21 Jun 11

Notes on the 1-2-1 Supply Chain Excellence Summit 2011- by Brian Bolam

My active role in logistics (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport – CILT; Leaders in Supply Chain; Board Member and Vice Chairman of the European Logistics Users, Providers and Enablers Group, and President and Founder of OmPrompt) sees me attending a great many events during the course of a year.

Speaking at the June 14^th Supply Chain Excellence Summit in Knightsbridge was a particularly worthwhile experience (once I’d overcome a bout of barely concealed envy negotiating a route through the Lamborghinis and Ferraris parked at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel).

The event was (as usual) expertly chaired by Paul Brooks, Chairman of the CILT and Sales Director at Unipart Logistics.

During my presentation I set out to expose some supply chain myths (see the full article on the ELUPEG website Exploding the myths around horizontal supply chain collaboration).  I asked the audience to really think about why it was only possible for those supply chains that had already undergone efficiency measures to enjoy the 10-20% yield in savings.  Why embracing new automation technology to connect any device using any format or protocol is the only way to cut slack and make companies easy to do business with.

The concept has been around for years, but the rocket-science that now makes automated communications possible is entirely new.

Surely that deserves some thought?