Originally published on Expertclick on November 30, 2017
CLAREMONT, CA – November 30, 2017 Instantaneous Data, Autonomous Vehicles, Total Visibility, Block Chains, Increased Capacity, Uberization of Transit, Machine Learning, Specialization, Compliance and Transformative Movement were key topics discussed at the 2017 Fall Symposium hosted by the APICS Inland Empire Chapter (APICS-IE). APICS-IE, the leading association for supply chain and operations professionals in the Inland Empire area of Southern California assembled a panel of key industry experts to discuss their experiences in “Leveraging Technologies for Supply Chain Success”.
“The supply chain spans the complete product life cycle from new product development to procurement and movement of raw materials through manufacturing, distribution and client delivery. What is most important is what happens in between to maximize performance and deliver an Amazon-like customer experience” notes Lisa Anderson, APICS-IE Chapter Leader and President of LMA Consulting Group. From autonomous forklifts to identifying the contents of a specific shipping container, technology is improving the information and dynamics along the supply chain. “Our panel confirmed that we can’t stand still. Advances in ‘The Internet of Things’ is making information more accessible. Robotics is making local production more affordable. And, blockchain has the potential to bring secure, instantaneous, transparent transactions to high-stakes business transactions” she concluded.
The panel included: Thomas Jeleni?, Vice President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association; Terrie Dean, Director, ISCM Compliance Technology at The Walt Disney Company; Craig Young, Vice President of Operations at Tropicale Foods, Inc; Prof Stephen Ritchie, Professor, Civil Engineering, University of California, Irvine; and, Matt Weinberg, Director, OceanX.
“Each panelist contributed to our discussion” commented Parizad Sethna, Supply Chain Manager for Nestle. “I’ve been involved in Supply Chain for years and I marvel at how much we learn from our colleagues” she concluded. Key take-aways included:
- Supply Chain is changing and evolving quickly
- Take time to identify how you can leverage technology to improve your supply chain
- Be willing to pivot
- The wealth of our nation depends on the dynamics of our supply chains
- These are exciting times and we can’t afford to stop learning
APICS-IE will hold its next symposium in Spring 2018. Information will be on the APICS-IE website.
About APICS
APICS is the leading association for supply chain and operations professionals and the premier provider of research, education and certification programs that elevate end-to-end supply chain excellence, innovation and resilience. APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and the recently introduced APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) designations set the industry standard. The organization includes 37,000+ members and 250+ international partners.
About APICS – Inland Empire
The APICS Inland Empire Chapter (APICS-IE) covers the Inland Empire region of Southern California, which spans the easternmost portion of Los Angeles county and includes San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The chapter offers educational classes, programs and special events in the hotbeds of manufacturing and distribution activity including Ontario, Riverside and Temecula. APICS-IE partners with other organizations supporting manufacturing and distribution such as the DMA (Distribution Management Association), neighboring APICS chapters, industry leaders and government officials in support of furthering the region’s workforce development and growth.