs).
The e-commerce effect continues
Omnichannel retailing and e-commerce continue to exert pressure on supply chain operations for shippers and their third-party logistics partners. Both shippers and 3PLs view delivery speed and visibility as strong areas of differentiation. According to the study, 48% of shippers and 53% of 3PLs reported that customers routinely expect deliveries in less than two days, and 27% of shippers and 26% of 3PLs noted that there are three-day or less delivery expectations. Shippers (44%) and 3PLs (38%) are willing to absorb a small percentage of the costs related to shipping speeds.
The Annual 3PL Study surveys 3PL providers and users of 3PL services to understand the current state of 3PLs and how 3PL relationships are evolving with their customers. The 2025 study and past versions are available for download at www.3PLStudy.com.
Container flows at dozens of U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports shuddered to a simultaneous stop this morning when dockworkers launched a promised strike over pay levels and job automation.
The action is affecting work at major locations such as New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Houston, Charleston, Norfolk, Miami, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Boston, Mobile, Tampa, and Wilmington. That broad span of geographic locations will affect imports and exports for industries spanning retail, automotive, agriculture, food and beverage, and manufacturing, according to an analysis by Overhaul.
Those impacts are forecast to grow rapidly with each additional day the strike continues, since more than 100 vessels are estimated to arrive at the 36 affected ports this week alone, according to analysis by supply chain visibility provider Project44. The recovery from that backup could take some time, as some shippers estimate that for every one week of strike, it will take 4-6 weeks to fully recover, the firm said.
Because of the sudden stop, logistics providers today are quickly reaching out to shippers and other clients to plan for future cargo movements. Specifically, the strike immediately froze a range of work such as the movement of import and export containers and the loading and unloading of containers, according to German maritime transportation provider Hapag-Lloyd AG. “As a result of this situation, which is beyond our control, we will need to adjust our services or temporarily suspend operations as conditions evolve. Our priority remains the protection of your cargo during this period,” Hapag-Lloyd AG said in a note to shippers.
Despite those large impacts, the timeline is unclear for finding a resolution of negotiations between the union—the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)—and the port management group, United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).
Under those conditions, retail and manufacturing groups have renewed their calls for their White House to step in and force workers back on the job while negotiations resume.
One of those voices came the National Retail Federation (NRF). “NRF urges President Biden to use any and all available authority and tools — including use of the Taft-Hartley Act — to immediately restore operations at all impacted container ports, get the parties back to the negotiating table and ensure there are no further disruptions,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a release. “A disruption of this scale during this pivotal moment in our nation’s economic recovery will have devastating consequences for American workers, their families and local communities. After more than two years of runaway inflationary pressures and in the midst of recovery from Hurricane Helene, this strike will result in further hardship for American families.”
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Flying Ship CEO Bill Peterson poses with a model of his unmanned ground-effect maritime cargo craft.
Perfect Planner, a cloud-based platform designed to streamline the material planning and replenishment process, and Flying Ship, an unmanned ground-effect maritime cargo craft, took home the second annual “3 V’s of Supply Chain Innovation Awards” tonight at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) annual EDGE Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
This awards contest is hosted by Supply Chain Xchange and 3 V’s framework creator and supply chain visionary Art Mesher. It serves to recognize those companies that have created technology or automation solutions that exemplify Mesher’s 3 V’s framework of “embracing variability, harnessing visibility, and competing with velocity.”
Business Innovation Award
Art Mesher, creator of the 3 V's Framework (left) and Rick Blasgen (right), former CSCMP President and CEO, present Tom Biel (center), CEO of Perfect Planner, with the 3 V's Business Innovation Award.
Susan Lacefield
Perfect Planner won the 3 V’s Business Innovation Award for its software solution that uses artificial intelligence to automatically generates daily "to-do lists" for material planners/buyers. All the “to-do’s” are ranked in order of criticality. The solution also uses advanced analytics to understand and address inventory shortages and surpluses.
