SMC³ Winter Meeting Focuses on Solutions for Global Supply Chain Challenges
Peachtree City, Ga. - Jan. 31, 2006—Utilizing collaborative strategies to provide solutions for the challenges of the global supply chain was the focus of SMC³’s Winter Meeting. The meeting, “Seeing Beyond the Segments: Building Synergy in the Supply Chain,” took place Jan. 24-25 in Atlanta.
Douglas G. Duncan, president and CEO of FedEx Freight, spoke about the current success in the trucking industry during his presentation on FedEx Freight’s vision of world transportation. Duncan stressed that knowing what the road ahead looks like means not looking at the trucking companies, but instead looking at the supply chain.
“This is a great time to be in the trucking business,” said Duncan. “We have made a wonderful evolution and transition to becoming a real value-added supplier to the supply chain.”
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Georgia’s 8th District and member of the House’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, spoke about his experience as a freshman congressman. “It’s time for us to take charge and fix the process because the process is broken,” he said when speaking about the way Congress functions.
William D. Sanderson, president of Golden State Service Industries (GSSI), spoke about how meeting the demanding requirements of one major customer, McDonald’s, led to the innovation of new capabilities in addition to Golden State Foods’ core business expertise in meat and liquid food processing. The company then leveraged these capabilities, such as sourcing and distribution, to other quick service restaurants whose mature systems dictated lower costs.
The meeting’s supply chain strategy sessions focused on shippers, carriers and logistics planners working together to reduce costs. Gary G. Girotti, vice president transportation practice, Chainalytics LLC, spoke about the transportation master planning cycle and model-based benchmarking to provide the required levels of service at the best cost. Michael S. Watson, vice president business development, LogicTools, presented a session on new tools for strategic supply chain planning and optimization.
“I was able to get a global view of future events that will have a definitive impact on my job and company,” attendee Edward Connally, logistics administration manager, Colgate-Palmolive Company, said.
Two presentations focused on the world energy situation. Chuck Taylor, principal, Norbridge Consulting, spoke about energy’s impact on global sourcing decisions. Michael J. Economides, professor, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, spoke about the growing global energy demand and alternatives to oil.
Other geopolitical sessions, presented by John R. Bagileo, principal, The Law Office of John R. Bagileo and economic forecaster Donald Ratajczak, covered the most current political factors, legislative enactments and economic trends that the transportation industry faces.
SMC³’s 2006 Summer Conference is scheduled to take place June 14-16 in San Antonio. 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.