Are you attending CSCMP Edge 2018 next week in Nashville, TN?
It’s one of the best learning and networking events for supply chain and logistics professionals. One of the challenges, however, is determining which sessions to attend each day since there are so many to choose from. Let me help you by recommending the following three sessions that all have the same thing in common: I’m serving as a speaker or moderator in each of them!
Best Practices in Parcel Shipping (Monday, October 1, 10:30-11:45 am, Bayou B)
It wasn’t that long ago that parcel was a relatively insignificant transportation mode for most retailers and manufacturers. It was also a forgotten mode from a transportation management system (TMS) standpoint. Today, however, parcel is the fastest growing mode and it’s playing a critical role in almost every company’s fulfillment operations.
What are some of the key challenges companies are facing today with parcel shipping? What actions should they take to overcome those challenges and succeed?
Karen Sage, Chief Marketing Officer at MercuryGate (a Talking Logistics sponsor) will lead a panel discussion with me and the following speakers to address those questions and more:
- Dave Kiesling, Senior Director, Transportation Solutions, DHL Transport Brokerage
- David Maloney, Editorial Director, DC Velocity and Supply Chain Quarterly
Fireside Chat with Art Mesher on Companies Who Will “Thrive or Die” (Tuesday, October 2, 10:30-11:45 am, Delta Island F)
If you’ve been in the industry for some time, I’m sure you know Art Mesher. He’s had a view of the supply chain industry for several decades — as an entrepreneur, industry analyst, CEO of a technology company (former CEO of Descartes System Group, a Talking Logistics sponsor), and an advisor. He was also the recipient of CSCMP’s Distinguished Service Award in 2008.
It’s been 20 years since Art wrote the influential paper “The 3 V’s of Supply Chain: Visibility, Variability and Velocity” that sparked a lot of conversation at the time and changed the way companies viewed supply chain management. It’s also been more than 5 years since Art appeared on Talking Logistics to discuss “The Next Big Thing in Supply Chains: The Rise of Entrusts.”
Is the 3Vs construct still relevant today? What is an Entrust and did it become the next big thing? What’s driving meaningful and lasting differentiation today? How will solution delivery models continue to evolve? What actions should companies take to thrive — and not die! — in this new world?
Those are some of the questions I will explore with Art in this fireside chat session. Phil Ruotolo, Associate Director of Merchandising Solutions Customization at Procter & Gamble will also participate in the conversation to provide his perspective of the market and how P&G is responding to these trends.
Mega Session: Communicating Transportation’s Value and Challenges to the C-Suite (Wednesday, October 3, 8:30-9:45 am, Delta Ballroom B)
If you’re staying through Wednesday, don’t miss this important and timely session that I am moderating:
“With supply chain continuing to add more value to firms and gaining incremental visibility from the highest leadership, supply chain leaders must be able to effectively communicate to the C-Suite on how transportation adds value, the possible challenges and P&L impact. In this session, supply chain leaders from two large manufacturers and a supply chain solution provider share past experiences and best practices on how to successfully communicate transportation issues, risks and value to the C-Suite.”
Joining me on stage will be:
- Brad Blizzard, Executive Director, Logistics Supply Chain Management, Bridgestone Americas
- Tim Dalton, Director Professional Services, BluJay Solutions Co.
- Jennifer Kobus, Director of Transportation, Ulta Beauty
- Michael Nasif, Director – Corporate Transportation & Logistics, Kohler Co.
I look forward to seeing you in Nashville next week!
P.S. If you’d like to schedule a time to meet while at the conference, please contact me. I always welcome the opportunity to meet new friends and catch up with old ones to discuss industry trends and topics.
