SMC³ Winter Meeting to Focus on Collaborative Strategies for Today’s Supply Chain Challenges
Peachtree City, Ga. - Oct. 18, 2005—Attendees at SMC³’s 2006 Winter Meeting will explore the economic forces currently changing the transportation industry and gain strategies to overcome these challenges.
The meeting, “Seeing Beyond the Segments: Building Synergy in the Supply Chain,” is scheduled to take place Jan. 24-25, 2006, at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Atlanta.
As companies strive to overcome capacity and infrastructure constraints, rising energy costs, driver shortages and regulatory challenges, a new era in transportation has commenced. Terms such as carrier friendly, vendor economics, pop-up fleets and multi-modal switching have rapidly transitioned from theoretical concepts to contemporary strategies for moving goods through today’s global supply chain.
“The SMC³ Winter Meeting will provide attendees with the latest information they need to harness changing trade patterns for a competitive edge,” Jack E. Middleton, SMC³ president and CEO, said.
Sessions at the SMC³ Winter Meeting will focus on the higher level of collaboration in shipper-carrier relationships and explore new management techniques that incorporate technology, creative tactics and innovative strategies to minimize the current challenges facing the industry.
For a high-level view of the new economics of today’s transportation network, featured speaker Douglas G. Duncan, president and CEO of FedEx Freight, will talk about FedEx Freight’s vision of world transportation. From an “inside-the-Beltway” perspective, U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland for Georgia’s 8th District has been invited to speak about his role on the House’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sessions at the Winter Meeting will incorporate strategic models and provide attendees with tactical ideas for their business plans. Gary Girotti, vice president transportation services, Chainalytics LLC, will present a session on creating more efficient logistics solutions. Contemporary strategies being used by multi-national firms to offset escalating costs, capacity constraints and infrastructure issues will be the focus of his presentation.
Michael Watson, vice president business development, LogicTools, will describe how firms are using end-to-end supply chain management software to design and develop responsive supply chains. Chuck Taylor, principal, Norbridge Consulting, will speak about energy’s impact on global sourcing decisions. He will focus on the value of collaboration and the use of technology to design and manage a responsive supply chain.
In addition, SMC³’s geopolitical update speakers will detail the most current economic trends, energy costs, political factors and legislative enactments that are sure to have an effect on the transportation industry. The speakers for this session are transportation attorney John R. Bagileo, principal, The Law Office of John R. Bagileo; Michael J. Economides, professor, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston; and economic forecaster Donald Ratajczak.
Individuals representing every area of the transportation industry, as well as service providers and customers, regularly attend SMC³ meetings. At its 2005 winter and summer meetings, SMC³ celebrated 50 years of offering educational services to the transportation industry.
“SMC³ meetings are a wonderful experience. They provide a great forum for education, networking and social activities,” Ron Reighter, vice president, CV International Inc., said.
To register for the SMC³ 2006 Winter Meeting or for more information on SMC³’s products, services and educational offerings, visit www.smc3.com, phone 800-845-8090 or e-mail info@smc3.com.