Attending the PMAC National Conference can help you get the most out of your supply chain

30 March 2012

Earlier in the month, I came across an article in the Financial Post that addressed the challenges of getting the most out of your supply chain. In the article, the author identifies the biggest problem facing all businesses, regardless of size, is the need to effectively manage its supply chain. The author also reiterates that most companies are unsuccessful in their attempts to improve supply chain performance because they often focus on just one area of the supply chain or rely too much on a single solution to achieve their goals.

As countries around the world continue to experience economic uncertainty, supply chain professionals must continually seek out innovative ways to tackle new and existing challenges in our work.

After reading the article, I was reaffirmed in my belief that continual professional development was the key to overcoming the challenges highlighted in the article. As an SCMP, I have always known this to be true and have leveraged my supply chain education, experience and continued professional development to deliver maximum results for my clients.

Professional development events such as the PMAC National Conference, are an effective means to address the challenges of managing today’s supply chain by keeping practitioners current on the latest in best practice and sparking innovation through learning about the creative solutions that have been undertaken by their peers.

According to the author, one of the biggest challenges facing a company looking to deliver improvement in their supply chain is the inability to examine the supply chain as a whole, or to know what areas to focus on. Glancing quickly at this year’s Conference schedule, I can see sessions that would help with that challenge by introducing new strategies to optimize your supplier relationship or learning world-class best practices in inventory management.

The author of the above mentioned article also discusses the challenges of planning for the supply chain of the future, which is a perennial concern that faces all supply chain professionals. That is one reason why the Conference schedule includes sessions that examine how technology can be leveraged to improve supply chain performance. Supply Chain in the Cloud looks at SaaS and how cloud technologies can have a positive impact on your supply chain, while a case study from High Liner Foods recounts how they leveraged I.T. solutions to transform a supply chain that spans 20 countries.

I encourage all supply chain professionals not to miss invaluable opportunities to learn from leaders in the field at events such as the PMAC National Conference. I’ve only had a chance to discuss a few of the 27 education sessions that are available to Conference attendees. I hope you have a chance to experience them firsthand and I look forward to meeting you at this year’s event in Moncton.