upcoming roundtable - Tuesday, 11/15/2016

Interactive Round Table

Topic: Supply Chain Challenges
Supply chain managers have seen increasing challenges to create, and keep, efficient and effective supply chain methods. The five of the biggest supply chain challenges (source: SupplyChain247) are as follows:

• Customer service - Supply chain management is all about providing the right product in the right quantity to the right place and the right time. Seems simple, but can get complicated...quickly.
• Cost control - Operating costs are under extreme pressure by rising energy/fuel and freight costs, greater number of global customers, technology, increasing labor rates and new regulations and rising commodity prices.
• Planning & risk management - In order to stay as efficient and effective as possible, periodic assessments and redesigns are needed. These adjustments are in response to changes in the market - changes such as new product launches, global sourcing, credit availability and the need to protect intellectual property. These risks must be identified and quantified in order to control and mitigate.
• Supplier/partner relationship management - It is important to create, understand and follow mutually agreed upon standards to better understand current performance and opportunities for improvement. Having two different methods for measuring and communicating performance and results wastes time and effort. Trust the system that was put in place for consistent results and better supplier/partner relationships.
• Talent - It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find qualified and interested talent. Supply chain leaders need an extensive understanding of the key competencies and duties needed for supply chain management roles and the ability to efficiently source specific skill sets and methods for developing future leaders.

“If you could have one answer about one of the above challenges that would help you understand it better, what would it be?”
 
The goal for our roundtable will be to facilitate a meaningful group discussion that is engaging and helpful.


We will attempt to do this by -

• By identifying areas of common interest
• By keeping a fast pace
• By drawing as many people into the discussion as possible
  
  
  

Ground Rules:

1. Everyone speaks once, keep your comments brief and to the point. If you have additional comments, please write them down.

1. You have a maximum of 2 minutes. Please respect all members have an opportunity for input. You will be timed.

1. During your turn, please add any relevant comments that have not been shared yet.

1. Everyone is welcome to share so please feel free to ask or share whatever you think will be helpful

1. Keep the feedback focused on our objective.