The two other finalists for the Business Innovation Award were AutoScheduler AI, a predictive warehouse optimization platform, and Davinci Micro Fulfillment, which provides a micro fulfillment service out of a network for small distribution centers across the United States.
Best Overall Startup Award
Flying Ship was awarded the Best Overall Startup Award. The company has designed an unmanned flying ground-effect maritime vessel. Although the Flying Ship looks like a small aircraft or large drone, it is classified as a maritime vessel because it does not leave the air cushion over the waves, similar to a hovercraft.
According to Flying Ship CEO Bill Peterson, the craft is 75% less expensive than a traditional aircraft and “faster than anything on water.” The prototype has a wingspan of 6.5 feet and can be scaled up to deliver 10,000 pounds of freight to “anywhere with a coastline” using autonomous systems.
The other startup finalist included Arkestro, a predictive procurement orchestration solution, and Provision AI, an optimized replenishment and transportation scheduling solution.
On Monday morning at CSCMP’s 2024 EDGE Conference, Darcy MacClaren, chief revenue office, digital supply chain, at technology company SAP, lead a lively discussion with a panel of women supply chain leaders on how to recruit, retain, and empower future supply chain leaders.
Panelists included Cindy Cochovity, executive vice president of strategic development at software company FreightPath; Heather Dohrn, chief commercial officer at trucking company Dohrn Transfer Company; Jennifer Kobus, senior vice president of supply chain planning and operations at retailer Ulta Beauty; Ammie McAsey, senior vice president of customer distribution experience at pharmaceutical company McKesson; and Michelle Williams, a supply chain teacher at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, a high school in St. Louis, Missouri.
Touching on more than just the challenges they faced in supply chain as women, the panelists spoke about creating “destination" companies—places where top talent can work, grow, and thrive. According to MacClaren, younger workers “want more than just competitive compensation—they want to feel appreciated, involved, and inspired. They seek a workplace with a strong, inclusive culture that aligns with their values, offers meaningful work, and provides an opportunity for growth and development.”
The panel covered an array of topics including how to inspire the next generation of talent, strategies for engaging and coaching young professionals, how to attract diversity, and how to address change management. In addition, they shared personal experiences that helped them achieve their leadership roles and ended with some key takeaways for the audience members.
Here’s a snapshot of action items from the discussion:
1. Ensure a diverse slate of candidates for open positions.
2. Leverage internal and external networks to find diverse candidates.
3. Nurture and mentor new hires to help them thrive.
4. Remain authentic, vulnerable, and transparent as a leader.
5. Advocate for yourself and your career progression, not just for your team.
6. Seek out mentors and advocates, especially other women in leadership positions.
7. Open doors and bring others in, regardless of your own position.
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Supply Chain Xchange Executive Editor Susan Lacefield moderates a panel discussion with Supply Chain Xchange's Outstanding Women in Supply Chain Award Winners (from left to right) Annette Danek-Akey, Sherry Harriman, Leslie O'Regan, and Ammie McAsey.
Supply Chain Xchange recognized four women who have made significant contributions to the supply chain management profession today with its second annual Outstanding Women in Supply Chain Award. The award winners include Annette Danek-Akey, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Barnes & Noble; Sherry Harriman, Senior Vice President of Logistics and Supply Chain for Academy Sports + Outdoors; Leslie O’Regan, Director of Product Management for DC Systems & 3PLs at American Eagle Outfitters; and Ammie McAsey, Senior Vice President of Customer Distribution Experience for McKesson’s U.S. Pharmaceutical division.
Throughout their careers, these four supply chain executive have demonstrated strategic thinking, innovative problem solving, and effective leadership as well as a commitment to giving back to the profession.
The awards were presented at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) annual EDGE Conference in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to the awards presentation, the leaders discussed their leadership philosophies and career path during a panel discussion at the EDGE conference.